Most people rely on their heaters as their main or only heating source when winter rolls in. Since they rely so much on heaters, they never give much thought on whether their heater is working properly. The most common problem that may occur with heaters is sediment build-up; this happens when a heater isn’t properly or regularly drained.
Below are steps on how to drain a water heater:
- Step 1: Turn off the Water Supply – Turn off the breaker box on electric water heaters or put it on “pilot” for gas heaters. Connect a hose to the drain valve located close to the thermostat, but don’t open the valve yet. Turn off the cold-water supply that feeds the water-heater.
- Step 2: Drain the Hot Water – Open up one of the hot-water faucets in one of your sinks or tubs to prevent a vacuum. Go back to the water-heater, and open the drain valve to drain the hot water out of the tank.
- Step 3: Flush out the Remaining Sediment – Once the water stops flowing out of the far end of the hose, turn the water supply back on. This will flush out any remaining sediment left behind in the heater.
- Step 4: Test the Pressure-Release Valve – Turn the power-supply to the water heater back on. Once the water temperature has been brought back up, test the pressure-relief valve according to the manufacturer’s instructions.