How to Drain a Hot Water Heater
You rely on the water heater in your Ramona, CA, home for comfortable showers, convenient hand washing, laundry, and more. In order for your water heater to work as intended and have a long lifespan, it requires regular maintenance. An important part of that maintenance involves the occasional draining of the water heater’s storage tank. This is done to remove sediment. Follow these steps to drain your water heater’s storage tank.
Turn Off the Water
Turn off the power to the water heater. It should have a switch, or you can turn it off at the circuit breaker. For a gas water heater, turn off the pilot. Allow the water tank to cool overnight before you attempt to drain the water. When you’re ready to drain the tank, turn off the water supply to the water heater. You can also turn off the water supply at your home’s water main.
Drain the Water
Connect a water hose to the tank’s valve. Some water heaters have a valve cover, which you’ll need to remove before you connect the garden hose. Put the other end of the garden hose into a drain, or place it in an area where it can drain onto your driveway or lawn. Open the water heater’s drain valve, and allow the tank to empty. This will take a few minutes.
Rinse the Tank
Turn on the cold water supply to the water heater. Allow some new water to flush any leftover sediment out of the tank. Once the cold water drains from the garden hose, turn off the water supply. Disconnect the hose, close the valve, and restore the water supply. Restore power to the water heater, and turn on its pilot.
At Marklein Plumbing, we’re the trusted plumbers for water heater maintenance. You can also count on us for plumbing repair, maintenance, and installation. Our water filtration systems, water softeners, sewer, garbage disposal, and shower services keep your home comfortable and promote better health and well-being. For more information about how to drain a hot water heater, get in touch with us at Marklein Plumbing today.
