6 Steps to Flush Your Water Heater

5/11/2022 (Permalink)

How To Flush Your Water Heater

A regular part of maintenance on your home in Maple Grove, MN is periodic flushing of your water heater. It's a simple process, but taking safety precautions and making sure the water and sediment have a place to go are important. Water remediation experts recommend the following steps to avoid flooding your home.

1. Turn off Power

Before you begin the water heater flush, make sure all power is off. The pilot light on gas models should go out, and the circuit that supplies an electric model should be switched off.

2. Put on Gloves

As you may expect, water from the heater will be hot, so it's important to wear protective gear over your hands. Heavy duty work gloves protect you from getting burned.

3. Set up Drain Hose

Connect the hose you are using to the drain valve on your water heater. Place the other end of the hose in the area where you want the water and sediment to deposit.

4. Drain the Heater

Opening the drain valve allows water to flow through. You can turn on the hot water faucet in your kitchen to speed up the process. Flush it a couple of times to make sure all the sludge is gone and then close the valves to prepare to refill the heater.

5. Fill the Tank

Turn the water back on to fill the tank. You know it is filled when an open faucet goes from weak, to steady stream of water and no more air is coming out of the line.

6. Turn on Power

After confirming the tank is full, you can turn the power on without damaging the heater. Turning the power on lets the water inside it begin to heat up.

Your water heater needs regular care just like any other appliance in your home. Flushing the sediment out allows it to continue working efficiently.