How To Flush A Hot Water Heater

​When it comes to household chores, flushing your hot water heater is one of those tasks that's easy to overlook. I never thought about it until my friend Jeremy included it in his handy home maintenance checklist.

Regularly flushing your water heater is an important task. Getting rid of the gunk and mineral deposits that accumulate over time will help your heater run efficiently and prolong its life, ultimately saving money.
After living in my home for a few years, I figured it was due for a flush. I decided to tackle this chore and fortunately, it turned out to be super easy.
Excluding the time spent waiting for the tank to cool, it took just 20 minutes. I documented the process in case you need to do the same.
​Hopefully, this post will inspire you to finally knock this off your to-do list this weekend.

How Often Should You Flush Your Hot Water Heater?

​Depending on the model of your water heater, you should aim to flush it to remove buildup. Flushing your hot water heater is a necessary task that should be done every one to three years. The job is quite easy and wouldn’t be a bother to do at least once a year.

How to Flush Your Hot Water Heater

​Flushing your hot water heater is an important maintenance task to ensure it works efficiently, whether it's gas or electric. The difference between them mainly involves turning off the gas or electricity supply to the appliance. For a gas heater, you’ll turn off the gas valve, while an electric heater requires shutting off the power at the breaker. Follow these instructions to get started: First, turn off the power source--gas or electric—to the heater. Next, connect a hose to the drain valve and run it to a suitable drainage area. Open the valve and let the water flow until it's clear, effectively flushing out any sediment. This simple process can help maintain your water heater's performance and extend its lifespan.

1. Turn the Knob on Your Hot Water Heater’s Thermostat to “Off”

Turn the Knob on Your Hot Water Heater’s Thermostat to “Off”

​When it comes to flushing your hot water heater, the first step is to turn the knob on the thermostat to "Off". This is crucial for safety reasons. For gas heaters, you’ll find the thermostat near the bottom of the tank. Once located, turn it to the “Pilot” setting to be extra safe, or if you want to be thorough, turn it off completely. If you have an older model, be prepared to re-light the pilot light afterwards. For electric heaters, go to your breaker box and switch off the power. By taking these steps, you ensure that the heater is safely powered down and ready for maintenance. My personal experience has taught me the importance of double-checking that the heater is off before proceeding to avoid any accidental burns or electrical issues.

2. Turn Off Gas to Hot Water Heater

​Before you begin to flush your hot water heater, make sure to turn off the gas supply. Locate the gas pipe leading to your thermostat and pilot light. Once you find it, turn the valve to the off position. Alternatively, you can simply turn your thermostat to the pilot setting, which skips this step. This ensures that the gas is safely shut off and your heater is ready for maintenance.

3. Turn Off the Cold Water Supply to Hot Water Heater

​To start flushing your hot water heater, you need to turn off the cold water supply. Look for the valve located near the top of the heater. Once you find the valve, turn it to the off position. This step ensures that no more cold water flows into the heater, making it safe to proceed with the flushing process.

4. Turn on the Hot Water in a Sink or Tub

​When flushing your hot water heater, it’s important to leave the hot water on in a sink or tub during the entire flushing process. This helps to prevent a vacuum from forming in the lines while you’re draining the hot water tank. By keeping the water running, you ensure a smooth flow and avoid any complications.

5. Connect Garden Hose to Drainage Spigot

​To flush your hot water heater, you'll need to connect a garden hose to the drainage spigot. Start by ensuring the spigot is securely attached to one end of the hose. Make sure the other end leads outside or into a bucket to avoid any water mess. If your heater is in the basement, it can be tricky. You might need a portable pump to help move the water from the basement up to the ground floor. This extra step ensures all water is effectively drained. From personal experience, a reliable pump makes the task smoother. Once everything is set up, open the spigot and let the water flow out, keeping an eye on the process to prevent overflows.

6. Turn on Spigot and Drain

To flush your hot water heater, start by attaching a hose to the drainage spigot. Open the spigot to drain the tank until the water runs clear. Initially, the water may be brown due to sediment buildup at the bottom of the tank. As shown in the picture, the draining process will help remove this sediment. Continue to drain the tank completely to ensure all sediment is flushed out. Collect the drained water in a bowl to check for clarity. This method will help maintain your heater's efficiency and prolong its lifespan.

7. Flush

​To flush your hot water tank, first turn on the cold spigot leading into the tank. Let it run for a few minutes until the water exiting the hose runs clear. This may take a bit of time. Even if the water appears clear, there might still be brown sediment at the bottom. As shown in the picture, the sediment can be seen coming out during the flushing process. Continue until you have very little or no sediment left. Finally, turn off the cold spigot.

Finishing Things Up

Once you're satisfied with the clarity of the water, it's time to put everything back.

• Turn off the drainage spigot and disconnect the hose.
  
• Turn off the water on your sink or tub that you turned on at the beginning.
  
• Turn on the cold spigot leading to your hot water heater.
  
• Turn on the hot spigot of a sink or tub to get the air out of the system. The faucet should be running cold water at this point, then turn it off.
  
• If you shut off the gas to your hot water heater, turn it back on.
  
• If you turned off the thermostat, re-light the pilot light.
  
• For an electric hot water heater, flip the breaker switch on your electrical panel to restore power.
  
• Wait about 20 minutes for the water to heat up. Turn on a hot water spigot somewhere in the house to ensure hot water is coming out.

Now You've flushed your hot water heater. Mark your calendar to do this again in a year.