Water Heater Maintenance

Water Heater Maintenance

Your water heater may be one of the appliances in your home you take for granted— A home water heater needs to be drained as part of regular home maintenance.
 

Why Do It?

•    Draining ensures the long life of your water heater by flushing out minerals and other debris that can cause it to malfunction.
•    If you do not properly maintain your water heater, it may cease to function altogether or result in cold bursts of water when least expected

How Often?

Once a year

How to do it:

•    On a gas water heater, turn the gas valve to the off position. On an electric water heater, turn the electric off to the heater.
•    Shut the cold water off to the water heater.
•    Open a hot water faucet.
•    Connect a hose to the drain valve on the heater and run to a drain.
•    Open the drain valve and allow the tank to completely drain.
•    Turn back on the cold water into the water heater.
•    Allow the water to run through the water heater and out of the drain valve.  Do this for approximately five (5) or ten (10) minutes.
•    Close the drain valve and allow the tank to refill, keeping the hot water faucet open. When water comes out of the faucet, the tank is full.