Maintaining your Water Heater – How to Drain and Flush the Tank

If you’re like most people, you never think about your water heater until it stops working and you’re forced to take an ice cold shower while you wait for a plumber. One thing that you can do to extend the life of your water heater is to drain the tank once a year to remove any sediment that may have built up inside it. And, best of all, this is very easy to do – a perfect DIY project.

Here are some steps to help you along:

1. If your water heater is electric, shut off the electricity to the water heater at the breaker box. If you own a gas water heater, turn off the gas switch to pilot.
2. Shut off the cold water supply to the water heater.
3. Connect a garden hose to the tank’s drain valve.
4. Make sure you place the end of the hose in an area that won’t be adversely affected by scalding hot water (an outdoor driveway or basement drain is ideal).
5. Open the pressure relief valve.
6. Open the drain valve and allow the tank to drain completely.
7. Close the tank drain valve.
8. Disconnect the hose from the valve.
9. Close the pressure relief valve.
10. Open all the hot water faucets in the house.
11. Turn on the cold water supply to the tank.
12. Close each hot water faucet as water begins to flow from it.
13. When all the faucets are closed, turn on the electricity to the water heater, or turn the gas switch to run.

Voila!  That’s all there is to it.  Remember…  If you have any issues or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.  We’re here 24/7/365 to help.