Gas Water Heater Maintenance Flush

While the water might be running clear and isn t brown you may still have some sediment.

Gas water heater maintenance flush.

Check the pressure valve. Before you begin a water heater flush. Turn back on the cold water into the water heater. Shut off the gas or electricity to the water heater and open a hot water faucet and let it run full blast for about 10 minutes to reduce the water temperature in the tank.

Allow the water to run through the water heater and out of the drain valve. To flush a water heater start by turning off the heater s power source using the breaker or thermostat. Close the drain valve and allow the tank to refill keeping the hot water faucet open. This may take a bit.

As a general rule your tankless water heater should be flushed once per year to maintain efficiency. Open the drain valve and allow the tank to completely drain. Next rotate the water shut off valve on your heater clockwise to turn off the cold water supply. Detailed walk through on how to drain and flush a gas or electric water heater.

How to drain and flush a water heater. Most homeowners should flush their water heaters every six months or so but if you have extremely hard water you may want to do it more often. A sediment trap or softener can help with hard water to a point. When water comes out of the faucet the tank is full.

If the valve doesn t operate correctly the tank can overpressurize and explode. Then turn on a hot water faucet in one of your sinks or tubs to prevent a vacuum from forming in the lines. Do this for approximately five 5 or ten 10 minutes. To flush your hot water tank simply turn on the cold water spigot leading into your hot water tank.

In the event the tank overpressurizes the relief valve opens and releases the pressure. Connect a hose to the drain valve on the heater and run to a drain. I show how i flush my water heater fro. However the hardness of your water plays a part in this and you may find it better to flush two to three times per year if your home s water is especially poor quality.

Flushing your hot water heater could be necessary as often as every few months depending on the mineral content of your local water supply.