Do-it-yourself: How to Drain a Water Heater Equipment You will Need: Garden hose - Your Local West Sacramento

Many people never give their water heater a second thought right until it stops working. One thing you can do to increase the life span of the water heater is to drain the tank yearly to get rid of any sediment that may have build up inside it. Most water heating units employ a large, insulated holding tank to ensure there's plenty of hot water on hand at all times for various reasons throughout the home. With time, naturally occurring minerals in the water, as well as sand and grit flushed from municipal water lines, can settle in the bottom of the tank. This deposit build-up may potentially reduce the effectiveness and capacity of your water heater. It can also plug the drain and affect with ongoing maintenance, which leads to early failure.

Sediment can interfere with burner performance in a gas water heater and can cause breaking and popping sounds during heating cycles. Depending on your water source and the mineral content, both gas and electric water heaters will ideally be flushed of deposit every 1-2 yrs to ensure optimal performance.

Step 1: Turn Off the Water Supply
Turn off the cold water supply valve at the top of the water heater

Step 2: Turn Off the Water Heater
For a gas water heater, turn the thermostat to the "pilot" setting.

For an electric water heater, turn off the electricity at the breaker box.

Note: Electric water heaters need to be turned completely off during flushing. Exposed heating elements can quickly burn out when the water level in the tank drops below the level of the hot elements.

Most electric water heaters are connected directly to their own circuit breaker. Find the water heater's breaker switch in the main electrical panel. 

Step 3: Attach Hose to Drain Valve
Close to the base of the tank, find the tank drain valve and attach a standard garden hose to the drain valve. Be aware that a few units may have a cover over the valve opening. Place the other end of the hose in a floor drain or on a driveway where it can drain safely. If required, buckets can be used, but be very careful not to be burned by the hot water as you work.

Step 4: Open Hot Water Tap
Open a hot water tap nearest to the water heater, preferably on the floor above. This alleviates pressure in the system, allowing the water to drain quickly from the tank, much like removing your finger from the top of a drinking straw filled with liquid.

Step 5: Open Drain Valve
Open the drain valve and let the water to drain from the tank. Again, the water will be very hot, so use extreme caution. Once all water has emptied from the tank, quickly turn the cold water supply on to the tank. This will stir up any remaining sediment. Repeat this process until the water runs clear.

Step 6: Close Drain Valve, Refill Tank, Turn Water Heater Back On
Close the drain valve, remove the hose, and turn on the cold water supply. The tank will begin to fill. Go back to the hot water tap opened earlier. Once cold water starts to flow from the tap, turn it off. Turn the gas valve back on from the pilot position or turn electricity back on to the tank. Be sure to examine the valve opening when it's closed to ensure there are no water leaks.

Caution: Some tanks must be completely full to prevent damage to the gas burner or heating elements. Always read and follow all manufacturer's directions and warnings for your particular water heating unit.

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