How to Drain a Water Heater Tank
- 1). Disconnect the power to the hot water heater. Locate and turn off the circuit breaker to the hot water heater that is in your home electrical box. Allow two hours for the unit to cool. If you have a gas hot water heater, turn off the gas to extinguish the pilot light.
- 2). Turn off the cold water supply valve, supplying water to the heater.
- 3). Connect one end of the garden hose to the drain valve on the bottom of the heater. Ensure that it's properly threaded and tight. Move the other end of the garden hose to the location to which you would like the water to drain, such as into a storm drain. If you drain the water outside, keep children and pets away from the draining water.
- 4). Turn on the hot water on any faucet in the house. Open the drain valve to begin draining the tank.
- 5). Turn the cold water supply back on slowly once the tank is empty, and allow it to remain on for at least five minutes.
- 6). Watch the faucet inside the house with the hot water turned on. Wait for the water to begin to flow through the faucet, then turn off the faucet.
- 7). Close the drain valve, then disconnect the garden hose. Allow the tank to refill completely. Turn on the circuit breaker to power the unit. If you have a gas unit, turn on the gas valve and relight the pilot light according to the instructions in your owner's manual.