How To Flush A Water Heater Tank

This simple yearly ritual can add years to your hot water equipment.

If you’ve ever had your tanker heater fail on you, you know it’s a horrible inconvenience. Your family must get by without warm showers or hot water to wash clothes, hands and dishes, and the pain doesn’t end until your new water heater installation is complete.

TF Complete Heating & Cooling addresses hot water issues year-round in Bristol, Middlesex, Norfolk and nearby counties. We always tell our customers that the best thing they can do to prevent water heater breakdowns is to flush their system yearly.

Why Flushing a Water Heater is Important

The number one cause of water heater failures is internal corrosion. Corrosive particles in your water eat away at the tank and eventually make it leak. (An anode rod in water heaters will slow this process but can’t prevent it altogether.)

Flushing your water heater annually will lower the concentration of these particles. That reduces internal corrosion and adds time to your equipment’s lifespan.
It will also help improve the quality of water coming from your tap, help maintain system efficiency and lower noise from the tank.

Flushing a Traditional Water Heater

The process of flushing a traditional water heater — one with a tank — is pretty simple and requires only a garden hose and maybe a towel.

Here’s how you do it. (These are general instructions; please consult your owner’s manual for the specific steps of your model.)

1. Turn your water heater’s burner to off or pilot.
2. Close the water supply valve, typically at the top of the tank.
3. Attach your garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank and run it outside or to a floor drain or slop sink.
4. Turn on a hot water tap in your home or open the water heater’s pressure relief valve to prevent a vacuum from forming inside the tank.
5. Open the drain valve and let the tank drain completely. (Be careful — the water coming out is very hot.)
6. While the water drains, run some of it from the hose to a bucket or large cup. This will give you a sense of how much sediment is coming out.
7. After the tank is empty, open the water supply valve to cycle more water through and clear more sediment.
8. Once the water from the hose is clear, close the drain valve. Also, turn off the hot water tap and/or shut the pressure relief valve. Refill the tank.
9. Once the tank is full, return your burners to their standard setting.

Flushing a Tankless Water Heater

One of the reasons that tankless water heaters last longer than traditional water heaters is that they have less exposure to corrosive elements in water. Even so, you should still flush them regularly. The process generally involves attaching hoses to the unit and running a mild vinegar solution through it. Your manual can provide exact instructions.

TF Complete Heating & Cooling keeps water heaters running.

Whether you need standard water heater maintenance or a repair for a struggling unit, the Tom Fricker team can help. Our expert technicians have extensive experience with traditional and tankless systems. We can even help with flushing and cleaning your equipment.

We’re here to ensure your Complete satisfaction. Contact us for service today.