Kitchen Gas Appliances - FYI: Water Heater Draining and Flushing Info.
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Sharp Advice
06-23-01, 11:25 AM
FYI:
Basic Information.
PLEASE DO NOT POST REPLIES!!!
Posting Date: 06-23-01
Topics:
Tank Flushing and Draining.
Explaination of Terms.
Information and Procedures.
Suggestion:
Print this page!......:D
Safety Warnings:
Draining Requires Turning Off The Appliance First.
HOT Water can cause burns!
Within this forum and other forums, there are often questions asked, references made to and replies posted regarding either the FLUSHING of a 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:
At times it may become necessary to drain {empty} the water heater tank for various reasons. Replacing it, moving it's location, installing replacement parts or repairing it, etc.
The very first step is to turn OFF the gas or electric supply! Without water in the tank, the temperature sensing element or elements will cool off, do to the lack of hot water. This will cause the water heater to automatically turn ON and begin the reheating process. Therefore, it is essnetial to turn off the energy source prior to draining.
Second step is to turn OFF the incoming water supply. The COLD water inlet supply valve will be on the 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 seated closed.
The other type is the newer ball valve variety. This valve will have a lever that is turned so the lever handle is not parallel to the pipe but across it.
Third step is to OPEN at least one hot water faucet within the house. By doing so, internal pressure will be relieved and air will be allowed to enter through the faucet to help displace the water in the tank. Failure to execute this step may result in the tank not completely emptying.
Fourth step is to locate the faucet {Spigot} on the tank. They are always located near the bottom of the tank next to the gas control thermostat or lower thermostat on electric tanks.
Attach a garden hose to this faucet and place the other end of the hose where the exiting hot water will be safe to flow. Then OPEN the faucet on the tank and allow the entire tank to DRAIN until fully emptied.
TANK FLUSHING REASONS:
It is often recommended and also a good idea to FLUSH a water heater tank yearly. The reasoning behind this maintenance proceedure is to flush out sediment and rust particles that will naturally settle and accumulate 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, from the streets piping system and other sources, depending on the water supply.
TANK FLUSHING METHOD:
To successfully accomplish this task, simply attach a common garden hose to the water heaters faucet. {Spigot} 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 also.
Just attach the garden hose, 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 accomplish.
Once this is accomplished, CLOSE the tanks faucet valve. Remove the garden hose from the faucet and PRESTO! The FLUSHING is completed....:D
Printing Instructions:
Scroll back up to the top of this page.
Select {Click on} "Show a Printable Version."
Select your usual printing procedure.
Disclaimer:
The information above is offered to provide basic information and instructional procedures only. Methods and procedures apply only to tank type water heaters. Results and methods may vary. Always read your owners manual and closely follow the advice and procedures given in the manufacturers booklet or on the label attached to the tank. Always follow all safety warnings!
Regards & Good Luck
Forum Moderator
Tom_Bartco
Energy Conservation Consultant & Natural Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.
Basic Information.
PLEASE DO NOT POST REPLIES!!!
Posting Date: 06-23-01
Topics:
Tank Flushing and Draining.
Explaination of Terms.
Information and Procedures.
Suggestion:
Print this page!......:D
Safety Warnings:
Draining Requires Turning Off The Appliance First.
HOT Water can cause burns!
Within this forum and other forums, there are often questions asked, references made to and replies posted regarding either the FLUSHING of a 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:
At times it may become necessary to drain {empty} the water heater tank for various reasons. Replacing it, moving it's location, installing replacement parts or repairing it, etc.
The very first step is to turn OFF the gas or electric supply! Without water in the tank, the temperature sensing element or elements will cool off, do to the lack of hot water. This will cause the water heater to automatically turn ON and begin the reheating process. Therefore, it is essnetial to turn off the energy source prior to draining.
Second step is to turn OFF the incoming water supply. The COLD water inlet supply valve will be on the 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 seated closed.
The other type is the newer ball valve variety. This valve will have a lever that is turned so the lever handle is not parallel to the pipe but across it.
Third step is to OPEN at least one hot water faucet within the house. By doing so, internal pressure will be relieved and air will be allowed to enter through the faucet to help displace the water in the tank. Failure to execute this step may result in the tank not completely emptying.
Fourth step is to locate the faucet {Spigot} on the tank. They are always located near the bottom of the tank next to the gas control thermostat or lower thermostat on electric tanks.
Attach a garden hose to this faucet and place the other end of the hose where the exiting hot water will be safe to flow. Then OPEN the faucet on the tank and allow the entire tank to DRAIN until fully emptied.
TANK FLUSHING REASONS:
It is often recommended and also a good idea to FLUSH a water heater tank yearly. The reasoning behind this maintenance proceedure is to flush out sediment and rust particles that will naturally settle and accumulate 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, from the streets piping system and other sources, depending on the water supply.
TANK FLUSHING METHOD:
To successfully accomplish this task, simply attach a common garden hose to the water heaters faucet. {Spigot} 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 also.
Just attach the garden hose, 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 accomplish.
Once this is accomplished, CLOSE the tanks faucet valve. Remove the garden hose from the faucet and PRESTO! The FLUSHING is completed....:D
Printing Instructions:
Scroll back up to the top of this page.
Select {Click on} "Show a Printable Version."
Select your usual printing procedure.
Disclaimer:
The information above is offered to provide basic information and instructional procedures only. Methods and procedures apply only to tank type water heaters. Results and methods may vary. Always read your owners manual and closely follow the advice and procedures given in the manufacturers booklet or on the label attached to the tank. Always follow all safety warnings!
Regards & Good Luck
Forum Moderator
Tom_Bartco
Energy Conservation Consultant & Natural Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.