The drain valve on most Rheem water heaters is on the lower part of the tank usually to the right of the gas valve or lower electrical panel door. Regarding water heaters, one of the common questions Grove Heating & Cooling plumbers hear from homeowners is whether or not they should flush their tankless water heater and, if so, how often. Grove has the answer to that question and will explain in detail the preventative maintenance to perform on tankless water heaters. https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-flush-your-hot-water-heater This article has been viewed 1,017,474 times. Once you've done that, attach a garden hose to the drain valve on the bottom of your heater and run it outside or into a bucket. Steps for Draining a Water Heater . Use a garden hose when draining your water heater. If you do not feel comfortable doing this work yourself, call a licensed plumber. Be careful, as the water may be very hot. I left on the, "I checked online for step-by-step instructions on the proper procedure to drain my water heater. ", "The clarity of the pics made each step easy to follow. garden hose adapter (one choice is the BrassCraft/Plumbshop No. ", "The safety tips were extremely helpful.". To properly maintain and clean your tankless water heater, it’s important to flush those mineral deposits at least once a year. Then, turn on a hot water faucet in one of your sinks or tubs to prevent a vacuum from forming in the lines. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Flush annually or every 6 months if your home has a water softener that uses salt. ", "Clear, step-by-step instructions with cautions and reminders that proved very helpful. Last Updated: April 4, 2020 Note: If you have a drain p an underneath that is … Turn off the pump. After all the compressed air has escaped, close the pressure-relief valve again. Follow this simple process to ensure optimal tankless water heater … That’s the sound of steam bubbles percolating up through the muck. Remove the full-port valve and suck out the remaining sediment with your shop vacuum adapter and 1/2-inch vinyl tubing. If you have an electric water heater, turn off the power switch. The breaker box or fuse box is usually a small, grey power panel (about the size of a shoebox) with a swinging door. I did not have to buy a new hot water heater. Remove the ball valve handle after you flush the water heater, especially if the water heater is located where people could walk by it and accidentally bump the handle. Do not turn off the pilot or gas to the water heater just turn it to the lowest setting. After descaling your Tankless water heater, you need to reset the unit to make it usable again. If draining hot water, also be careful of the materials you use. Make sure to plan ahead if you want to recycle the water. Close blue color cold water drain valve & put the cap on it like the previous setting. https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-flush-a-water-heater piece of 1/2-in. To reduce sediment accumulation, install a whole-house filtration system. If the water is cloudy or you see sand-like material on the bottom of the bucket, continue draining the tank until the water is clear (free of sediment or discoloration). Turn off the cold water supply and allow the heater to cool (this may take a couple of hours). Clear and to the point. To learn how to get your heater back up and running when you're done, scroll down! Attach the shop vacuum hose and fire up the vacuum. Finally, open the drain valve to drain the water out of the heater. The breaker box or fuse box is usually a small, grey power panel (about the size of a shoebox) with a swinging door. Next, rotate the water shut-off valve on your heater clockwise to turn off the cold water supply. A similar example of this is when you cover the top of a straw to retain water. So learning how to drain a water heater and flushing offers a payback in lower energy bills and extended heater life. If the tank is empty but you suspect sediment remains, turn the cold-water supply back on to allow more water into the unit. Then reinstall the TPR valve and blow-off tube. On an electric water heater, sediment buildup can cause the lower heating element to fail. Turn off each hot water spigot once the water resumes normal flow. Turn on hot water faucets on all fixtures and run to remove air bubbles. Connect a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. 90% of the time, one of the elements have to be replaced (normally the lower one). Use this guide to flush your water heater. Tug hard and straight out on the handle, but be careful because the metal parts may be hot. I found your, "It was very informative, I did not know one had to do this to a water heater. vinyl tubing. ", "Best I have ever seen. Complete DIY projects like a pro! Remove the temperature-pressure release valve and screw in the vacuum adapter. % of people told us that this article helped them. Then there is the thermostat, the dip tube, sediment, etc. ", "The step-by-step instructions that are plain and simple were most helpful. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. More energy will be consumed when it’s tough for your heating element to transfer heat thus higher utility bills. Fill the tank partially and then drain it again. This will keep the water heater from "pinging" as cold water re-enters it during normal use. