Flushing your water heater will help to make sure that it reaches its lifespan and beyond. You should flush out your water heater at least every couple of years. It’s easy to do once you learn how to do it.

Shut Off Gas And Electricity

Your first step when flushing your water heater is to turn off the gas and power. Shutting off the gas, if you have a gas water heater, will ensure that there is no gas in the line so that the water heater does not leak or have heat buildup.

You can turn off the electricity by going to your circuit breaker. There should be a switch labeled for the heater. Flip it to the “off” position.

Turn Off The Water Valve

Your next step is to turn off the cold water supply to your water heater. You should find it on your unit or near it. It should look like a regular faucet. It may be colored blue.

Connect Your Hose

Locate the spigot on your water heater. This will be down toward the bottom of your unit and will look like a hose faucet. Get a bucket and place it under the spigot to catch any drips. Next, get your garden hose and screw it to the spigot.

Drain The Tank

Turn on the spigot and let the water drain out. Look at the water coming out. If it’s clear, your tank is in good shape. However, if you see that the water contains a lot of dark sediment, your tank may be in bad shape.

Flush The System

After you have removed the water, you will need to turn the cold water supply on and flush the system.

Final Steps

Once the system is fully flushed, you can now close everything off and turn the gas and power back on. Your water heater should be good for at least a couple more years.

At Drainworks Plumbing & Septic LLC, we understand the importance of having a functioning water heater. We serve Columbia, CT, and the surrounding areas and offer plumbing and septic services. If you flushed your water heater and noticed a lot of sediment, call us today for an inspection.