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How to Drain a Hot Water Heater in 8 Simple Steps

October 12, 2020

There are some things in life that present themselves in the wild unknown of adulthood, such as renting an apartment for the first time. And then, buying a home and starting a family. And, with each new adventure, other, more tedious adventures become apparent, like learning how to drain a hot water heater.

This may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of life’s adventures, but it is surely something you will face along your journey.

If you’re in a position to learn something new about your home, you’re in the right place. Here, we’re detailing the basic steps it takes to get the job done right. Take a peek.

How to Drain a Hot Water Heater

If you want your water heater to run efficiently for years to come, it’s essential to drain the water from time to time. If you don’t stick to a regular schedule, you’ll notice that it’s time when the showers start getting cold. This is due to the mineral buildup in your system, especially if you have hard water.

Here’s what to do to get the water running hot again.

1. Powering off the Appliance

Of course, the first thing you should do is turn off the gas or electricity to the water heater. If it’s an electric water heater, you should turn the power off at the circuit breaker. If it’s gas-powered, turn the pilot off.

2. Shutting off the Water Supply

Next, you’ll need to turn off the water supply by closing the cold water valve. You’ll rotate the valve 90 degrees to shut the water off completely.

3. Running Hot Water

Once the water is shut off, run a faucet in the home. You will leave this running as you drain the appliance to allow airflow into the water heater and prevent vacuuming in the lines.

4. Connect the Hose

You should have a garden hose nearby so that you can easily connect it to the drain valve on the tank. The best option is to run the hose out of the house into the yard, but a large bucket will do the trick.

5. Draining a Water Heater

Draining water heaters is pretty simple at this point. Simply open the drain valve and allow the water to flow freely. If you’re using a bucket, you’ll need to drain it a few times.

6. Flushing the Tank

Once you have drained the water, you can flush the tank by opening the cold water supply valve. Sometimes, you will need to do this a few times to help stir up any remaining sediment.

Don’t forget to close the drain valve when you’re done, or you may be calling the plumber for water heater repair later.

7. Refilling the Tank

Water heaters will refill themselves, but you need to provide a bit of assistance by turning on the hot water faucets in your home. Don’t forget to make sure the cold water supply valve is open when doing this.

8. Turning the Water Heater Back On

Turn the circuit breaker back on or light the pilot light and get ready for a hot shower! You’re all done.

Draining Water Heaters Without a Plumber

Now that you know how to drain a hot water heater, you can avoid the fees associated with calling your local plumber. Although, if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, the plumber’s charge should be a standard service call, as long as they don’t find anything wrong with your system.

We hope you found this article helpful as you navigate homeownership. Check out the rest of our blog for tips and tricks to living your best life.

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About Me

Hello all!!!! I'm Darcy and I recently started writing on My Zeo about health and fitness (and part of that important health equation is sleep!). As we are all super busy with life, I try to integrate how to stay fit, relax and be healthy and happy through everyday life.

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