While you may not believe it, your water heater does not have an infinite lifespan. Water heaters often last around 15 to 20 years depending on what type it is and how you take care of them.
Draining your water heater every so often can extend its lifespan and keep it running in mint condition. Meaning less money is going to maintenance and more money can go to stuff you want.
In this article, we discuss how to drain your water heater properly and how long it should take. Spend less time with a plumber and more time focusing on you. Let’s get into it!
How Long To Drain A Water Heater?
The length of time it takes to drain a water heater depends on the size of the tanks and if you are doing it correctly. On average it should take no longer than 15-30 minutes to drain a water heater completely, however, it can also take up to 60 minutes.
Once you drain your water heater you also have to flush it, refill the tank, and wait for the water to heat. All in all, this can take around 2 hours to complete.
Most people give the entire afternoon in order to ensure the job is done correctly. However, if you are in a pinch it can be done in under 2 hours.
Benefits Of Draining Your Water Heater
Draining your water heater can be one of the most mundane jobs that need to be done around the house. However, it is an essential task to ensure you have running hot water around the home.
Draining the water heater will enable it to function as well as possible and increase the amount of hot water that is always available. By doing this, the tank is emptied and the mineral-laden residue in your home’s water supply is pushed out.
We always recommend flushing out your water heater once it has been drained. This will provide even better water and cut the number of tasks you have in half.
Flushing your water heater entails moving and eliminating the sediment that has been left behind rather than emptying the tank.
Another benefit of draining and flushing your water heater is that you will become more comfortable with the appliance. So, if anything happens or you need to call the maintenance guy, you know exactly what to tell them.
How Frequently Should I Drain My Water Heater?
Regardless of the type of water heater you have, draining it is essential to ensure it works properly and efficiently.
You should drain and flush your water heater at least once a year to maintain optimal function. This will control scale build up and help prolong the life of your water heater.
If you reside in a location where the water is exceptionally hard, you might want to flush and drain your water heater once every six months. This can help flush any hard water out of the heater and provide you with higher quality water throughout the home.
How To Drain A Water Heater
Draining a water heater is a rather simple process, however, each step has to be done correctly or it can have disastrous effects. Whether you have a tank heater or a tankless unit, the steps are as follows:
Turn off the glass or electrical supply to the water heater and close the water valve.
Open the hot water valve of several faucets around the house.
The drain valve of the heater should be connected to a hose or a liquid transfer pump. Once outside the home (or anywhere you don’t mind water flushing out), extend the drain hose there.
Open the pressure valve to test the temperature of the heater and listen for any released air.
Open the drain valve and if it is needed, turn on the transfer pump.
Now you have to wait for the water heater to drain completely. You can take this time to clean the filter.
Turn the water supply on and off multiple times to flush the water heater.
Close the drain valve and disconnect the hose or liquid transfer pump.
As you can see, this is a simple step-by-step guide, and all in all, it can take around 40 minutes to complete. However, there are a few reasons why you should consider not draining your water heater.
When Not To Drain Your Water Heater
As mentioned above, draining and flushing your water heater is one of the most important things you can do in order to keep it running efficiently and to make it last as long as possible. Although, sometimes draining your water heater can do more harm than good.
Draining your water heater can remove debris that’s preventing it from leaking if this is the first time someone has serviced it in a number of years.
When sediment has built up over time, it can block any holes that may have appeared on the exterior of the water heater. Once that sediment is removed, those holes can cause leaks.
If this is the first time your water heater is being drained, consult the advice of a professional before draining any water. This can help prevent any irreparable damage which can then cause thousands in damages.
Final Thoughts
Draining your water heater is a job that we often either forget or simply neglect. No one wants to be standing around waiting for leaks to appear that can cause large holes in our wallets.
However, your water heater should be drained around once a year and will last only around 2 hours from start to finish.
Above is everything you need to know about draining and flushing your water heater, including a simple step-by-step guide to help you through the process.
Or, if you really don’t want to do it you can always call in the help of a professional!
Hi everyone! My name is Jason, and I am the founder of HeaterWise.com. Having run my own business as a Heating Engineer for 21 years, I have picked up a few things along the way.
I wanted to create Heater Wise as a place where anyone could come, from far and wide, to find the information that they need.
I hope you will join us here at Heater Wise, to get started on your own journey, to expand your knowledge, and make the best heating choices for you and your family.
