How Long To Drain Water Heater

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Yous need to drain your water heater at to the lowest degree once a year to remove any sediment that builds up and keep information technology in working order. Fortunately, draining a water heater is super easy to do. Offset past turning off the power or gas and so connect a garden hose to the drain valve. Pop open the bleed and pressure relief valves to allow the water to bleed out completely. Plough the water supply back on to flush out whatsoever remaining sediment. Then, close up the valves, restore the power or gas, and you're all set up!

1. 1

   Turn off the power if you have an electric water heater.Find your fuse box or circuit breaker box and bank check the diagram on the within of the panel to place the breaker that controls the power to your water heater. Flip the switch to shut off power to the water heater so you don't shock yourself.^[1]

   • Employ a flashlight or set up a lamp near the water heater then you tin meet while you're working.

2. ii

   Flip the airplane pilot light switch to "Pilot" if you take a gas water heater. Nearly the pilot calorie-free is a switch that controls the flow of gas into the water heater. Move the switch to the "pilot" setting to prevent heating an empty heater and and so gas doesn't leak out while y'all're working on it.^[2]

   • The pilot light will non actually go out, but the gas will be cut off from the water heater.

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3. 3

   Turn the water supply valve off at the top of the water heater. On the top right side of the water heater is a valve that controls the flow of water into the water heater. Turn the knob or move the switch to shut off the water supply.^[3]

   • If you tin can't locate your h2o supply valve, check the owner'due south manual or wait up the make and model of your water heater online to find it.

4. 4

   Adhere a garden hose to the bleed valve at the bottom of the tank. At the base of the water heater is a minor valve called the drain valve. Have a standard garden hose and align it with the threads on the drain valve. Screw the garden hose onto the valve to connect it.^[4]

   • Make sure the hose is attached securely and the threads are yet water doesn't leak out.

5. 5

   Place the other end of the hose outside below the level of the drain. Run the garden hose to the outside of the edifice and then the h2o can run off safely. Brand sure the finish of the hose is lower than the level of the drain on the heater so the water will menses.^[5]

   • You could also run the hose to a tempest drain in the street so it flows safely into a drainage organisation.

   Tip: If you lot demand to inspect the tuckered water to look for sediment or damage to your water heater, identify the other cease of the hose into a 5 gallon (xix L) bucket and then you can inspect the water that drains out.

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1. ane

   Plough the knob on the drain valve to open it. Nearly the bleed valve where the hose is connected is a knob or lever that opens and closes the valve. Turn the knob or lever to open up up the valve. Make sure information technology's opened all of the way to allow for proper drainage.^[6]

   • If the valve is difficult to open, apply a wrench to help plow it.

   Annotation: Some drain valves require you to utilize a screwdriver to turn the knob that opens information technology.

2. 2

   Pull up on the force per unit area relief valve at the top of the tank to open up it. At the tiptop of the water heater is a valve that allows air to flow into the unit in club to relieve pressure that tin build up inside of it. Open the pressure relief valve to permit air to run through the valve and bleed the water. If water doesn't start to flow immediately, loosen the nut on the top of the h2o heater that connects the drain valve to allow more air to laissez passer through.^[vii]

   • Do non remove or entirely separate the nut at the height of the water heater. Just loosen information technology to allow air to pass through.
   • Be conscientious not to snap or jerk the valves so y'all don't risk damaging them.

3. 3

   Allow the h2o to drain completely. It tin take upwardly to 30 minutes for your h2o heater to completely drain. When the h2o stops flowing from the garden hose, and then the water heater has finished draining.^[8]

   • Keep an eye on the garden hose to make sure it's draining properly.

4. 4

   Open the water valve for 5 minutes to flush out the water heater. Sediment can collect at the bottom of your water heater and then information technology's important that you run fresh water through it to flush it all out. Turn the h2o valve to start the catamenia of water through the heater so it drains through the drain valve.^[9]

   • Allow the fresh water to period for at least 5 minutes and then plough it off again.

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1. 1

   Close the bleed valve and pressure relief valve. Turn the valve to close the bleed where the hose is connected. Make sure it's fully closed. Then, close the pressure relief valve on the h2o heater and tighten the nut on top if you loosened it.^[10]

   • It'due south important that the valves are closed tight so they don't leak when you lot turn the water heater dorsum on and permit it to fill up upwards.

2. 2

   Disconnect the garden hose from the drain valve. Unscrew the garden hose from where it's connected to the drain valve. Bring information technology outside and dump out any h2o contained within of it so it doesn't develop mold or mildew that can damage it.^[11]

   • Wrap up the hose and store information technology when you lot're finished using it.

3. 3

   Flip the breaker to turn the electricity dorsum on. If you accept an electric water heater, plough the power back on by flipping the breaker that controls the electricity to information technology. Close the circuit breaker box up when you're finished.^[12]

   • If power isn't immediately restored to the water heater, try flipping the breaker off and dorsum on again.

4. iv

   Plow the pilot light to the "On" position if it'due south a gas water heater. To turn a gas h2o heater back on, yous demand to restore the flow of gas into the water heater. Flip the pilot light switch dorsum into the on position.^[13]

   Tip: Relight the pilot light if it was extinguished by turning the valve to the "Pilot" position and using the ignitor switch on the valve or a long lighter if at that place isn't an igniter.

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Add New Question

• Question

  Where is the pressure level valve located, and how can I open up it on the tank?

  

  It is typically located on the top or side of the water heater. At that place should be a pipe connected to information technology, leading outside or to within vi inches if the basis. There is a small lever on information technology. Be careful when opening it, as hot h2o can menses from the valve very rapidly.

• Question

  I have well water. Is it safety to put a gallon of vinegar in the tank for the 3 months maintenance to absorb the lime? Volition this proceed lime eolith from forming?

  

  They won't dilute, and the water will gustatory modality like y'all mixed Caesar salad in it.

• Question

  Is it rubber to bleed water with sediment into the toilet?

  

  Yes. The sediment is probable to include a lot of red-dark-brown rust; if the toilet porcelain is onetime and pitted, some of that color might adhere to the basin interior. Be prepared to make clean that out.

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Commodity Summary X

To drain a water heater, outset past turning information technology off and permit the water cool for a few hours. One time the water in the heater has cooled, turn the common cold water intake valve off and run some hot water from a faucet in your house to empty out excess water in the pipes. And then, open the force per unit area relief valve on the tank and connect a long garden hose to the bleed valve. If your heater is higher up ground, but let the water drain out of the tank and through the hose to an outdoor location. If your heater is beneath ground, utilise a pump to pump the water up through the hose. If you want to learn more, like how to flush your water heater, continue reading the article!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Drain-a-Water-Heater

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