How to Drain Your Water Heater, and Why?
Draining the water heater of your Little Rock home is not an arduous task, but it is one that is frequently overlooked by homeowners. This overlooked appliance is only really noticed when it stops working and all lovely, warm showers become unpleasant cold ones. Here are a few things to think about before your water heater becomes a problem rather than a solution.
Why Drain Your Water Heater?
Water heaters use an insulated holding tank to keep an ample supply of hot water on hand at all times. These large tanks may retain naturally occurring minerals, sand or dirt in their bases that can lead to inefficiencies and diminished capacity in your water heater. This settled sediment may plug the drain to your heater or complicate routine maintenance, and it may even lead to premature failure of the water heater.
Draining your heater every one to two years is a rather small inconvenience that is capable of saving you a great deal of money and time in the long run. Regardless of whether your heater is a gas or electric model, it can benefit from annual drainage maintenance.
Take Matters Into Your Own Hands
Draining your water heater is not complicated, but it does require attention to detail. First, turn off the water supply valve at the top of the heater and turn off the water heater entirely. Electric heaters must be completely turned off during the entire process, whereas gas heaters can be switched into “Pilot” mode. Remember to be careful: the water will remain extremely hot for several hours, so it might be a good idea to wait before draining it.
Drain With Caution
When the water is sufficiently cool, attach a hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Place the other end of the hose somewhere where the water can safely drain: this could be a driveway, a floor drain, or even a large bucket.
Next, open a hot water tap spigot somewhere in your Little Rock home. This action relives pressure on the system and allows the water to flow out more quickly. Finally, open the drain valve and let the water safely flow out.
If the sediment appears to be partially blocking the drain valve, or something in the process outlined above is unclear, make sure to contact an expert for their professional opinion. For quality plumbing services in your Little Rock, AR home, call Arrow Plumbing at (501) 753-3838.
