Most of the time I have to pause videos for instructions but I got that in 1 go around. I couldn't believe my ears when he said "that was a mouth full let me say it again." Thanks alot for the detail!
I did not have the confidence to drain my water heater until I saw your easy to understand and very detailed tutorial. I cannot thank you enough. Please keep up the great job.
My experience showed me this is Step #1: Before going to bed, TURN DOWN the heater dial to VACATION. In the AM at the least, take a shower [or more unless freezing outside]. That way when you go to drain, you will avoid that darn HOT WATER, which you really do not need [and save $ on gas/electric]. Further, if the water is brown, it means the Anode rod is rusted out and / or the tank is failing and needs replacing. Great Drain Valve leaky tip [put a cap on it; sweet, cheap and simple]. You are one of the few GOOD GUYS on You Tube, TYVM.
Being a lady on my own, with the help of this great tutorial video I was able to flush my hot water tank...that needed a flush badly. I feel confident now to do this yearly. Thank you.
Same! This is the 4th video I watched and the first to have all the details. The first one didn't mention turning off the cold water, opening up the hot, or even how to stir it up. He was a plumbing "professional" and just drained a few gallons out. He wants to create more customers that need a new hot water heater! LOL
any hvac issues i have i come to this channel. this man knows his stuff. such a blessing having someone like yourself on youtube. hope you enjoyed the holidays
Of all the videos I saw on flushing water heaters yours was the best. Even the professional videos could not compare to yours. Very thorough. Good Job!
Yep doing mine today.... I have flushed water heaters before, but good to review the steps... there is an order to be sure.... *Thanks for the no nonsense video.* The house I am in I bought 3 years ago and replaced the water heater in the first year I lived here even though it worked fine, because it is in the attic and the water heater was over 10 years old. I have not flushed it since installed. *The issue is I have is I need at least two 50' garden hoses and go down the attic stairs, through the hall, living room, entrance, out front door to walkway and drive.... I am not a fan of water heaters in attics.... I had one in another house spring a leak ,but it was in the garage and just ran out the concrete garage floor and under the garage door and onto driveway... did no harm (well a little to raised pedestal covered in drywall). Can you imagine an attic water heater leaking.... Of course have a drip pan with drain to outside, and I a water alarm in the pan.... am paranoid because a massive water leak in attic would cause massive damage.
Great video, thanks. The only thing different I would do, is to drain all the water into 5 gal. Buckets (if the water is hot) and later when cooled off then use it in my garden or my lawn. If the water coming out of the water heater is cold, then I would use the hose to water my plants/lawn. This is just the water conservationist in me 😊 ...
Today i drained mine by following your instructions and it went perfectly. Even after turning on the hot water faucet inside, the water didn’t flow until i opened the pressure valve. So those saying that you should never open this valve, are wrong!
Good video. Several months ago, I flushed my tank and installed a new anode rod. While I had the anode rod out I flushed the tank again by spraying my water hose in the hole where the anode rod fits. A lot more stuff that looked like sand came out. I changed the heating elements and thermostats too. For sixty-five dollars, I replaced everything serviceable. My tank is 17 years old. I decided to replace everything while It was empty. It had not been serviced before. All that was left of the original anode rod was basically some wires. The tank is working like a new one. The recovery time is better. One of the original heating elements must have been bad. My tank is an electric AO Smith installed in 2002. I plan to flush it once a year, before too much sentiment builds up. The anode rod protects the glass lined tank. Replacing the anode rod will prolong the life of a hot water tank. I have four hot water tanks, so learning how to maintain them has saved me hundreds of dollars. I placed a remote controlled switch with timer inline with our recirculating pump. When we need hot water we use the remote to turn on the recirculating pump. We gave instant hot water in two minutes. The timer keeps it on for two hours. Our electric bill dropped 27 percent the first month. Although the recirculating pump only requires 35 watts, the concrete slab was acting like a giant heat sink and the returning water was cooling enough to cause the 4500 watt heating elements to turn on to reheat the water. Dual heating element kit with thermostats. $29.00 New anode rod. $36.00. Inline remote controlled timer. $13.00. ( since 2007, the total savings has been a couple of thousand dollars ) we purchased two more timers just to get some additional remotes for the laundry room and kitchen. Make sure you get the same frequency as your original remote.
I wouldn't have spent 2 cents fixing an old water heater. It's at the END of its life span. When they burst, its a mess. I replace mine every 10 years regardless of condition.
You’re the reason I drained my water heater and thank goodness that I did. It probably had not been drained for 5years. It was shocking how much came out. Giant clumps. Many thanks for taking the time to make this video!
If you are like me and don't want to waste all that hot water, you can set the gas valve to pilot or shut the power off and then take a shower to use up a lot of the hot water before draining it so you don't waste all that hot water you paid to heat. If you have an electric water heater this is also a benefit so you can make sure the water isn't heating up again after you shut the power off because you will destroy the heating elements if the power is still on for whatever reason such as a mislabeled breaker or wiring problem.
@@casualobserver620 Don't say that, you know too little. People might usually call it hot water tank. But I do fix some among the few hundreds that had been converted to be Hot water HEATERS !
