Why flush your water heater?
Flushing a water heater is a simple, but effective maintenance task that will extend the life of your Water Heater, and also increases operating efficiency. As the years pass, Sediment gets trapped in your Water Heater, which over time can build up and eventually prevent the drain valve from working and reduce the efficiency of your water heater. Also, Iron, Magnesium and Calcium can build up on the bottom of the water heater, which will discolor, or rust your hot water taps.
How to Flush Your Water Heater
1. Turn off the Power (if the tank is electric), or set the Gas to the lowest setting, or Pilot if you have a Gas Water Heater.
2. Turn of the Cold Water Supply to the heater, which is usually at the top of the Water Heater.
3. Attach your garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the Water Heater.
4. Open the Hot Water Faucets in the house, to let the tank drain quicker.
5. Open the drain valve on the Water Heater and let it drain completely. This could take some time as the drain may be slowed by sediment. Also, be careful when opening the drain that you don’t use too much force, and break the valve.
6. After the Water Heater has completely drained, open the Cold Water Supply. Let the water run for about 5 minutes or until the water is clear.
7. Once the water is clear, you can close the Drain Valve, and open the Cold Water Valve to let the Water Heater Fill up.
8. Open up all of the Hot Water Faucets in the house to let any air out of the system.
9. Turn the electric back on to the Water Heater, if it’s electric, or turn up the gas to the original position if you have a Gas Water Heater.
That’s it, you’re done! These simple steps have added years to your water heater.
NOTE: If you have a gas water heater, install a water heater timer. This will extend the life of your water heater and save money on operating costs. Go to www.gaswaterheatertimer.com to learn more or contact.