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How to Drain Your Hot Water Heater

Hot water heater draining is an exercise that must be performed once per year if you want the heater to continue serving you. This can prove to be a very elaborate process that you should make sure to follow each time you clean your hot water heater.

First, start by turning the gas or power source off. Next you need to check and ensure that the cold water valve is turned off so that no water is allowed to get into the heater. Hook a hose to the drain valve, which will normally be found at the bottom of the tank. Open the drain and let the hose pipe drain off the contents of the tank. This is important since it removes the sediments that have settled at the bottom of your hot water heater.

Once water has been drained out, close the relief valve on the water heater and open the inlet valve so that the tank can be refilled. After sometime, check the pressure relief valve and ensure that there is no leakage.  Turn on the power to the water heater. If your water heater is old it is mandatory that you have it drained thoroughly to remove any and all accumulated sediments. These sediments refer to any solid material that did not dissolve in the water. It could be sand, grit or silt.  Normally, the municipal water is not filtered enough to prevent this from happening. The depth of sediments accumulated in your water tank can also interfere with the efficiency and functionality of your water tank. It may affect the heating element if it reaches a certain level within the holding compartment.

Note that the accumulated minerals and salts may dissolve eventually due to constant exposure to hot water. But these trace amounts could be dangerous if consumed by people. In fact, this is why it is always recommended that you drink hot water from the tap because such water will dissolve these substances including chemicals and compounds which may be harmful. Hot water heater draining, and keeping the sediment levels of your tank low, reduces chances of accumulating such compounds which may pose health risk to your family. Thus hot water heater draining is important in that it increases efficiency of your water heating system and protects you from the harmful effect of chemical and compounds found in the water that flows into our homes.

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