Kitchen Gas Appliances - Water Heater Draining and Flushing Info.
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Sharp Advice
06-11-03, 11:43 AM
Hello Do-It-Yourself Members and Moderators.
FYI TOPIC:
Provided to assist you with "Basic Tank Type Water Heater Maintenance Information."
Topics Covered:
Tank Flushing and Draining.
Explaination of The Terms.
Information and Procedures To Accomplish The Task.
Safety Warnings:
Follow all manufacturers instructions.
Draining Requires Turning Off The Appliance First.
Be aware that HOT water can cause personal injuries and damage to surrounding areas.
Spring has almost arrived in many parts of the country. With the arrival of spring, it's a good practice to do the recommended yearly water heater maintenance procedure.
Within this forum on gas appliances and within the plumbing forum, there are often questions asked, references made to and replies posted regarding either FLUSHING of a water heater tank or the DRAINING a water heater tank.
There are differences between draining and flushing and often the terms are accidentally interchanged and or used incorrectly. Draining refers to emptying the tank while flushing refers to removing debris from within the tank.
TANK DRAINING PROCEDURE:
At times it may become necessary to drain {empty} the water heater tank for various reasons. Replacing the tank with a new tank, moving the tanks current location to another location, installing replacement parts to the current tank, etc.
If you have a need to do so, the very first step is to turn OFF the gas or electric supply to the tank! Without water in the tank, the temperature sensing element or elements will cool off, do to the lack of hot water.
Without water in the tank, it is essential to turn off the energy source prior to draining the tank. Failure to do so will cause permanent damage to the control, burner, electrical elements, tank and any other parts.
Second step in the draining processis to turn OFF the incoming water supply. The COLD water inlet supply valve will be on the inlet water pipe located on the right side of the tank at the top.
The valve may be one of two commonly used varieties. A gate valve, which has a round knob that is turned inwards {clockwise} until fully seated in the closed position.
The other type is the newer ball valve variety. This valve will have a lever that is turned so the lever handle is no longer parallel to the pipe. Instead, the lever handle will be across the pipe.
Third step is to OPEN at least one HOT water faucet within the house. By doing so, internal water pressure within the tank will be relieved.
Air will than be allowed to enter through the opened faucet to help displace the water in the tank. Failure to execute this step will result in the tank not completely emptying.
Fourth step is to locate the faucet {Spigot} on the tank. These faucets are always located near the bottom of the tank next to the thermostat temperature control dial or lower thermostat on electric water heater tanks.
To this spigot, attach a common garden hose and place the other end of the hose where the exiting hot water will be safe to flow and the hot water will not cause damages to the surrounding areas.
Once the garden hose is attached to the spigot or faucet on the tank, OPEN the valve and allow the entire tank to DRAIN until fully emptied. This process may take several minutes. Be patient.
TANK FLUSHING PROCEDURE:
It is often recommended and also a good idea to FLUSH a water heater tank yearly. The reasoning behind this maintenance procedure is to flush out accumulated sediment and rust particles that will naturally settle and on the bottom of the tank.
Sediment is found within all supplies of water more or less to some degree. Rust comes from the tanks interior, do to normal tank aging, the iron pipes within the houses piping system, those of the main supply, the streets piping system and other sources, depending on the water supply.
TANK FLUSHING METHOD:
To successfully accomplish the tank flushing task, simply attach a common garden hose to the water heaters faucet. To flush the tank, there is NO need to turn off the gas or electrical supply nor open any hot water faucet within the house.
Leave the inlet water supply valve ON. Just attach the garden hose to the tanks faucet, place the other end in a location where HOT water will do no damage and then simply OPEN the tanks faucet valve.
Allow the existing HOT water to flow out until it does so cleanly and clearly. Depending upon the amount of rust and debris inside the tank, this step may take less than one minute or several minutes to completely and fully accomplish.
Be patient. Depending upon the amount of sediment and rust contained within the tank and how often this process is done, will determine the amount of time required to fully complete the tank flushing process.
Once this process is accomplished, CLOSE the tanks faucet valve. Remove the garden hose from the faucet.
PRESTO! The FLUSHING is completed.
DIY'S Water Heating Pages:
http://doityourself.com/waterheater/index.shtml
Water Heater Help Information:
http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?postid=556740#post556740
Suggestion:
Printing These Instructions:
Scroll down to the location on this page and Click on the link "Show a Printable Version."
Disclaimer:
The information above is offered to provide basic information and instructional methods and procedures only.
Methods and procedures apply only to tank type water heaters. Results and methods may vary by tank manufacturer or design.
Always read your owners manual and closely follow the advice and procedures given in the booklet or on the label instructions attached to the tank. Always follow all safety warnings!
Best Regards & Good Luck.
Web Site Host and Multiple Topics Moderator.
Energy Conservation Consultant & Natural Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.
>>>Forum Moderators and Co Moderators Wanted<<<
All forums on the web site need Knowledgeable and or Experienced persons to become Moderators & Co-Moderators.
If you personally have a knowledge on any topic on the web site or know of someone who does, positions as moderators and co moderators are available. New Members are welcome to apply.
Selected candiates must be able to post replies to questions in the forums of their knowledge and selection, in a timely, informationally correct and detailed manner.
Any topic on the web site that you have knowledge and or experience in and would like to become a moderate of that topic, interested candidates should advise the Web Sites Administrator.
To apply for consideration to become a moderator or co moderator, please read the current forum notes found in every forum. Follow the instructions contained with the note.
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Moderator Pay: ZERO....:(
Moderator Benefits: NONE....:(
Rewards...Plenty...Self Satisfaction Helping Others....:)
Forum Host & Multiple Topic Moderator. TCB4U2B2B Company Enterprises. Energy Conservation Consultants & Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.
