How To Flush Hot Water Heater?
When doing duties around the house, flushing the water heater is one of those tasks that are easy to forget. However, making sure to flush out your hot water heater regularly is an essential task. Cleaning out the filth and mineral deposits that have accumulated in your hot water heater can help it function more efficiently but will also help it last longer, which will save you money in the long run.When will I know it's time to flush the water heater?
It's a good thing that, before it enters your home, the water that goes into your water heater goes through some sort of filtration system. If you didn't do this, your hot water tank would be clogged with silt in an embarrassingly short time. It may take several years before you notice any accumulation, so keep that in mind.On the other hand, you will eventually realize that the tank is providing you with a decreasing amount of hot water before it completely runs out. In the event that the sediment has already clogged the drain valve, you might be able to see sediment flowing out of the drain valve if the water tank is within easy reach of you.
A word of caution: if it has been several years since you last cleaned your water heater, it is probably in your best interest to get a professional plumber to perform the task for you. You put yourself in danger of igniting possible leaks when you do this. You have to understand that it is not impossible for the sediment that has been present for so many years to have caused cracks in the base of the tank. If you drain and flush the tank, it is possible that the sediment that is "sealing" the leaks will be removed. For the time being, the fissures are being "plugged" by the current sediment.
We are in no way advocating that you shouldn't drain your tank, and we are also not claiming that you will necessarily leak the tank if you haven't flushed it for several years, even though you haven't flushed it in quite some time.
Instructions On How To Cleanse The Hot Water Heater
1. Turn the Water Heater Off
Turning off your water heater will allow you to get started flushing the sediment out of your water heater tank. If you are using an electric water heater, be sure that the power switch is turned off. Adjust your thermostat, so it is set to the "pilot" position if the water heater you have is a gas-powered kind similar to the one pictured up top. To allow the water in your water heater to cool down, this switches off the element that heats the water. Before you begin this home care operation, check to see that no one in your house is attempting to take a shower, wash the dishes, or do a load of laundry simultaneously.2. Stop the Flow of Cold Water by Turning Off the Valve
Turn the cold water off to your water heater. Turn off the valve that controls the cold water. When cold water is added to the tank of a water heater, the hot water in the tank is displaced, and the water heater then sends the hot water throughout the home. If you turn off the valve that allows cold water to enter your tank, you will be able to empty the tank of water. If you skip this step, you will wind up with water continuously moving into the tank and drain, which will cause your water bill to be far higher than it would otherwise be.3. Give The Water Some Time To Cool.
Before you empty your water heater, you should give the water time to cool down inside the tank. Do not pour boiling water down the drain. After shutting off the heating components, give the tank some time to cool down. In the case of some bigger water heater tanks, this process can take up to two hours.4. Connect an outdoor drain or garden hose to the drain valve on the tank's side.
You can empty your water heater more easily if you attach a garden hose to the drain valve.You will need to link a hose to the drain valve on the side of your water heater. When draining your water heater tank, check to see that the hose has been completely threaded on. If it hasn't been, you could end up with leaks.
5. Position the end of the hose so that it is submerged in a bucket or drain.
Place the end of the line in a bucket or drain that can withstand high temperatures. Be sure to place the end of the hose in a container that can withstand high temperatures or in a drain. Before you start draining the water heater, you need to make sure that the drain won't overflow while you're doing it.6. Open the water supply
While draining your water heater, you should run two of your faucets to remove any vacuum that may have formed in your pipes. Turning on several faucets throughout your house can prevent a vacuum from developing within your plumbing system. You should run your faucets when turned to the "hot" setting. You won't notice much water coming out of them since you've switched off the cold water valve to your water heater, so no warm water is displaced.7. To begin draining the tank, turn on the drain valve located at the bottom of the tank.
You'll need to use a screwdriver to open the drain valve on your water heater. Turn the valve on carefully using a screwdriver with a flathead, ensuring there aren't any leaks and that the pail or drain into which you are draining the water won't overflow.Once the sediment has been completely drained from the water heater tank, turn off the drain valve, remove the hose, open the cold water valve, and turn the heating elements in the water heater back on. To finish removing the sediment from the water heater tank, drain the remaining water from the heater.
When you have finished emptying the tank and cleaning out the sediment from inside your water heater, you are virtually finished with the job. To restart the filling process, you must take the hose off and then turn off the drain valve. The valve for the cold water should be turned back on, and the heating elements should be placed in the "on" position.
Check to see that your faucets are still open, and then turn them off as soon as the water begins to flow normally again. Wait around half an hour before checking to see if the water is hot. The water heater ought to have reheated the gallons of water contained within the tank, this time without stirring up any sediment.
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