How do I flush a water heater?

3/8/2023 (Permalink)

Flushing your water heater is an easy and inexpensive way to improve its performance and extend its life. This can help prevent water damage to your home or business.

Flush the water heater.

Flushing the water heater is a simple process, but it's important to follow the right steps in order to get the most out of your efforts.

The first step is to turn off all faucets and drain any remaining water from pipes that can be drained. Do not drain hot water lines, as this could cause scalding injuries if you don't turn them off first or if they aren't accessible for flushing purposes. Next, open up access ports on top of your tank by removing caps or screws with an Allen wrench; these ports allow air into your tank so it can be properly cleaned out and flushed with fresh water during each cycle.

Once all caps are removed, use a garden hose connected directly into one of these ports--not through any faucet! This will ensure that no additional sediment gets sucked back into your home's pipes after flushing is complete because there won't be any pressure build-up inside those lines due to running water through them during flushing operations.

Turn off the water supply to the tank.

To flush a water heater, you'll need to turn off the water supply and power to it. To do this, turn off the water valve that connects your home's plumbing system with your hot water tank. This will stop any new cold water from entering into your tank and mixing with any hot water remaining inside of it.

Make sure there isn't any residual heat left in the tank by checking its temperature with an infrared thermometer. If there's still some residual warmth in there, wait until it cools down before proceeding with flushing out all remaining liquid through this process. The next step is critical, make sure that no one uses any hot showers or baths while you're flushing out all those contaminants.

Remove the Drain Valve.

Turn off the water supply to the tank. Remove the drain valve from the bottom of your water heater, then open it and let any remaining water in your tank drain into a bucket or other container.

How Often?

How often should I flush my water heater? If you have a gas water heater, flush it every 2-3 years. If possible, take advantage of flushing services offered by local plumbers or utility companies. If you have an electric water heater (which has no pilot light), flush it annually.

Flushing your water heater is a simple task that helps keep your hot water system in good working order. It's important to do this regularly so that you don't run into problems with your water heater or other parts of the system, such as pipes that may become clogged over time due to sediment buildup.