Typically, draining a 40-gallon water heater takes somewhere between 30 and 45 minutes. The overall time is heavily influenced by the size of the unit and the rate at which the water can exit the tank through the drain valve.
Sediment buildup is a common issue in water heaters, particularly in areas with hard water. Over time, minerals such as calcium and magnesium can accumulate at the bottom of the tank, forming a layer of sediment. This sediment can impede the flow of water, causing the heater to drain slowly.
Open the Faucet
Don't get worried when you notice the water coming out is little. That's because there's no supply. Opening the hot water faucet allows to drain the water heater faster.
It's not always necessary to drain the entire hot water tank. Since sediment and buildup settle on the bottom of the tank, you may drain a few gallons of water at a time until most of the sediment is flushed out. This also prevents homeowners from accidently damaging the hot water heater by turning it on without water.
Shortened Lifespan: A water heater that isn't flushed regularly may experience corrosion and other damage more quickly, leading to a shorter overall lifespan. Water Quality Issues: Sediment can affect the taste and quality of the water, potentially leading to discolored or foul-smelling water.
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.
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.
This will likely take 30-40 minutes for a 40-gallon tank water heater. In order to get the buildup agitated out of the bottom of the water heater tank, you'll need to flush the water heater with new water from the cold water valve.
Anode rods require routine inspection and replacement, approximately every three to five years. Without proper maintenance, the anode rod loses its ability to divert damaging particulates from your tank and can accelerate rust and corrosion from chemical reactions, excessive heat, and imbalanced pH levels.
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.
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.
This is what can happen to your hot water heater if it's been collecting sediment for years, and you suddenly drain it: the water heater will spring a leak.
An average 40-gallon heater will only take about 30 to 40 minutes to provide heat water, while you can expect hot water from a larger tank (80-gallons) in approximately 60 to 70 minutes. Electric hot water tanks, on the other hand, will take a little longer.
In most cases, all you need to do is turn off the power to the system, turn on the cold water supply by opening up the valve, hook up a garden hose to carry the water and sediment away from the tank and then open up the drain valve and the pressure relief valve.
Refilling the tank
Wait at least 15 minutes for the tank to fill up, then turn the breaker back on (electric tanks) or turn on the gas and relight the pilot (gas tanks). That's it! Your water heater is now drained, flushed, refilled and ready to let the good times flow.
An important part of your water heater, it moves cold replacement water to the bottom of the tank when you use hot water; otherwise, both will mix and reduce the water temperature. Anode Rod Replacement: While an anode rod costs between $20 and $50, a plumber can replace it for $50 to $150.
Most homeowners should flush their water heaters every 6 months or so, but if you have extremely hard water, you may want to do it more often. Flushing your hot water heater could be necessary as often as every few months depending on the mineral content of your local water supply.
The anode rod attracts corrosive elements, such as oxygen and hydrogen sulfide, which would otherwise corrode the walls of your hot water tank.
-Reduced Efficiency: As scaling collects at the bottom of the tank, your water heater will become less effective at heating the water in the tank. -Corrosion: If your water heater goes long enough without a proper flush, you could also have corrosion attacking the tank itself, weakening its structural integrity.
Sediment Buildup is Clogging the Valve
This is usually the most common culprit of a slow draining hot water heater. If this is your experience and the mechanical workings of the valve itself seem fine, keep trying to drain the tank. It might take a while, but eventually flushing out the tank will improve the situation.
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.
Sediment can build up over time in a water heater, shortening its lifespan. To prevent this, you should flush your water heater at least once per year. Flushing will help to remove any sediment that has built up and improve the efficiency of your water heater.
Open up the drain valve on the tank and allow it to empty. Depending on the size of the hose and pressure, you can expect it to deliver 9 to 17 GPM. So if you have a 50 gallon tank, the water should be flowing at full pressure for 3 to 6 minutes – if the flow is slow, is trickling, etc…