In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basics on why water heater flushing is done, plus some initial steps for doing so. This is an important process for removing sediment and corrosion that may have built up within the tank, and it should be done periodically in all homes or buildings that use tank-based water heaters.
At My Buddy the Plumber, we're happy to offer a wide range of plumbing services to clients throughout Provo and other parts of Utah, including several areas of assistance with water heaters -- and flushing is among many services we'll provide to you if needed. However, this is a job that some handy home or building owners will be comfortable carrying out on their own. Here are the further steps for doing so.
We left off in part one with attaching a hose to your tank's drain valve, one that leads to a drain or an outdoor location -- and the next step is to open the drain valve. Be aware that hot water will be draining from the tank; making sure the hose is in a safe location before this happens can help protect you and your home or building in case of any leaks, cracks or other problems with the hose, like it suddenly springing a leak when in use.
If you want to drain the tank as quickly as possible, turn on various faucets in your home or building to allow water to leave the tank at a faster rate. You can also use a submersible pump, which is specifically designed for this purpose -- but typically both of these will require an adequate outdoor location to be effective.
Once the tank has been drained, it's time to close the drain valve, as well as turn on the cold water flow from your home or building's main water pipe. If possible, clean up any excess water that remains within your tank before doing this step -- either with a towel or by scooping it out with a tool like a cup.
Next, disconnect the hose from the hot water heater valve. Then, clean this valve with a wet-dry vacuum or a clean towel, removing any sediment that may have accumulated in the valve during the flushing process.
Once this is done, you can reconnect your hose to the hot water heater, in order for it to be ready when needed again in the future. This process is best done when there isn't an immediate need for hot water with your tank, so it's wise to do this soon before you begin using hot water again.
Once the tank has been drained, it's time to close the drain valve, as well as turn on the cold water flow from your home or building's main water pipe. If possible, clean up any excess water that remains within your tank before doing this step. If you closed your gas supply when getting started, you can reopen it now as well.
Once more: If you're uncomfortable with any of the steps above, do not proceed! Instead, call our plumbers, who will be happy to carry out this process for you.
For more on flushing a hot water heater, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the team at My Buddy the Plumber today.
1:The quote must be a an apples to apples bid, same services and quality of parts.
2: Must be from a licensed and insured company that offers a comparable level of service.
(not chuck in his truck, or your neighbors nephew etc..)
3: The quote(s) must be presented in writing to our technician, at the time he looks at your project.
This is meant as a SECOND opinion. So round up those bids and give us a call, let us see what we can do to earn your business.
If we can’t find a way to match or beat your qualified bids, we’ll give you a $50 gift card for your time!
