Water Heaters - hot water heater
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B.C. WINSTEAD
01-01-07, 07:40 PM
what i'm wondering is when , why, & how do you flush a hot water heater?
594tough
01-01-07, 08:51 PM
1) manufacturers recommend annually
2) if you have hard water ( high mineral content) then mineral solids precipitate from the water and build up on the bottom of the tank, interfering with proper heat transfer, especially gas units. A very old heater may have a sediment a few inches deep.
3) connect a hose to the drain valve. Shut the water inlet valve, and open a hot tap in the house. Open the drain valve and allow to drain. Now close the tap and open the inlet valve, let the water run for several minutes. Now drain one more time. Finally, to refill, close the drain, open a tap, and open the inlet valve until all the air is bled out and water runs from the tap.
CAUTIONS: If this is electric, it is absolutely essential to TURN OFF the breaker, and leave it off unitl the tank is finally refilled and all air is out of the pipes.
If the tank is older, and has never been drained, the effectiveness of flushing now may be marginal, and there is at least a 50% chance that the drain valve will clog, and will not reseat and need to be replaced.
2) if you have hard water ( high mineral content) then mineral solids precipitate from the water and build up on the bottom of the tank, interfering with proper heat transfer, especially gas units. A very old heater may have a sediment a few inches deep.
3) connect a hose to the drain valve. Shut the water inlet valve, and open a hot tap in the house. Open the drain valve and allow to drain. Now close the tap and open the inlet valve, let the water run for several minutes. Now drain one more time. Finally, to refill, close the drain, open a tap, and open the inlet valve until all the air is bled out and water runs from the tap.
CAUTIONS: If this is electric, it is absolutely essential to TURN OFF the breaker, and leave it off unitl the tank is finally refilled and all air is out of the pipes.
If the tank is older, and has never been drained, the effectiveness of flushing now may be marginal, and there is at least a 50% chance that the drain valve will clog, and will not reseat and need to be replaced.