FLUSHING A Water Heater The RIGHT WAY Step by Step

FLUSHING A Water Heater The RIGHT WAY Step by Step - Water Heaters 101

Water heaters need to be flushed regularly in order to keep them working properly. This is a very easy DIY plumbing project that will save you money and keep your water heater in working order. If you have a new water heater, watch this to learn how to flush your water heater to make it have a longer life.

Chapters
Intro ► 00:00
Why flushing a water heater is important ► 00:23
What to do if your water heater is 5+ years old ► 00:52
When was your water heater installed? ► 01:19
If you have a problem with your water heater draining ► 01:45
Turn off your cold water valve ► 01:57
Turn off your gas! ► 02:25
Make sure nothing is running inside the house ► 02:49
Open up the water heater drain valve ► 03:21
Connect a garden hose and check for sediment ► 04:06
Turn on your cold water valve► 04:44
If the water is clean and no sediment/ close drain valve ► 05:25
If your drain valve is clogged/not draining ► 05:38
Last option if you STILL can't get the water heater to drain► 06:40
If you have to change out the drain valve ► 08:36
Why flushing a water heater can save you money ► 08:49
Outro ► 09:30

Thanks for watching! I'm Roger Wakefield, LEED AP, The Expert Plumber and welcome to my channel. On this channel, I teach homeowners how to save money on their plumbing by doing DIY plumbing projects. I also teach plumbers and plumbing company owners how to be the best plumbers in their area and run successful plumbing businesses. My goal is to teach you everything you need to know about plumbing.

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[gugion]

WARNING: If you have an electric water heater, make sure you TURN OFF THE POWER AT THE BREAKER BEFORE DRAINING THE WATER!!! I made the mistake of draining the water and the heating elements burnt out and had to be replaced.

[Ravi-kcfl]

Great video. We flush our hot water heater annually and use the same procedure you've described. Thanks for the genuine professional advice and no BS.

[Alisha-qgqe]

We just installed a new hot water heater yesterday, i made sure to get a tank with the brass drain instead of the plastic. It was super easy undoing the old one which lasted 23 years. Weve lived here for 7 and never flushed ours, something you know you should do but never do. Its nice having hot water again after 3 days without.

[steve-gg]

Excellent video. Thanks for being straight forward and helping us homeowners figure this out and save us hundreds on a plumber.

[alienwolf]

I've been a plumber for the last 24yrs and just flushed a heater today for my Customer. Here in AZ we have an average of 22-24 grains of hardness in the water which in the heater I did was a 50 gallon electric Bradford white. Lower element blown because of complete coverage of scale in only 18 months. The amount of scale in the bottom was about 2 to 3 inches full. With every install we also replace manufacturers drains with full port valves (most manufacturers only care to drain water not scale/sediment). You need to start bi annually flushing heater here unless you have a water softener system on your house to help minimize scale clumping inside the heater. I agree flushing with the water on, the dip tube in the heater helps to stir up the scale at the bottom and get it to flow towards the drain valve. One suggestion I would make to plumbers which we do on all installs is put a ball valve on the hot side of the heater not just the cold, this allows you to fully isolate the heater from the home. In this way you can service the heater without worrying about your customers opening a faucet and losing any vacuum you are relying on during maintenance, it also keeps the cold water available for your customers to use the toilet and washing afterwards. Great video just found your channel keep up the good work.

[jjones]

I am so glad I watched your video because I got up early to flush it today and it’s a lot older than 4 years old. I actually didn’t know you were supposed to flush them but after I replace this one I will from that point on. Thanks for the information and I’m a new subscriber now.

[shano]

Followed your instructions and flushed for a little over 10 minutes, everything went perfect! Great video, precise and straight to the point with no unnecessary info to get sidetracked by, Thank you!

[peachlarson]

This was good content & I agree with (almost) everythng you say. I do drain mine & then I will turn the water on with the valve open to help spray the bottom of the tank for any added sediment that stayed attached to walls of tank. I don't disagree on the expansion & contraction when you completely empty, however, someone in my home empties that hot water on a daily basis with her 20 minute shower :)

[AGrant-dyrh]

I just brought a home I had to drain my heater with your instructions I was able to do it. Thanks

[thewaterheaterfactory]

You can also push some compressed air into the drain valve to free the sediment the bubbles push the sediment out of the way and give you an idea of how much water is still in there. A wet-vac reversed, or air compressor with a spray nozzle. Or you can remove the drain valve and put a 6" PVC nipple that's full port for sure. A garden hose will attach to it as well .Great Video!!

[antoniorazo]

Very well explained, went further on details more than any other that I’ve seen related to same maintenance.

[LogicProXGaming]

I am a blind guy who’s been trying to get into fixing more stuff around the house, and your videos are super descriptive and helpful. The comment of Teflon tape and pipe dope killed me though lol.

[glenrobinson]

I started just flushing the tank once a year instead of draining the entire tank. Thanks for the idea about using a stiff rod to open up the drain if the water does not drain. I'll keep that in mind if I ever run into problems. Great video!

[timlaureano]

I was taught to drain the water heater out completely. Install 3/4” full port valve in replacement of the hose Bibb which has about 1/4” or less. After draining all the water out of the tank and all the sediment is sitting on the bottom of the tank near the burner. You then turn on the cold inlet to the water heater to flush out the sediment. If you really have hard water the standard hose Bibb flush valve would do a then to flush out your water heater.

[Austin]

Hvac tech here. I replaced the factory drain valve like you described. I do both ways of flushing the tank. I start with letting the city water pressure stir the sediment up while draining then I let it drain down

[stacyromanchuk]

I just flushed mine last week. I noticed white particulate in my faucets and usually flush it every spring. I did the 3/4 inch conversion which helped immensely. I turn my tank down to vacation the night before and run the dishwasher overnight. I then turn off the cold water supply, unhook the hot water from the top of the tank and let it drain into a 5 gallon bucket, and then drain the tank into the drain in my floor. I then close the drain valve, turn the cold o to full and then off again a few times to agitate the sediment at the bottom, then open the vale and drain the tank. After the water comes out clear I hook the hot water line back up and start filling it up slowly while having a tap run hot to stop the vacuum happening in the tank. Once full I tuen up the heat and I’m good to go for another year!

[liquidalloy]

Great video. Thank you/ Issue is for me, mine is in the basement and I have a finished basement. I would REALLY love a tankless setup and not in the basement anymore. Scares me having this there

[stubbshomestead]

Thanks for reminding me to do this, since covid I havnt done it. Time to find a water hose!

[ashtonmaupin]

I appreciate your video great info I work as a maitnence for a complex and I have about 25 of these puppies and I can't recall them being flushed, this going to help when I finally get to the point of flushing thank you 😀

[johnchargualaf]

Great video thanks for sharing. My unit is 13 yrs old did a flush 5-5-23. Last flush I did was 5-17-2017. Got some sediment I use the stocking over the hose end method to check for sediments. My question is now I have a slow leak coming from the drain valve any idea what would be the cause of it & how do repair it.