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Read More March 13, 2024 | Blain's Farm & FleetHow to Flush a Water Heater
Discover how to flush a hot water heater with this simple guide.
Draining and flushing your water heater can extend its life by years. You should flush it every six months to prevent sediment buildup from damaging your tank.
If your tank makes a rumbling sound, it usually means there’s sediment buildup boiling in the bottom. By flushing your hot water heater, you can remove this harmful buildup.
To do this, all you need is a garden hose, groove-lock pliers, and a drain or outside area to drain the water. Learn the seven easy steps to water heater flushing with this guide from Blain’s Farm & Fleet.
Step 1: Turn off the water to your hot water heater.
Do this at the cold water inlet, if your water heater has one. If it doesn’t, you’ll have to turn the water off at the main cold water supply valve.
Step 2: Turn off the power supply to your hot water heater.
For gas water heaters, turn off the gas valve. For electric water heaters, simply unplug them from the wall.
Step 3: Hook your garden hose up to your hot water heater.
Attach your garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank on your water heater.
Use your groove-lock pliers to secure the connection. Make sure the hose is routing the water to a safe draining location. This will usually be a drain in the floor of your basement.
If you don’t have a drain, route the water outside your home. Make sure you don’t drain the water close to your house, or it may pool and cause water damage.
NOTE: You can perform steps 1 through 3 in any order.
Step 4: Open a hot water faucet somewhere in the house.
This will allow air to enter the tank, so the water can drain out.
Step 5: Open the drain valve on the tank of your hot water heater.
This will let the water run out of the tank. It should take 10 or 15 minutes to drain.
Don’t leave the tank unattended while it drains. The water can be hot, and you don’t want a child or pet to burn themselves on it.
You may see chunks of sediment in the water flow. This is normal. Those chunks are what you’re trying to remove from your tank.
Step 6: Once the tank is empty, turn the water supply to the heater back on to flush it.
Turn the water on for about a minute, then turn it back off, and let the tank drain again. You may have to do this a few times.
When the water that drains out doesn’t have noticeable amounts of sediment in it, you’re done. You may have to refill and drain your tank two or three times, depending on how much sediment there is inside.
Step 7: Set the water heater back to how it started.
Shut off the drain valve, disconnect the garden hose, turn the water supply back on, and turn the power supply back on.
For a gas hot water heater, you’ll have to re-light the pilot light, as well.
For more great how-to articles, buying guides, and plumbing tips, check out our other Plumbing articles.
