A typical home water heater holds about 40 gallons of water, heated to the temperature set on the water heater thermostat. A drain valve located at the bottom of the water heater provides access for draining the water inside, but sometimes even when you open the drain valve the water heater still won’t drain. If that situation arises, use a few tricks to try to get the water inside moving again.
What happens if the water heater is not drained?
Neglecting to drain your water heater regularly can lead to the accumulation of sediment and minerals at the bottom of the tank, causing leakage. Over time, this can result in extra wear and tear on the tank, potentially leading to major problems. Therefore, it’s important to drain the sediment from the tank on a regular basis to prevent these issues.
Before attempting to drain the water heater, make sure that the power and heating element for the tank has been shut off. If you empty the tank while the heating element is still active, you could wind up damaging the tank or, worse, causing an accident.
Cut off the power supply for electric heaters. On gas heaters, turn off the gas supply at the gas supply valve. Wait about an hour or so for the water inside the tank to cool off before proceeding.
Pressure Relief Valve
The pressure relief valve is a valve on the side of the water heater. These are used to equalize the pressure between the tank and the outside air. They usually take the form of a flip valve with a handle.
To trip the valve, flip the handle upwards. Some water may spill out of the relief vent on the side when you do this, which is normal. If the handle is hard to move upwards, use a pair of pliers to grasp it firmly.
Hot Water Taps
In order to drain the water from the tank efficiently, the pressure inside and outside of the tank should be equalized. Opening the pressure relief valve will help with this.
Another way to help equalize atmospheric pressure is by opening up the hot water taps inside the dwelling connected to the hot water heater. Locate the hot water tap that is closest to the faucet and open up the faucet by turning the valve counterclockwise.
Remove the Drain Valve
If all else fails and you can’t drain the water heater, one surefire way to get the water out of the tank is by removing the drain valve.
Just be warned, though, that this method can get very messy. It’s best to attempt it to a water heater located outside or in an easily drained location such as a basement.
Use a plumber’s wrench to loosen the drain valve fitting on the bottom of the water heater by turning it counterclockwise. You may be able to help control the water by catching it with a bucket as needed. Keep plenty of towels on hand when using this method.
