Flushing your water heater is one of the most important chores you can perform each year. This task is typically overlooked by many homeowners. Why is it so important? Because it helps remove the sediment and other junk that can accumulate in the bottom of the heater, which can help it run more efficiently and save you money. In this week’s blog, let’s take a look at some tips from Solution Based Plumbing, Heating, and A/C on how to clean a hot water heater.
HVAC Basics: How to Clean a Hot Water Heater
The job of flushing your hot water heater has a number of steps, but many homeowners find it easy enough to do on their own. You should try to perform this chore annually, but if you don’t get to it every year, don’t let it go more than three years before you flush it. You can always contact a professional HVAC technician to flush the heater for you. Below are the important steps to take when learning how to clean a hot water heater:
- Turn the heater off, and turn off the gas or electricity feed to the appliance.
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Turn off the cold water supply. The cold water spigot is typically located towards the top of the appliance.
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Activate hot water elsewhere. Run the hot water in a bathroom sink or tub while flushing the heater. This will prevent a vacuum from occurring.
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Open the relief valve. Opening the pressure relief valve can help water flow more easily when cleaning the heater. Make sure to put a bucket underneath the valve before opening it, and let the water in the hot water tank cool off afterwards.
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Connect a hose and drain the tank. Connect a garden hose to the drainage spigot at the bottom of the hot water heater, and put a bucket under the other end. If your heater is in the basement, you may need a portable pump. Turn on the drainage spigot and drain the tank until the water runs clear and free of sediment. You may have to completely drain the tank.
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Flush the tank. Turn that cold water spigot back on and let the water run through the hose for a few minutes until it’s clear. Continue flushing until there is no sediment in the water, then close the spigot again.
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Finish Up. Once the water comes out clear, you can put everything back to the way it was.
- Turn off the spigot, disconnect the hose, and close the pressure relief valve.
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Turn off the water that you turned on in the sink or tub.
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Fill the tank by turning on the cold water spigot, then open the pressure relief valve
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Let air out of the system by turning on the hot water spigot in a sink or tub. Cold water should come out. Turn off the spigot.
- Turn the gas or electricity back on.
- Wait 20 minutes, then test a sink or tub to make sure hot water is coming out.
Need Help Flushing Your Heater? Call Us for an Appointment
Do you need help cleaning your hot water heater? Not sure how to flush the tank? It’s time to schedule an appointment for service from Solution Based Plumbing, Heating, and A/C. Call the office at 215-584-2098 or complete the contact form on our site.