How to Flush Your Water Heater

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Water heaters need basic annual maintenance to perform well over time. In Chula Vista, most homeowners have hard water that will build up in a water heater and cause problems. Flush your water heater once a year to improve efficiency and identify potential problems with your unit.

5 Basic Steps for Flushing Your Water Heater

If you like to perform basic home maintenance on your own, use these steps to flush your electric or gas water heater once a year:

  1. Turn the water heater off
    • Cut off the gas or turn of the electrical supply at the breaker box. Refer to your owner’s manual for specific information about turning your unit off.
  1. Eliminate the water supply
    • Rotate the cold water shut-off valve near the top of the tank to the right (clockwise) to stop the flow of water into the tank.
  1. Turn on a faucet
    • Turn on a hot water faucet in the home to allow for proper drainage.
  1. Attach a hose to the tank
    • Wearing gloves, attach a hose to the drain valve of the tank and run the other end outside or into a drain and open the valve. You may need to pen the pressure-relief valve at the top of the unit to encourage drainage. If you do so, remember to position a bucket under the pipe connected to the valve.
  1. Flush the tank
    • After the initial drain flow stops, open the cold water valve and allow new water to flow into and out of the tank until it runs clear. When the water is clear, shut off the drain valve and reopen the cold water valve to fill the tank. Turn on all faucets in the home to eliminate bubbles and reconnect or relight your heater to restore function.

If you run into problems with the flushing process or if you prefer to leave all maintenance up to the professionals, contact BPI Plumbing in Chula Vista, California, at 619-429-9066. We’ll keep your water heater in top shape.

 

Sources:

https://theplumbinginfo.com/water-heaters/

http://www.wikihow.com/Flush-a-Water-Heater

https://www.angieslist.com/articles/how-drain-and-flush-water-heater.htm

https://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/water-heater/how-to-flush-a-water-heater/view-all/

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