Draining a hot water heater is an essential part of ongoing maintenance for your home’s plumbing system, but many homeowners still don’t know how often to drain a water heater or why you need to do it. In most cases, it is recommended to drain the water heater every 6 months to a year to get rid of sediment build-up. Older water heaters may need to be drained more often due to wear and tear inside the tank.
Ideally, you should drain your water heater during the spring or fall seasons when the outside temperature is relatively comfortable. While this isn’t strictly necessary, it does reduce the energy you need to expend to reheat the water when you’re refilling the tank. However, timing is everything for this job, so you don’t need to drain an 80-gallon tank while the drainage system is handling a rainstorm.
We consulted with plumbing professionals to answer the question: How often should you drain your water heater? Read on to find out.
Why is it important to drain your water heater?
After asking do you have to drain your water heater, another question might be why do you need to drain it? “You need to flush your water heater tank about once to prevent any sediment from building up. Calcium and magnesium settle to the bottom of the tank over time and form an insulation barrier between the burner and the water. That layer acts like insulation between the burner/heating element and the water, forcing the system to work harder,” explains Dean & Man Christian, Dean & P Christian. Amazing home services.
But the Best water heater Depending on the age and hardness of your water, draining should be done every six months to a year. Otherwise, sediment build-up can reduce the efficiency of the water heater, increase your energy bills, and even shorten the life of your water heater. Others too Types of water heaters Similar maintenance is required to prevent scale buildup affecting performance. While tankless water heaters do not have a tank that needs to be drained, they benefit from a process called descaling. A pro will use a pump and cleaning solution to flush the tankless system.
What happens if you don’t drain your water heater?
Understanding the basic reasons for water heater maintenance is critical to the health of your plumbing system, so after knowing why you should flush your hot water heater, homeowners wonder what exactly will happen if you don’t? Will the water heater explode? What if this maintenance task is neglected?
At Steve Clemente, President and COO Benjamin Franklin Plumbingnotes that “If you don’t drain your water heater, sediment continues to build up inside the tank, making the system less efficient and forcing it to work harder. Over time, that can lead to higher energy use, additional stress on the system, and possible leaks or system failure.”
A build-up of sediment in the system can also lead to a weakened tank, hot water, or noise from your water heater. However, if your water heater is 10 years old and has never been drained, it is generally safer not to drain it, as disturbing sediment can cause leaks and valve failure. Instead, start saving up Replace the water heaterBecause the normal lifespan is 6 to 12 years.
Signs you need to drain your water heater
Ideally, you should plan to drain and flush your water heater every six months or once a year, depending on the age of the tank and the hardness of your water, but if you haven’t drained the water heater in a while or aren’t sure when the tank was last drained, you should look for signs that indicate it’s time. Christian offers the following list of signs that usually indicate you need to drain your water heater:
- Fresh water: If your showers aren’t as hot as they used to be, this is a sign that your water heater isn’t working as well as it could.
- Noisy water heater: Popping, rumbling or other Noisy sounds coming from your system May indicate sediment build-up or possible mechanical problems.
- Colored water: If you notice rusty or discolored water coming from your faucet, your water heater may have a rust problem.
- Water leaks: Puddles around your water heater are a red flag that there is a leak, signaling the need for immediate attention by a licensed technician.
- Fluctuating temperature: Inconsistent water temperatures in your home may indicate a failing heating element.
- Increase in utility costs: If you notice an unexplained increase in your monthly bill, this is a clear sign that your water heater is not working as efficiently as it should.
Steps to drain a water heater
After you figure out how often you should flush your water heater, the next step for most homeowners is to tackle this often neglected aspect of plumbing system maintenance. Draining a water heater is not a complicated task. If you have some basic plumbing experience, you can learn quickly How to drain a water heater By following the simple steps below.
Step 1: Drain the tank.
You will need to set aside about 20 to 60 minutes to drain a standard residential unit.
- For electric heaters, turn off the circuit breaker. For gas heaters, turn the gas valve on the gas water heater to the “pilot” or “off” setting.
- Close the cold water inlet valve located at the top of the tank.
- Connect a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank.
- Run the other end of the hose to a suitable drainage location.
- Open the drain valve at the base of the tank.
- Open the pressure relief valve at the top of the tank.
- Turn on the hot water faucet indoors to start draining the tank effectively.
Step 2: Flush the tank.
Once the water heater is empty, you will need to flush the remaining sediment. The flow of water in the tank physically forces small pieces of sediment out of the garden hose, scrubbing the bottom of the tank.
- Turn the cold water supply back on for about 20 to 30 seconds to flush out the remaining sediment.
- After letting the water run for half an hour, turn it off and let the tank drain again completely.
- Repeat this process until the water runs clear.
Step 3: Refill the tank.
The final step in the process is refilling the tank. Due to the lengthy process, it is not uncommon to ask how long it takes to refill the hot water tank? Ultimately, this depends on the size of the tank, but it will usually take about 30 to 60 minutes to refill and reheat, although electric heaters can take 60 to 120 minutes to reach full temperature.
- Close the drain valve, remove the garden hose and turn on the cold water supply to begin refilling the tank.
- Before turning the power back on or turning the gas valve back from the ‘pilot’ or ‘off’ setting, turn on the indoor hot water faucet, and let it run until all the air is out of the line and the water flows freely.
- You can then turn off the hot water faucet and close the pressure relief valve.
- Turn the breaker back on or turn the gas valve “on” to allow the water heater to heat normally again.
When Should You Call a Professional to Drain Your Water Heater?
While you may want to handle every aspect of home maintenance on your own, you may not have the expertise, comfort level, or time to drain your water heater. If you fall into one of these categories, there is no reason to force yourself to tackle this job without professional help.
“For homeowners who aren’t comfortable handling maintenance themselves, it’s always a good idea to tap a licensed professional. A trained plumber can properly inspect the system, remove any buildup, and make sure everything is running as efficiently as possible,” says Clemente. “Regular checkups like this can help catch minor problems early and keep your water heater operating reliably over time.”
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