Get A New Water Heater? Learn How To Flush The Tank To Keep It In Good Shape
If you just replaced the water heater in your home, chances are that you want to do all that you can to get a long life out of the new tank. That means you need to take steps to periodically flush the tank to remove all of the sediment that has collected inside it. Doing this helps prevent excessive wear from being put on the heating element, as well as reduce noise that the tank makes. Here is how you can do it on your own.
Turn Off the Fuel Source and Water
The first step will be to turn off the fuel source that is heating the hot water tank. If you have an electric tank, it will be as simple as shutting off the electricity at the fuse box to make sure that it is turned off. If you have a gas water heater, you'll need to turn off the gas valve. This is because you do not want the heating element running with a tank that is empty. You'll also want to turn off the cold water valve to prevent more water from going into the tank as it drains.
Connect the Hose
Every water tank will have a spigot at the bottom of the tank that is used to drain the hot water from it. You can connect a garden hose up to this spigot to allow all the water to drain. Ideally, you want a short hose that is just long enough to reach a nearby drain in the floor. If the hose is too long, you could have sediment collecting in the hose on the way to the drain. If you do not have a nearby drain, you can run the water into a sump pump or a laundry room utility sink.
Open the Water Valve
Turn the water valve on the spigot in a counterclockwise direction to allow the water to flow out of the tank. Be careful when handling the water, because it will be very hot coming directly out of your water heater. If it has been a long time since the water heater has been installed, you'll likely notice pieces of sediment coming out of the hose or that the color of the water looks a bit rusty. If it is a clear color, then you know that the tank is doing a great job at keeping sediment and rust out of the water.
Now you can shut off the water spigot near the bottom. Start filling the tank back up with cold water and turn the heating element back on. If you have more questions about flushing a hot water tank, ask your water heater installation and repair service at the time of the installation.
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