How to Drain a Water Heater

How to Drain a Water Heater  

1. Turn Off the Power

   Shut off the gas to your water heater or shut off the power if it is an electric heater.

   • Gas water heater: A mid-line shut-off valve will be located on the gas pipe near the water heater. Turn the valve to shut it off.
   • Electric water heater: Electric water heaters have a control panel that lets you shut them off. Or, more expediently, shut off the circuit breaker that controls the water heater.

2. Perform a Quick Flush

   • Connect a garden hose to the drain valve.
   • Run the end of the garden hose to an exterior location or into a bucket to catch the water and sediment that will be released.
   • Flush the water heater tank briefly while the water pressure is on. Open the drain valve for a few seconds and then close it again.

3. Shut Off the Water Supply

   Shut off the water using either the valve in the cold-water pipe above the water heater or the main water supply valve to the house. Make sure the pressure is off by testing the hot water faucets in the house, turning them on, and checking for water.

4. Open the Drain Valve

   Open up the drain valve with your garden hose attached. You can do this by hand, but you may need to use your flat-head screwdriver.

   Once the valve is open, water will begin to gush out of the drain, so again, be sure your hose either leads outside or into your bucket. As the bucket fills, turn off the drain valve so that you can dump it. Repeat the process until the water runs clear.

5. Clean the Sediment

   You can take a few buckets of water out of the tank to remove any sediment accumulating at the bottom. When the outflow runs clear, you'll know that you've removed the sediment and can move on to the next step.
   

6. Turn on the Water Heater

   • Shut off the drain valve and disconnect the garden hose.
   • Leave only one hot water tap open in your home (the one in the bathtub closest to the water heater is best).
   • Re-energize the system slowly by partially opening the valve.
   • Open the valve to a fully open position once the system is fully energized.
   • Monitor the tap you left open. Turn it off once there's nothing but water coming out of the fixture.

7. Relight the Water Heater

   Relight the water heater pilot or turn the power back on if it is an electric heater. Within an hour or so, you should have hot water.

8. Check the Drain Valve

   Look for leaks at the spout to see if your water heater drain is closed. If it did not close, put a threaded hose cap over the hose thread of the outlet or entirely replace the valve.