Water Heater flush drain valve unclog with wire

Using a wire to allow crud to flow through valve. The crud blocks the entrance to the valve INSIDE the tank. Moving the wire around keeps the water flowing to wash out the crud.

[rosgembrun]

Thanks. Saved me $130.00, which is what a plumber would probably have charged me.
All of that stuff finally came out and I am able to have hot water again.

[dfmayes]

I had the same problem. However I fixed it by simply opening the drain valve with the cold water ON. It blew out the blockage just fine. Could be worth a try. I'm no expert so do it at your own risk.

[toddsmith]

Put a brass value in. Much bigger hole.

[GodWeenSatan]

I have it cleaned and draining because when I turn the water on it comes out but the water that's in the tank wont drain?

[betoxyz]

I used a shop vac and it worked great. It sucked all the sediment out of my 10 yr old heater that I never drained regularly.

[kash]

So how do I do this in a finished room with new flooring lol

[peterp]

what do you do if you don't have a nearby drain in the floor ?

[mobiussquadron]

Wouldn't putting a hose pipe on it and blowing into it to blow the crud away from the draining area?

[FrankSalman]

Yes, Remove that connection and shop vac is best. What I am doing now, but taking me forever because I'm getting too obsessed in cleaning every little spec out.

[joeyjones]

what if you take a sledgehammer to the heater as hard as you can over and over?

[kentbernard]

watching the water drain is putting me to sleep

[oilsmokejones]

Wonder if you could put a wet vac hose in element hole to suck out some of the junk..?? Those crumby little plastic valves should be against the law..the one on my Whirlpool is even worse..

[CDtheMan]

That's not a proper flash, you pull out that wire and it's going to back up. Thank you anyway