How To Flush Out A Water Heater - Eyman Plumbing Heating & Air

Has it been a while since you flushed out your water heater? You can learn how to flush out a water heater with this step-by-step guide!

Did you know that many homes in Omaha, Nebraska have water with an average hardness of 10 grains per gallon? This means that the water contains high concentrations of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). CaCO3, in turn, is a key component of limescale, the hard, chalky deposit that builds up in water heater tanks.

Per the US Department of Interior and the Water Quality Association, 10 gpg is hard water. Hard water may not be a health threat, but it can reduce your water heater’s efficiency and service life.

Learning how to flush out a water heater the right way can help you keep it in tip-shop shape. We outline the basic steps on how to clean a water heater in this guide, so be sure to read on!

Determine the Last Time You Flushed Your Tank

Most water heaters have a service life of eight to 12 years. However, this still depends on regular maintenance, including flushing it twice a year. If you haven’t drained yours in a long time, hold off on doing so, as it could trigger tank leaks.

That might happen if the tank has interior fissures now covered with limescale. Flushing your tank could remove some of those mineral deposits and expose the cracks. If this occurs, your tank could start leaking water from the bottom.

In that case, it may be best to call a plumber instead of flushing the tank yourself. A licensed plumbing expert has the eyes and the tools to discern potential leaks.

Turn Off the Water Heater’s Power Supply

If your heater is only about one year old, you can go ahead and flush it. Before you do so, switch off the gas or electrical power that supplies energy to your tank. This is for safety purposes, as it can help prevent accidental gas leaks or shock injuries.

Do note that in the US alone, some 30,000 non-fatal shock injuries take place each year.

If you have a gas-powered heater, simply switch the control to “Pilot” mode. If you have an electric heater, you can cut its power supply by switching off its circuit breaker. You can find this breaker in your main electrical panel.

It’s also a smart idea to wear rubber insulating gloves and anti-slip footwear. A face mask and goggles can also protect you from the dust and debris that you’re likely to stir up as you clean the tank.

Close the Cold Water Valve

Many water heaters have color-coded valves to distinguish hot from cold inlets. If yours is color-coded, the cold water valve should have a blue handle.

If your heater’s valves aren’t color-coded, take a closer look at the valves themselves. They should have a label or mark that indicates whether they’re for the hot or the cold water supply.

Let Your Tank’s Contents Cool Down

More than 450,000 burn injuries requiring medical treatment occur in the US each year. Many of these injuries take place within homes.

Now, since you’re flushing the water heater tank itself, you want to be extra careful. It’s best to wait for a few hours to let the water inside the tank cool down before you drain it. Doing so can help reduce your odds of scalding yourself.

If you can’t wait that long, consider booking a quick water heater service request. This way, you can have a licensed plumber come to your aid right away and perform the heater maintenance for you.

Connect a Hose to the Tank’s Drain Valve

Near the very bottom of your water heater tank is a drain valve either made of plastic, composite, or brass. You can connect one end of a hose (a garden hose would do) to this valve after waiting for a few hours for the water to cool down. Run the other end to a floor drain, or if it’s long enough, outside of your home.

The most important thing is to make sure the open end sits at a lower level than the one connected to your tank. This helps ensure that gravity can do its work, which is to push the water from inside the tank to the other end of the hose.

Let It Drain

At the top of your heater is another valve called the temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve. It’s a safety component that opens and releases excess heat and pressure from within the tank.

Open the T&P valve, plus another hot water faucet in the house, to enable air to enter the tank. Next, open the drain valve itself. The air will work hand in hand with gravity to push the water inside the tank out of the drain valve.

Give your heater several minutes so that it can empty its contents. Monitor the last bit of water that drains, too, as it may still contain sediments. If so, open the cold water supply valve to let a couple more gallons of water run through the tank.

Refill the Tank

Once the water that leaves the tank is clear, close the T&P valve, drain valve, and hot water tap you opened. Remove the hose you attached to the drain valve. Wipe any areas that may have gotten wet while you were flushing the tank.

Next, open the cold water supply valve so you can start refilling the water heater tank. Allow the water to flow for about 15 minutes before you run a nearby hot water tap. Doing so can help release any remaining air from within the tank and the plumbing pipes.

You can expect the water coming out of the hot water faucet to be full of air bubbles. As soon as this clears, close the tap and restart your water heater.

Follow These Expert Tips on How To Flush Out a Water Heater Today

As you can see, there are several steps to take in order to flush out a water heater the right way. If you’re not confident of your DIY skills, it’s best to leave this task in the hands of the pros.

If you’re in Omaha, NE, or nearby, you can put your trust in our team of plumbing professionals here at Eyman. Get in touch with us today at (402) 731-2727 so that we can help you flush and service your water heater.