Flushing a Water Heater

7/7/2021 (Permalink)

Keep your water heater in tip-top condition.

At the end of a hard day in Hamilton Park, TX, the relaxation of a hot shower or soak in the bathtub may be just the ticket. It seems fair to say that many homeowners don’t think about their water heaters until they run out of hot water. To keep your water heater in tip-top condition, periodic flushing is a prudent home maintenance move.

Simple Tools and Simple Steps

A garden hose, a screwdriver and a pair of work gloves are likely all you will need to perform a water heater flush. It is important to find an appropriate spot to drain hot water to avoid creating water damage. Five steps can get the job done quickly.

1. Cut the power to the unit. If it is electric, turn off the appropriate circuit breaker. If it is a gas heater, turn off the gas supply.

2. Locate the drain valve and connect the garden hose. Wear gloves and position the outflow to an area that hot water will not damage.

3. Open the drain valve on the water heater and let the water flow out. Open the hot water tap in the kitchen or bath for a few minutes, and then turn off the water supply valve. When the flow of water stops, it is time to turn on the valve again to complete the flush.

4. With the water and sediment drained, close the valves. Turn on the water supply. When the hot water tap in the sink has expelled the air and the stream is consistent, the flush is complete.

5. Before restoring power to the unit, ascertain that the tank is completely refilled with water to avoid damaging the tank or its heating element. Turn off the kitchen or bath tap.

The life of a water heater is hard to predict, but the average is eight to twelve years. An annual flush is likely to help maintain its reliability.