RS Andrews Master Plumber Ben Kendrick explains the steps for properly draining a water heater.
First and foremost, you want to turn the gas or the power supply off to the unit. Second, you want to connect a garden hose to the drain valve located at the bottom of the water heater. Third, you want to turn the water supply off to the unit. Then you want to open the drain valve and run the garden hose to the outside of the home. What this will do is allow the water to drain from the water heater, as well as flush any sedimentation out of the water heater as well.
The first step of draining a water heater is to turn the gas supply off to the unit, and that is located at the bottom of the water heater. It’s typically a red gas valve. That’s now in the off position.
The next step is going to be connecting a garden hose to the bottom of a water heater on the drain valve. The drain valves are always located at the bottom of the water heater. Once the hose is connected, you then want to extend the hose outside of the home.
Step three in draining a water heater is turn the water supply off. You have your cold incoming pipe and your hot outgoing pipe. Your water heater control valve is always located on the cold side. This is in the on position. This is now in the off position.
Once this is done, you can then open the drain valve of the water heater. This will allow the water heater to drain. They typically take about an hour to drain.
After your water heater is drained, you then close the drain valve located at the bottom. Disconnect your garden hose. Turn the water supply back on. This will refill the unit. That will typically take about 15 minutes.
The final step in the process is to turn the gas supply back on to the water heater which is located at the bottom of the water heater, and then relight the water heater.
Make sure to get all the air out of the system before turning the power supply back on. This can be done by opening a tub faucet on the hot side and let it run until no more air comes out.
Atlanta’s Water Heater Experts
Whatever your water heater needs may be, R.S. Andrews has the plumbing experts to answer your water heater questions and solve your water heater problems today. Our plumbers have the experience and training to install, maintain, and service gas or electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters. Your R.S. Andrews plumber will make sure your water heater runs for many, trouble-free years.
Call R.S. Andrews and we will answer your water heater questions, and solve your water heater needs today!