Water Heaters - Electric water Heater

I have an Electric Water Heater in my apartment. It is 50 gallon capacity. I think it is atleast over 8 years old or may be more but I don't know when exactly it was installed.

Is there any serial number or some thing on the heater which I could look it up and find out how old is that? If yes then where to look?

What is the life of a Water heater? I don't have any problems so far. But I have heard that I can cause big problems especailly if it is over 10 years old. I don't want to damage my floors and ceilings of down stair neighbours.

Could some some one give me some idea how much it could cost to install a new water heater?

This is in the same category as buying a new car. There are SO many brands to choose from and even more types of warranties. Water heaters can last a long or short time depending on how they are maintained and the water conditions they are subjected to. Draining and flushing annually can add a lot of time to the life of a heater. Different areas have different wages and costs for equipment. Get at least 3 bids on installation and cost of the SAME type heater. Go with what you can afford. You will find that the parts warranty and the service warranty are very different in length of times. Good luck in your search.

Here is a site to help find the age of the heater.

http://www.fastwaterheater.com/model%20%20serial%20number.htm

My Kenmore Power Miser 5 was installed in 1981 and still working, so, they can last a long time.

Make is Bradford White
50 Gallon
Upper element = 4500 watt element
lower element = 4500 watt elements

Max. Simultaneous = 4500 watts
Max. Non-simultaneous = 9000 watts

It says this heater uses 5106 KWH/year

Serial # is PH9696133 (according the above mention website coding is it was made is Aug. 1997)

Operate with a maximum of 150 PSI water pressure, but was tested to 300 PSI


Now this water heating unit seem to be 7 to 8 years old and I have been living at this place for about 2 years. I have never done any thing to water heater.

Do I need to flush this heater or it is optional or do many people flush on yearly bases?

asi, Water heaters get sediment that collects on the bottom of the heater tank. Gas heaters are more prone to problems with this as the burner on a gas heater is on the bottom and the sediment blocks the heat from going into the tank. Electric heaters sometimes collect sediment on the heating elements which block the heat from doing their job. By draining and flushing (not one without the other) you remove harmful deposits from forming on parts that make the heater work. At the top of the water heater Forum there is a stickie that explains in full just how to properly do this operation. Good luck.

I need to do only Flushing. or Do I have to drain the tank first then fill it up and flush again.

What is the use of pressure relief value? How to shut off electricity to the water heater?

My heater does not has any visible electric on/off switch and thermostats are covered with screws too. I am sorry that I am asking very basic questions but I am not very good that mechanical stuff.

By draining and then flushing (maybe twice each) you get rid of most the things that lessen the efficiency of your heater.
The pressure relief valve, also known as the temperature /pressure relief valve, is a safety device that protects you from a water heater exploding due to overly high pressure or temperatures within the heater. When either of these things happen, the T/P valve opens and allows the water to exit the heater. This prevents it from becoming over pressured.
Most electric water heaters have only the main breaker in the Main Breaker Box to turn them off. In the future I would expect codes to make it mandatory to have a switch nearer the heater for turning the power off.
Please don't ever hesitate to ask any question here. This is what we are here for and gladly help you with any questions you have. I am sorry that some others may give you an answer that seems to make you feel stupid, we try to weed out those types of answers because we are trying our best to help you Do It Yourself. Good luck with all your future projects.

thanks majakdragon

I understood draining porcedure but after opening the taps most of the hot water will be gone do I need to drain from the drain valve too becasue I will be repeating this procedure few times?


After draining in which order I turn the system back on to refill the tank?

I assume, close the drain valve, open incoming water value then turn on the electricity. Is this correct.

How long should I wait between the cycles?

After turning off the power and the cold water supply to the heater, open at least one hot water faucet. This allows air into the tank so that it will drain properly. Then open the drain valve at the bottom of the tank (with hose hooked up to where you are going to drain it). Once all the water has drained out, close the bottom valve and open the cold water supply. Let it fill up until water starts to come out the open faucet. Turn the cold supply off again and open the bottom drain. This should be sufficient to clean out deposits. Then you can disconnect the hose and turn off the bottom drain valve, open the cold water supply valve and when water comes out the hot faucet, you can close that faucet and turn the power back on to the heater.

I am trying to drain and flush the electric heater but few issues.

I switched off electricity from the main switch board ( this is only way I could shut off electricity)

I closed main water line to heater but as soon as I closed this one there is no water (or few drops only) coming out of tap neither hot nor cold. Is this normal or there is something wrong?

Isses with drain value.

My heater is place in steel tub (only 6 to 8 inch high) so that emergency water can accumalte there. Now problem is drain valve is very close to that steel wall. I was hardly able to put garden hose to that value. Plastic hose is kind of pressed and I wonder in this situation if any water will be able to come out of drain hose?


Only way I can place hose from the drain valve is to the sink. There will be no pressue and sink is 3 feet high. Would water be able to leave the tank or should look for some other means like drain in a bucket.

First its best to put the hose on and open the valve let the water run a bit. Then close the cold water off to the tank. and go open some hot water valves in the home. the water would drain up that 3 ft till is was level. let the hose on the floor. Turn power off first, fill tank all the way then turn power back on.

ED ;)

Actually I did.


I attached the hose to the drain valve and opened the drain value. Water was flowing.

As soon as I closed the incoming cold water valve there is no water coming either out of drain value + hose or from any tap.

Interesting thing is from the tap I can't get any type of water (cold or hot).

Few changes happened.

I place the hose in the bath tub which is only 1 feet high that is the best I could do. I live in an apartment on higher level.

I opened the drain value and kept incoming water value open to let it flush. There was lots of debris coming out.

Water became some what clear.

I closed the incoming water value and now I can see some water coming out of drain value hose ( I also opened one hot water tap in the bath room sink too to let the air get in the system).


There is something strange for me.


In the current situation. Drain valve open and incoming value closed, there is no water (hot or cold) out kitchen sink tap. But in the bath room sink I can't get hot water but cold water is coming. Why is that?

You still have the cold water on in the home thats why you get cold water out of a valve.

ED ;)

Thanks all for the wonderful advice. I did drain and flush. I think it was ok. Lotso dirt came out.

Few things I did not get.

In the sticky about draining, it was mention that trun off gas/electricity and then turn off incoming water line to the heater followed by turning on any hot tap in the house.

I did that but as soon I closed incoming water line valve no water came out hot water tap? Is this normal or not?

During Ist flushing step, I got cold water out of drain valve of heater and hot water out of sink hot water tap. Is this usual?

The hot water is pushed out of the heater by the incoming cold water. So what happened is normal. No push, no water.
When you wre flshing, you probaly pushed some hot water out of the sink faucet. The reason for opening a faucet while draining is to allow air in or else the tank would get water-locked and the tank would not drain. Similar to putting a straw in a glass of water and covering the end with your finger. If you lift the straw, the water stays in the straw. Release your finger and the water falls out.

Thanks for you reply,

Of course you are right. That is the simple science concept we use it all the time in the basic science. I just forgot it. Now it is clear.

thank all again