How to Drain Your Water Heater, and Why?
Your water heater is one of the most important appliances in your Vancouver home, and keeping it in good shape is important. One of the most critical ways you can maintain your water heater is by draining it once a year.
Why Drain Your Water Heater?
As your water supply runs whatever course it takes to get to your water heater, it picks up sediment along the way. Sediment consists of sand, dirt and minerals that travel with the water. When these dirt and minerals reach your water heater, they form deposits of sediment.
Unfortunately, this sediment will damage your water heater. It requires the water heater to work harder to heat the water and pump it across the house. This wears down the pump on the water heater, shortening its effective lifetime. It also increases the amount of power required to run the water heater. Left unattended, this can have a negative impact on your electrical consumption.
Make an Appointment
The way to combat sediment is to drain the water heater in your Vancouver home. A plumber can’t drain the water heater if it is on, so you will want to turn it off before your scheduled appointment. Be sure to plan ahead, as you will not be able to shower or access your hot water at all until the process is finished.
Draining Your Water Heater
Once the water heater is cooled, the cool water intake valve will be turned off so no new water will be pumped in. Excess water in the pipes will be drained through a faucet.
The plumber will take a long hose and plug it into the drain valve, or into the water pump if the water heater is underground. Most of the water will be pumped into the drain, but some of the water will need to be collected so the plumber can ascertain how much sediment has collected in your water heater.
Flushing Your Water Heater
If there is a large amount of sediment in the bucket, it will probably be necessary to flush out your water heater. The hose will be disconnected and the cold water intake turned on to fill up the water heater so it can be drained a second time.
Draining your water heater regularly is very important, especially if you live in Vancouver, BC. Contact Lambert Plumbing & Heating, LTD at (604) 734-0890Â today.