Kitchen Gas Appliances - Water Heater Question

I've ived in this house for 12 years and never drained the 50 gal gas water heater. The main reason is it sits in the typical Los Angeles basement, a cement cubicle under the house that is open on all sides to the crawl space and has no drain. If I attached a hose it would then have to rise four feet to the crawl space
then make a fifteen foot pitched run to empty in the drive way. Any suggestions or should I just let sleeping dogs lie? Thanks for all your excellent answers.

Run a long hose and let her rip. It doesn't have to gravity drain; the incoming water will pressure flush any sediment on the bottom.

Hello Joe Viola

The question is do you want to "Flush or Drain" the tank. If Flushing is the objective, than the tow guy has the correct method.

If "Draining" is the objective, another method must be used. "Draining to remove the tank and "Flushing" to flush out accumulated sediment on the inside bottom of the tank is another objective.

Both methods are explained in the water heater sticky at the top of the forums list of questions. Reading that may provide the reasons and methods you are seeking.

Regards & Good Luck. Web Site Host & Gas Appliances Forum Moderator. Tom_Bart......TCB4U2B2B Company Enterprises.
Energy Conservation Consultant & Natural Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.