Gas Water Heater Maintenance Flush

Before you begin a water heater flush.

Gas water heater maintenance flush.

Most homeowners should flush their water heaters every six months or so but if you have extremely hard water you may want to do it more often. Close the drain valve and allow the tank to refill keeping the hot water faucet open. Then 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. Allow the water to run through the water heater and out of the drain valve.

While the water might be running clear and isn t brown you may still have some sediment. However the hardness of your water plays a part in this and you may find it better to flush two to three times per year if your home s water is especially poor quality. Both gas and electric water heaters have a safety device called a temperature and pressure relief valve or t p valve for short. This may take a bit.

I show how i flush my water heater fro. To flush a water heater start by turning off the heater s power source using the breaker or thermostat. If the valve doesn t operate correctly the tank can overpressurize and explode. Next rotate the water shut off valve on your heater clockwise to turn off the cold water supply.

To flush your hot water tank simply turn on the cold water spigot leading into your hot water tank. Open the drain valve and allow the tank to completely drain. Flushing your hot water heater could be necessary as often as every few months depending on the mineral content of your local water supply. Let it run for a few minutes until the water exiting your hose runs clear.

How to drain and flush a water heater. Connect a hose to the drain valve on the heater and run to a drain. Turn back on the cold water into the water heater. Then turn on a hot water faucet in one of your sinks or tubs to prevent a vacuum from forming in the lines.

In the event the tank overpressurizes the relief valve opens and releases the pressure. A sediment trap or softener can help with hard water to a point. Do this for approximately five 5 or ten 10 minutes. Check the pressure valve.

When water comes out of the faucet the tank is full.