FYI TOPIC:
Provided to assist you with "Basic Tank Type Water Heater Maintenance Information."
Topics Covered:
Tank Flushing and Draining.
Explaination of The Terms.
Information and Procedures To Accomplish The Task.
Safety Warnings:
Follow all manufacturers instructions.
Draining Requires Turning Off The Appliance First.
Be aware that HOT water can cause personal injuries and damage to surrounding areas.
Spring has almost arrived in many parts of the country. With the arrival of spring, it's a good practice to do the recommended yearly water heater maintenance procedure.
Within this forum on gas appliances and within the plumbing forum, there are often questions asked, references made to and replies posted regarding either FLUSHING of a water heater tank or the DRAINING a water heater tank.
There are differences between draining and flushing and often the terms are accidentally interchanged and or used incorrectly. Draining refers to emptying the tank while flushing refers to removing debris from within the tank.
TANK DRAINING PROCEDURE:
At times it may become necessary to drain {empty} the water heater tank for various reasons. Replacing the tank with a new tank, moving the tanks current location to another location, installing replacement parts to the current tank, etc.
If you have a need to do so, the very first step is to turn OFF the gas or electric supply to the tank! Without water in the tank, the temperature sensing element or elements will cool off, do to the lack of hot water.
Without water in the tank, it is essential to turn off the energy source prior to draining the tank. Failure to do so will cause permanent damage to the control, burner, electrical elements, tank and any other parts.
Second step in the draining processis to turn OFF the incoming water supply. The COLD water inlet supply valve will be on the inlet water pipe located on the right side of the tank at the top.
The valve may be one of two commonly used varieties. A gate valve, which has a round knob that is turned inwards {clockwise} until fully seated in the closed position.
The other type is the newer ball valve variety. This valve will have a lever that is turned so the lever handle is no longer parallel to the pipe. Instead, the lever handle will be across the pipe.
Third step is to OPEN at least one HOT water faucet within the house. By doing so, internal water pressure within the tank will be relieved.
Air will than be allowed to enter through the opened faucet to help displace the water in the tank. Failure to execute this step will result in the tank not completely emptying.
Fourth step is to locate the faucet {Spigot} on the tank. These faucets are always located near the bottom of the tank next to the thermostat temperature control dial or lower thermostat on electric water heater tanks.
To this spigot, attach a common garden hose and place the other end of the hose where the exiting hot water will be safe to flow and the hot water will not cause damages to the surrounding areas.
Once the garden hose is attached to the spigot or faucet on the tank, OPEN the valve and allow the entire tank to DRAIN until fully emptied. This process may take several minutes. Be patient.
TANK FLUSHING PROCEDURE:
It is often recommended and also a good idea to FLUSH a water heater tank yearly. The reasoning behind this maintenance procedure is to flush out accumulated sediment and rust particles that will naturally settle and on the bottom of the tank.
Sediment is found within all supplies of water more or less to some degree. Rust comes from the tanks interior, do to normal tank aging, the iron pipes within the houses piping system, those of the main supply, the streets piping system and other sources, depending on the water supply.
TANK FLUSHING METHOD:
To successfully accomplish the tank flushing task, simply attach a common garden hose to the water heaters faucet. To flush the tank, there is NO need to turn off the gas or electrical supply nor open any hot water faucet within the house.
Leave the inlet water supply valve ON. Just attach the garden hose to the tanks faucet, place the other end in a location where HOT water will do no damage and then simply OPEN the tanks faucet valve.
Allow the existing HOT water to flow out until it does so cleanly and clearly. Depending upon the amount of rust and debris inside the tank, this step may take less than one minute or several minutes to completely and fully accomplish.
Be patient. Depending upon the amount of sediment and rust contained within the tank and how often this process is done, will determine the amount of time required to fully complete the tank flushing process.
Once this process is accomplished, CLOSE the tanks faucet valve. Remove the garden hose from the faucet.
PRESTO! The FLUSHING is completed.
DIY'S Water Heating Pages:
http://doityourself.com/waterheater/index.shtml
Water Heater Help Information:
http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?postid=556740#post556740
Suggestion:
Printing These Instructions:
Scroll down to the location on this page and Click on the link "Show a Printable Version."
Disclaimer:
The information above is offered to provide basic information and instructional methods and procedures only.
Methods and procedures apply only to tank type water heaters. Results and methods may vary by tank manufacturer or design.
Always read your owners manual and closely follow the advice and procedures given in the booklet or on the label instructions attached to the tank. Always follow all safety warnings!
Best Regards & Good Luck.
Web Site Host and Multiple Topics Moderator.
Energy Conservation Consultant & Natural Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.
>>>Forum Moderators and Co Moderators Wanted<<<
All forums on the web site need Knowledgeable and or Experienced persons to become Moderators & Co-Moderators.
If you personally have a knowledge on any topic on the web site or know of someone who does, positions as moderators and co moderators are available. New Members are welcome to apply.
Selected candiates must be able to post replies to questions in the forums of their knowledge and selection, in a timely, informationally correct and detailed manner.
Any topic on the web site that you have knowledge and or experience in and would like to become a moderate of that topic, interested candidates should advise the Web Sites Administrator.
To apply for consideration to become a moderator or co moderator, please read the current forum notes found in every forum. Follow the instructions contained with the note.
Moderator Compensations Offered:
Moderator Pay: ZERO....:(
Moderator Benefits: NONE....:(
Rewards...Plenty...Self Satisfaction Helping Others....:)
Forum Host & Multiple Topic Moderator. TCB4U2B2B Company Enterprises. Energy Conservation Consultants & Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.