Are you wondering about how long to drain the water heater? To maintain your water heater working properly, drain it once a year. The draining procedure is rapid, taking approximately 15 minutes or above; it mostly depends on the size of your geyser, but the prep work takes a little longer, and the entire operation may take a day.
Regardless of the sort of storage-tank water heater you have, it’s good to drain your water heater once a year. Sediment collects within the appliance over time, reducing its performance and causing blockages in fixtures around the home.
The fact that water came out of your tank that seemed clean does not guarantee you’re safe. So, if you’re interested in learning more about this topic, keep reading till the conclusion. We’ve gone through how long it takes to drain the water heater in detail and the methods that will help you drain the water heater. Let’s begin!
Steps To Drain The Water Heater
Stop obsessing over how long to drain the water heater. As earlier noted, emptying a water heater usually takes 15-20 minutes. However, it would help if you had a thorough grasp of how to drain the water heater before doing so. We’ve outlined a few steps below to help you drain the water heater as quickly as possible.
Step #1. Drain the water pump
If the water heater becomes blocked, you must drain it as quickly as possible to supply hot water to your family. If not, empty it at least yearly or more frequently if your water is hard. The electricity towards the water heater should be turned off first. This is an important step to take. Rather than tripping the circuit breaker, switch the gas valve off and into the pilot light if you have a gas water heater.
Draining the tank might require a hose. Leaks can be avoided by using a hose that has a rubber gasket. A portable pump or a hose may be required if your water heater is located below the earth’s surface. In this situation, you’ll require two hoses, one to connect to the outside and the other to link to the pump. Gravity will be doing the work if your water heater is higher or at the earth’s surface.
Then shut off the tank’s water supply. This is where you’ll be wasting time. The water must be allowed to cool. It might take up to an hour or perhaps longer to complete this process. To help speed up the process, take a lengthy, hot shower.
Step #2. Drain the water heater
Once the water has cooled, attach the drain valve with a hose and stretch the line to a draining location. You would take a container and clear it as required, but you’ll have to start and stop the procedure each time.
Shut off the cold water supply line’s valve. The pressure relief valve should then be checked. Put a bucket underneath the valve and check for air while keeping an eye out for water. Any of these indicates that the valve is in good functioning order. However, it may have to be changed if there is no water leak or hum of air. Then, as a relief valve, switch on a heated water tap somewhere else in the house to assist the flow of water out from the unit more quickly.
Drain your tank fully by opening the water heater outlet valve. Switch on the cold water supply valve to eliminate the sediment in your water tank once the water has been emptied, which must require no more than 15 minutes. Based on the quantity of sediment accumulation, this might take a long time. Some of it may need to be pried away using a lengthy pair of pliers. You’ve done draining when the water flows clean. Know how to drain a hot water heater.
Step #3. Finish the work
The last step in drawing the water heater is to remove any stain left inside the heater. If the sediment has left spots on the water heater, you should wash them. To wipe out the tank, apply white vinegar. If spots are very tenacious, leave the vinegar to soak for several hours before draining it like water. It was now time to start putting everything back again correctly. Next, fill the tank with cold water while closing the hot drain valve. While starting on the power or gas, make sure the tank is full.
Now that you’ve wiped out the sediment, your water heater must function more effectively, requiring less energy to heat water. Flushing your water heater once a year might assist you in spending money on the monthly sewage bill. You can also save money by washing your water heater once a year.
It’s A Wrap!
We hope you enjoy reading this post and that after reading it, you will have a better understanding of how long to drain the water heater. Keep in mind that your water heater will be drained in 15 minutes or less. Thank you, friends, for being with us at the end!
Click on these links to read related articles; know how to clean hot water heater and how to fix gas water heater.