It’s chilly out and you’re going to want your hot water heater to be working properly. Draining your hot water heater annually offers several benefits for its health and performance, but there’s some debate about its necessity. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons, along with a guide to the steps involved:
Benefits:
- Prevents sediment buildup: Over time, minerals in your water settle at the bottom of the tank as sediment. This buildup can:
- Reduce efficiency: Sediment insulates the heating element, making it work harder and use more energy to heat water.
- Cause overheating: Sediment can clog the dip tube, restricting the flow of cool water and potentially overheating the element.
- Damage the tank: Sediment can corrode the tank, leading to leaks and premature failure.
- Improves hot water performance: Draining removes sediment, allowing the heating element to work more efficiently, leading to faster hot water delivery and more consistent temperatures.
- Extends water heater lifespan: Regular maintenance, including draining, can help your water heater last longer by preventing premature damage.
Cons:
- Not universally recommended: Some manufacturers and plumbers argue that modern hot water heaters are less prone to sediment buildup and the risks of not draining are low. They suggest focusing on more critical maintenance like replacing the anode rod.
- Potential for leaks: Improper draining can loosen connections or damage fittings, leading to leaks.
- Inconvenience: Draining is messy and takes time, usually around 45 minutes to an hour.
Steps for draining your water heater:
Before you begin:
- Turn off the power or gas supply to the water heater.
- Turn off the cold water supply valve to the heater.
- Attach a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank.
- Place a bucket or drain pan under the hose to collect the water.
Draining:
- Open the drain valve slightly and let the water run into the bucket until it’s mostly empty.
- If the water flow is slow or stops, open the temperature and pressure relief valve (TPR valve) briefly to release air trapped in the tank. Be careful, as hot water and steam may come out.
- Once the water stops flowing, close both the drain valve and the TPR valve.
- Flush the tank by slowly turning on the cold water supply valve and letting it run through the drain valve for a few minutes. This helps remove any remaining sediment.
- Close the drain valve and then turn on the cold water supply valve fully.
- Turn on the power or gas supply to the water heater.
- Open a hot water faucet at the highest point in your house to bleed air from the pipes.
Thanks for reading,
Chris
