Many homeowners set a schedule for preventative maintenance on items around their homes. Spring is usually a great time to drain and clean your water heater. Draining your water heater at least once a year, twice if you have hard water, can help you extend the life of your water heater and reduce your water and electric bills. So, the next logical question is: how long does it take to drain a water heater?
How Long Does It Take to Drain A Water Heater – Electric Heaters?
The actual time it takes to drain your water heater is about 15 minutes. However, getting ready to drain your water heater can take a few hours. If draining and cleaning out your water heater is on your to-do list, make sure that you give yourself at least half a day to accomplish the task. First, you must turn off the power to your water heater. This is for your protection and will allow the water inside to cool. If you want the water to cool faster, take a hot shower while you wait. Once the water is cooled, you will shut off the water supply to the tank. Connect a hose to the drain on the tank and run it out to an area where it can drain without affecting anything. The tank should drain in about 15 minutes. Turn the water back on for a few minutes to flush out the sediment in the tank. Once the water runs clear, you can put your tank back together to use.
How Long Does It Take to Drain A Water Heater – Gas Heaters?
A gas water heater will take the same time to drain as an electric heater. The main difference is that you must shut the gas valve off before you begin the project. Make sure that the gas is off before draining the tank. If your tank is in the basement, you may need to use a pump to get the water out of the tank so it can drain outside. Connect a small pump to the hose and then an additional hose flowing from the tank outdoors or into a bucket. Follow the same steps for removing sediment as an electric water heater.
Make Life Easier and Call the Experts at Horn
Draining your water heater and removing the sediment at least once a year can extend the life of your water heater. Clean water heaters also will not require as much energy to heat or use as much water. If you are uncomfortable with yearly maintenance on your water heater, make life easier and give us a call at 610-363-4200. Horn Plumbing and Heating can schedule an appointment to perform your yearly water heater maintenance, and you will not have to worry about anything. So, when you ask, “how long does it take to drain a water heater?” the answer will be “as long it takes for Horn Plumbing and Heating to complete the job.”
