You may find that you are required to drain the water from your water heater tank if there is a fault with the heating element or you notice a build up of sediment in the water. Homeowners with some DIY experience will flush their tanks out every couple of years as part of a maintenance program.
However, using a pump to empty the water tank will be a job that many new homeowners have never done before. This article looks at the process involved.
1. Working with hot water carries risks, so it is vital that you turn the power to the heater tank off. For electric water tanks, a switch is usually located above the heater. Gas powered water heaters should be switched to the pilot setting; this setting will stop heating the water. You should allow some time to pass before continuing, as this reduces the heat of the water in the pipes as well as the tank.
2. Next, you need to make three adjustments to set up the draining process. Start by closing off the (cold) water inlet to the tank itself. The valve is almost always located atop the heater. Next, open up the hot water faucet in your kitchen; this eliminates excess water that may still be present in the pipes. Lastly, locate and open the relief valve on the heater tank. You may hear a slight hissing noise when you do this.
3. Next, it is time to set up and connect the hose and pump. Locate the water tank's drain valve. Screw in the pump's inlet connection to the tank. The outlet connection of the pump is connected to the garden hose. The other end of the garden hose should direct the water to where you would like it to go, for example, down a drain. Make sure you have enough length of hose to enable you to do this correctly.
4. Once everything is in place, you can turn on the pump and allow it to start moving the water out of the tank. In order to avoid damaging the pump, keep an eye on the water level as it lowers. If the pump runs dry—or has no more water to pump—you will notice a change in the noise it makes. Quickly turn the pump's power off when you hear this.
To complete the job, disconnect the pump and hose, reverse the valve and faucet openings, turn the power back on and allow the tank to fill up and heat. For more assistance or tips, contact companies like Allabout Pumps & Pipes Pty. Ltd.
