How To Flush A Hot Water Heater To Remove Sediment

Check out how easy it is to flush a hot water heater! This is important annual maintenance that will extend the life of your water heater, and help make sure you always have hot water when you need it. The process is very easy, and I show you every step of the way exactly what you need to do and how to do it.

• Materials needed:
• Tools required:

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0:00 Introduction
0:54 Turn off The Heat
1:50 Turn Off Cold Water Supply
2:10 Connect Drain Hose
2:30 Allow Air Into The System
2:57 Open Drain Valve
4:18 Inspect Draining Water
5:05 Flush In Bursts
6:25 Inspect Water Again
7:00 Completely Fill And Drain Once More
8:45 Final Fill
10:00 Final Steps
10:32 Conclusion

 #HotWaterHeater, #FlushHotWaterHeater, #WaterHeater

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[AmplifyDIY]

Ok internet, I get it. It's not a HOT water heater. It's just a water heater. I suppose I've always called it that because that's what I've always heard it called.

[sg.]

5 YEARS LATER AND THE BEST VIDEO ON THIS SUBJECT! As a first time homeowner I can't tell you how valuable I found this video! You did an amazing job explaining and showing absolutely every process needed to due this safely and thoroughly. Thank you so much for taking the time to document this so completely. It is saved as a favorite to this ladies videos so that I can easily retrieve it for the next time. Thanks again! FANTASTIC VIDEO!!

[thorkappabrosilon]

First time homeowner here. Thank you for taking the time to walk us through this process. Much appreciated, good sir.

[Fungamer]

This is by far the best tutorial for anything I've ever seen on YouTube. It was easy to understand, and you explained it in good detail without making the video too long

[TopRival]

Very clearly explained. Also, the sound quality is excellent, and the background music was not overpowering. Overall, a very pleasant and well done video.

[notme]

GREAT VIDEO! Very well explained BUT . . .
just 1 thing, at the end when you think you're done, open ALL the hot water faucets in the house and after they stop burping air let them run for another minute to make sure all the air is out. What's called water hammer can destroy your plumbing. Super important to get all the air out

[johnhebbe]

Positive comment: This video presentation was nicely put together. Right amount of detail, well paced and easy to watch.

[seanguerino]

This will be lost amongst the thousands of comments, but I also wanted to say thank you for you presentation.

Our set up was a little different as it's in the basement, so I purchased a hot-water-rated pump (only $50) and attached it to the tank using the connector hose from my clothes washer. Drained faster than you spoke of (for obvious reasons), but every step you mentioned was spot-on. Local plumber wanted $200 to do it, so you've saved me money now and in the future!

[shinjijou]

As a second language speaker I am impressed by how clear and straightforward this tutorial video is. Just like some of other comments mentioned here, this is by far the best How-To video I have ever seen from YouTube in my limited watch and learn DIY life.

[kencheng]

wow, this is one of those rare videos that deserves a dozen gold stars

[montuckyrose]

Thank you so much! I'm a middle aged woman who is alone as my husband has passed and I wouldn't have known how to do this. You have done a great service for myself and others like me. Great video! Very helpful and informative!

[archiepezek]

This was the best video I've seen on draining a water heater. Thank you.

[carlschnurr]

Nice video. I just flushed my water heater. 1st time in several years. My tank had so much sediment that the sediment impeded the flow of water from the drain. During the quick 15 second water then drain cycles, I used a wire / coat hanger to stick up through the valve in order to unblock the drain. Its also useful to use the largest diameter garden hose you can.

[jaelvv]

Thank you so much! I just successfully flushed my water tank by myself. I’m a 30 year old woman with ZERO experience and I completed this in an afternoon after work. I would say that my water tank has never been flushed. I got out probably 1/2 cup of sediment. Insane! Thank’s so very much.

[springtimeplumbing]

Good instructional video, covers most all of the important points. One thing I might add.

**In the case of an electric water heater, DO NOT turn the power back on until all of the air has been flushed out of the tank through a faucet. The elements need to be surrounded by water before being energized, or they will overheat and burn out**

[ericpierce]

I've watched several of these videos and yours was by far the best. You give very clear instructions, have good pacing in the video, good voice modulation and so on, making it easy to listen to you. You're a really good teacher!

[visualsolutionz]

Best tutorial on YouTube .
Never would have thought it would be about a water heater. Thank you !

[iggr]

You don’t have to apologize for what you called it anybody that is here to watch you know what you were pointing at and working on and helped us with thank you very much for taking the time to teach us

[jeankutzer]

Great video. Ive been doing this twice a year for over 26 years. Same water heater. I did one thing different. I have a short hose with 2 female ends and once its drained i put a hose from an outside faucet and run it backwards into the tank to stir up calcium deposits. Only a couple of minutes and then drain again. Ive got as much as 1 gallon of additional calcium out by doing it this way. For the future im going with small tankless water heaters where needed instead of a central unit.

[Atnight]

Great instructions and audio. I never knew I needed to drain my hot water heater until recently. No one shall convince me to call it a water heater!