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Home / Uncategorized / Plumber Tips – How to Flush a Water Heater. This article received 21 testimonials and 97% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. If you plan to use the water for other purposes, turn the heat off ahead of time and allow the water to cool overnight before draining. Turn the cold water valve off. ", "Thank you for the clear directions! wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. That will not work. Make sure water flows at a rate that wherever you are draining to can be managed. Turn the Cold Water Valve Off. I wonder if flushing the water heater could save money? We recommend our users to update the browser. If you are unsure of which fuse to remove, look for a large rectangular box with a handle/lever at the top of the panel. ", "Very helpful. You've read a bunch of articles online, on reputable-looking websites, telling you that you must drain your water heater to flush out the sediment. If the water heater is electric, turn off the power to the water heater at the circuit breaker box. ", http://www.diyadvice.com/diy/electrical/safety/turning-off-power-fuse-box/, http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-drain-a-water-heater/index.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=GLI, http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infwaterheater/infdrainwh.html, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Step 1. This article has been viewed 1,017,474 times. Flushing out your water heater can be a daunting task. A 90-degree turn closes and opens the ball valve, but a gate valve takes many turns. Very much appreciated. ", sediment came out, especially since it's 24 years old. Perform a quick flush. By using our site, you agree to our. In some homes, it is located in t… On an electric water heater, turn the electric off to the heater. I did it this weekend and not much, "By following your directions, the whole process was very easy. These are called "branch circuits breakers," and they provide protection against electrical overload to different circuits powering your house. Remove the handle from the ball valve so you can assemble all the 3/4-inch fittings. Open the cold water main valve & let the fresh cold water flush inside so that all the vinegar & descaled junk is washed out from the unit. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. Great photography! Five stars. It even had videos! Your water heater will operate more efficiently and this will usually extend the life of the heater. Demonstrates how to flush and clean sediment out of water heaters using the Turbo Tank Cleaner tool. The water will slowly get colder as the hot water is used up and replaced by cold. To create this article, 42 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. If electric unit, be sure to turn off at circuit box before draining. Shut off the gas or electricity to the water heater. If your water heater is a... 2. A vacation setting might do the trick. Turn the main power off, but know that all the power to your house will be shut off for the time-being. Shut off the cold water valve at the top of the tank and attach a garden hose to the existing drain valve and route it to a floor drain. Sign up for our newsletter! It is often attached to a wall. Approved. Gas and propane supply valves for non-electric heaters can be left on. Close the cold water shut-off valve. Flushing a water heater helps you to clear out the chunks of sediment inside your water heater. Before You Begin a Water Heater Flush. The thermostat for the gas heater is usually a red knob located on the outside of the heater where the gas pipe enters the unit. In the process, they clear out sediment and other buildup inside the tank and provide a clean and clear surface for heating water. The pressure will blow out any sediment stuck in the valve and help the tank drain faster. 12-Step Tankless Water Heater Flushing Procedure Over time, a tankless water heater may accumulate mineral build up which can erode the walls inside your tank's heating chamber. Do not turn on the power yet. Also remember to turn off the hot water faucet in your sink or tub. I just hate to waste all that hot water drown the drain! Learn more... Water heaters should be flushed every one to three years depending on the model and water source. To avoid spoiling the whole place with water, cover the tube with a bathroom cloth to reduce pressure. It took a few hours to empty the tank. Locate the breaker/fuse box for an electrical heater or the thermostat for a gas heater. If you don't have a garden hose, you can use a bucket to catch the water and dump it somewhere safe manually. To avoid damaging this safety component open the highest faucet/sink on the house to bleed air out of the heater and lines when you open the water supply valves back on. Open a hot water faucet and let it run full blast for about 10 minutes to reduce the water temperature in the tank. ", turned the cold water faucet. How to Back-Flush a Water Heater. Are any additives such as distilled vinegar ever used in the flushing/draining process? As the water drains out of the tank, you can use this time to see the conditions that your heater may be experiencing. A water heater moves hot water through your home when... 3. Remove the vacuum hose from the TPR port and flush the tank. For natural gas and propane (LP) water heaters, make a note of what the temperature setting is and then turn the thermostat, the large red dial on the front of the control, to the lowest setting, or "Pilot.". Glue a 1-1/2-inch PVC x 3/4-inch FIP adapter (A) onto a female PVC trap adapter (B). HU22-12-12TP). A service technician attaches a hose to your tank, empties it into an approved drain, then fills the water back up. If you don't know which individual circuit breaker is powering your heater, locate a larger switch labeled "Main" above the branch circuit breakers.
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