Have you noticed your water heater not operating as it should? Or maybe it’s not heating water as efficiently as it used to. While both of these could point to you needing a new water heater, you also might need to perform some simple maintenance on it. One task you could perform on your water heater without the assistance of a professional is flushing it out.

Why do I need to flush my water heater?

Most homes have some degree of hard water running through them; hard water refers to the mineral content of the water. When this water enters the water heater tank these minerals, since they’re heavier than the water, sink to the bottom of the tank. Flushing your water heater tank regularly will prevent corrosion, premature breakdowns, and hot water shortages.

How do I flush my water heater?

Flushing your water heater is a relatively simple process. Just follow these steps:

1. Turn off the power and the water supply. Whether you have a gas-powered unit or an electric one, you’ll need to shut off the power supply. You’ll also need to turn off the water supply so that the tank doesn’t refill as you’re draining it.

2. Drain your plumbing. Turn on one of your hot water spouts inside of the house to let all of the hot water drain out. This will prevent a vacuum from forming in the lines and will make it easier to drain the tank.

3. Hook and drain. Hook up a standard garden hose to your unit and allow the water to flow from the water heater tank. Make sure that the end of the hose is either going down a drain or into a bucket.

4. Remove the sediment. Open and shut the cold water supply valve several times to remove any lingering sediment.

5. Disconnect the hose. Once there is no more sediment visible in the water exiting the tank then disconnect the hose and close the drain valve on the tank.

6. Refill and power up. Now you can refill the hot water tank and power it back up!

If you run into any obstacles while maintaining your water heater, don’t hesitate to contact your local plumbing experts! At Dean’s Service, cleaning and draining a water heater is easy as pie, and we would be happy to help with yours! Contact us today either through our contact form or by giving us a call.