Water Heater - Maintenance/ Draining?

Question

Bought a home that is 10 years old, and had been empty for the last year/ year and a half.

I remembered that draining my water heater to get the sludge out was a good, idea... so I turned down the heat, waited a couple hours, and then hooked up a short garden hose and opened the drain out...

The water ran smoothly, with no crud or debris that I could see (I drained it down the floor drain). I had not turned off the inlet water, so don't think I drained it 'dry' (I was worried about any heating elements, even tho I had turned the heat way down.)

How long should it have taken to drain the tank completely? (Its a standard house sized heater, and based on the small amount of rust on the bottom isn't brand new).

How long to let it drain?
Turn off the inlet water, or not?
Worry about pilot light? Turn it off or let it be?

Gas water heater.

When I hooked up the hose (2nd time) and let it run, it stopped when I turned off the inlet water. (Closed system, I guess).

So, I ran fresh water in the top and 'old' water out the bottom until the outlet water was cold. I never got crud and debris out of the outlet -- it looked basically clear the entire time (15 minutes or more).

Answer 1

If you have a gas heater....you will be fine doing as you said. If you have electric heater.. congratulations, you just bought yourself two new heating elements!! oh BTW, Draining you heater will not get all the crud out of your heater. Let me explain so yo do not think I am being a smarty pants.

On gas you are fine with only turning down the burner, but electric heaters must have water in them when the power is on. If no water is in them and the power is on, it will short the element and do what we call DRY FIRE the element. If this happens you must replace them.

Lime is what usually creates the build up. Gas heaters it is impossible to remove all this debris. On electric heaters like mine... I can remove the bottom element and suck out the debris with a shop vac along with a special tool attachment I designed to do this.

If you have a working softener ...I would not worry about it at all. Softeners take all the minerals out of the water so you heater is protected. No need to drain anyway. It takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to drain. If you do not turn on faucets on the hot side to allow air to get in the lines, it will never drain all the way. ( Like a straw effect)

Answer 2

You described two different types of heaters. Is it electric or gas? If it's electric, turn off the power at the breaker and drain down with the inlet water valve off. Then turn the water back on for a couple minutes and then back off. Let it drain again and see if the water runs clear. On a gas heater, you can turn the temp pilot and do the same procedures. This is called draining and flushing and should be done at least once a year. On a gas unit, you can usually hear any deposits "popping" when the heater is on because it is boiling them. These deposits cost you money beacuse they have to be heated before the heat gets to the water.

Answer 3

Inlet water left on. It won't drain because fresh water is coming in. That is called flushing the system. You did it right. Draining it dry is not needed, unless you want to change anodes, or electric heating elements

Answer 4

Drain it . The sediment causes the water heater to work harder . The sediment is like an insulator and will cause the tank to overheat and crack the tank, causing a water leak . Plus, all that nasty **** in the bottom in you drinking water . Drain about 2 gallons till it run clear . Do this every month or so .

Answer 5

its simple.drain water heater until the water out of your drain hose is clear. the sediment in a water heater settles to the bottom.leave everything the way it is. just hook up your hose and drain til clean water appears.