It's important to shut off the power to your water heater before draining it, or you could potentially burn out the heating elements. If you have an electric water heater, shut the power off from your home's electrical panel.
Draining your water heater minimizes sediment buildup. This buildup can damage your water heater over time, so it's good to get rid of it. Here's how you can drain your water heater.
Opening a hot water faucet will help the water heater drain faster. Some drain valves may be opened with a handle but others require a flat blade screwdriver. Let the water heater drain completely.
You need to turn off the hot water heater if you shut off the water. The reason is the heat will keep the system mildly pressurized. If you have a leak it can slowly push all the water out, and then your water heater is running dry - bad!
you should never drain water from a water heater for short term vacancy - it dramatically increases corrosion rate. Turn to low if you want to save some gas, shut off water at first valve in the house if you are worried about leaks, etc...
Step 1: Turn Off the Power Supply or Gas Line
Ideally, you should turn your water heater off for a few hours before draining the tank.
Else, if you have a full water tank, and you need to turn off the water for an issue unrelated to your water heater, then it really doesn't matter if you turn the water heater on or off.
Many homeowners ask us if they should turn off their water heater between uses to save money. Our professional answer after crunching the numbers? No, unless you're going on vacation for a month or longer, you shouldn't turn off your water heater.
Pipes: Turn off water supply to the house and drain pipes to protect them from freezing. You can empty pipes by running the water and flushing the toilets after the water has been turned off. After draining the pipes, it is a good idea to leave the faucets open to prevent pressure build up from any water that remains.
The short answer is yes, as long as you don't mind using cold water. Shutting off the input to your water heater will not affect your home's main water supply. You can still run appliances like your washing machine or dishwasher, flush your toilet, and use your shower, sink, or garden hose.
How Long Does It Take to Drain a 50-Gallon Water Heater? Draining a 50-gallon water heater for larger units usually takes 45 to 60 minutes. However, it's worth noting that these are approximations, and the actual time can vary.
The fastest way to drain your hot water heater is to use a small section of garden hose that has a fitting that connects to your drain valve. It's usually the same one used for the bib. You'll need to direct the water flow from the hose into a floor drain, bucket, or safe outside area.
The pan shall be not less than 11/2 inches (38 mm) deep and shall be of sufficient size and shape to receive dripping or condensate from the tank or water heater. The pan shall be drained by an indirect waste pipe of not less than 3/4 inch (19 mm) diameter.
NOTE: If your water heater has been installed more than five years without any maintenance, it may be too late to flush. If the tank will not drain, sediment likely has built and clogged the drain.
It is recommended that you flush your water heater at least once per year. Doing so will help to prevent the potential problems that sediment can bring over time. Typically, it takes one to two hours to flush a water heater. The size of your tank will impact the amount of time it takes to drain.
Sediment that accumulates in your tank. (Don't worry! It doesn't come out of your faucets.) If neither you nor a professional have flushed your water within the last five years, Water Heaters Now recommends not flushing it yourself.
Will pipes burst if the water is turned off? Although many homeowners believe turning off their property's water supply will prevent pipe bursting, it isn't always the case. Pipes can still burst in freezing temperatures even after you turn off your home's water.
Opening the faucets drains the pipes once you turn the water off. Leaving them open prevents any pressure build-up, which can help in cold weather climates to avoid water freezing in the pipes, which can cause major issues as pipes can expand, crack, and burst.
I definitely would turn them off at the breaker and drain them from the bottom. This should be done periodically anyway, and if you leave the heaters on with the water off you risk damage to the heating elements—not to mention paying for hot water you're not going to use.
Does shutting off the water affect the water heater? When you go on vacation, it's best to also turn off your water heater, as well as the main water supply. Turning off the source of the heat (gas, electric) while you're away will not damage your water heater.
Allowing your water heater to remain running while you're on vacation will maintain the temperature of your pipes and plumbing system. Not only does this prevent frozen pipes, but it can also save you from a costly reheating process.
After shutting off the main valve, ensure you drain the water from all the fixtures. In summer, the temperature of the water raises the pressure inside the pipes. If there is a crack, parts of your plumbing could burst. It is even more critical to drain hoses and faucets in the winter.
Generally speaking, a gas water heater should not be turned off unless you are leaving the house for an extended period of time. Even then the better choice for gas water heaters is to just turn the temperature down. In fact, many water heaters have a “vacation” setting on the temperature control.
Open the hot water tank drain valve. Let the water run out the garden hose. This can take 20 to 60 minutes, depending on how big the tank is. Be careful not to damage or break the drain valve when you open and close it.