Cleaning Water Heater Tank

Your water heater will operate more efficiently and this will usually extend the life of the heater.

Cleaning water heater tank.

Press down on the wand s handle to shoot the water inside the tank. Open the drain valve after unscrewing the water supply line and allow sufficient time for the water to drain out of the heater into the basin. Then shut off the cold water valve at the top of the tank and attach a garden hose to the existing drain valve and route it to a floor drain. This water will help dislodge any additional sediment that may have been inside your tank.

Take a water hose and attach it to the drain valve. If there is a thick layer of dust or dirt on your hot water heater use a shop vac to take off as much dust as possible. This helps to control the buildup of mineral deposits. Reactivate the cold water supply before you disconnect your hose from the drain valve.

To clean the sediment out of a water heater follow these steps. Once the water has drained close the valve. Then turn the cold water supply off once more. On the downside they use more energy.

Water heaters should be flushed every one to three years depending on the model and water source. Storage tank water heaters require little maintenance and are less expensive than tankless water heaters. Water heaters with a tank are the most popular. Rotate the wand around the tank so it sprays each wall of the tank.

Be sure to turn off the power to the water heater and the cold water inlet valve before you begin any repairs. Let the drain valve run for a few minutes until the water exiting from the hose is clear. Push the end of the wand into the port at the bottom of the water heater tank and turn on your hose. Step 3 wipe the hot water heater down with a dry cloth to get rid of as much dry dirt as possible.

Run the hose end to a basin where you can collect hot water. Use the crevice attachment to clean underneath the tank around the pipes and behind the hot water heater. Unscrew the cold water supply line at the top of the water heater and remove the nipple screwed into the cold water port. Spray the inside of the tank with the cleaning wand.

For a 40 gallon tank you will typically pour 2 gallons of clean. Step by step instructions for flushing the sediment from a water heater. If you don t use that stored hot water it cools down and has to continually be reheated. Shut off the gas or electricity to the water heater and open a hot water faucet and let it run full blast for about 10 minutes to reduce the water temperature in the tank.