Good to see people like yourself doing these videos. You explain things well. Back in my day most guys knew how to work on our cars and tweak them. I see guys now that do not even know how check their oil!! Awhile back a co worker....young guy came to me saying his car wouldn't start. I looked under his hood. First thing I checked was the battery....it was loose. I tightened it up and Wammmo...it started right up. I really feel worry for our future. The educational system is so much more into teaching propaganda rather than teaching common sense.
Watched your video for the second Thanksgiving in a row. Had soma issues with slow draining. Had to open a faucet in the kitchen as well as the upstairs guest bathroom. Now the water is flowing. Thanks again for producing a quality video.
This was an excellent video,..very clear and slow enough for a novice to understand. The best I've seen so far...thank you! I now feel I can do this job myself without having to spend money on a plumber.
Great video with excellent step by step instructions. Also loved that you gave the rationale for the steps taken. As a single female I feel brave enough to try this on my own.
Your videos are great! I find personally the only way to get out all the sediment is to crush it down and flush it out , Impossible to do with the water heater installed. Usually the chunks are to big to leave the drain valve!
I couldn't get my pressure valve to stay down by itself. I didnt want to apply to much pressure coz I was afraid I mite damage it. Great directions..easy to follow. Thank you
Wow! I finally learned something from you. Just kidding. I drained a few hot water heaters in the past and I never opened my hot water side at my deeps sink, I always just opened the pressure relief valve. Your way makes a lot of sense, so tomorrow I will drain my hot water heater, I haven't done it in about 1-1/2 years. I'll see if it drains and fills a lot faster. Again, thanks for sharing these great tips.
I just finished draining my hot water heater, not much came out, so that is a good thing. About 6 months ago I changed the anode rod and in the process the whole heater shifted, I finally got it back where it belongs. Thanks for inspiring me to do my water heater.
Look I went thru formal schooling for this but I thank you for what you do , I call you a saint for our times , because no one else will teens this , how to save money ok doing it yourself, he'll no one does it
Couldn't be more perfect in my opinion, just finished doing this after watching first of course and everything went smooth as smooth could go! Thanks for the great video!
Great detailed video! It was the first one I watched, but by being so detailed I don't need to watch another. All questions were answered regarding draining my tank. I really appreciate the video, now I just need to do it. Thank you Jay, and thank you Word of Advice TV, great job!
Just had a water refinery installed in my home. Used this video to flush out all that old hard water from the water heater out. Perfect. Thanks for the video.
As a Licensed Journeyman Electrician and HVAC helper, I appreciate the tone that you use and the detail that you go into (without over-explaining and going into Theory) when doing your videos. Most folks need hands-on experience before it sinks in. Your videos are as in depth as necessary for a person with On-Site-but different-Trade to follow easily, with great insight and proper safety measures...except for the socks ONLY spot, I would DEFINITELY wear by work boots, just in case. Keep on doin' what You do !
excellent step by step and my wife and I were able to save plumber fees and did it ourself. Did have a problem getting much "action" until I opened the overflow valve - then it was all downhill from there. Thanks for saving us a bunch - our tank had not ever been drained and we have been fretting it, so now, we're good. thanks, again for a really easy to follow step thru.
Thanks. Very thorough demonstration. I talked to a plumber I was referred to by by my fix and flip guy and the only thing he did differently was he said to take either the cold or hot water loose at the top of the water heater instead of using a nearby faucet. I kind of like using the faucet like you did as I think that will be less mess. Thanks again.
I just want to follow up. I tried draining my water heater with all the instructions from Word of Advice. The only thing that didn't work was opening a nearby hot water tap. I opened the two closest hot water faucets and couldn't get it to drain. I loosened the hot water line on top of the heater and it drained like a champ. After draining it I started flushing it. On the 2nd flush when I shut off the cold water intake the expansion tank blew out. I guess it was the water hammer affect of shutting the water off. The expansion tank then filled with water while I was trying to hold my finger over the leak and forced water out the hot water line that I had loosened. Water went everywhere while I ran to the street to turn off the water to the house. Obviously the expansion tank will need to be replaced (none are available at Lowe's). Hopefully that will fix the leak I was experiencing. Apparently the schrader valve in the bottom of the expansion tank was the cause of my initial leak. Somehow water was leaking from the expansion tank into the pan underneath it and the drain line from that pan on top of the water heater then drained into the pan under the water heater. Right now I'm waiting for the plumber I called to get back to me to see when he can get here to verify and/or more thoroughly diagnose my problem. A word to the wise. I had no idea I needed to be checking the expansion tank to be sure it was working. I didn't understand its purpose to begin with. Wish I had known. Apparently these tanks are generally only good for 2 to 5 years. We have lived here 12 years and the house is 17 years old so that tank was probably the original. The recommendations I have now read advise them to be replaced as soon as the tank warranty expires; however, you can learn how to check that the tank is working properly. Just type in an expansion tank search and you will find plenty of explanations. There are several tests we as homeowners can perform to determine if the tank is working. If it's not working properly, have a licensed plumber do the replacement. A bad tank can affect all the plumbing in your home including lines in your walls and slab, and every appliance that uses water like your dish washer, ice maker, etc. I had a hot water slab leak last year that caused almost $20,000 of damage, and now I wonder if it was caused by a faulty expansion tank that was not doing its job. And here is the kicker. The plumber that did the repairs never checked the expansion tank or asked any questions about its age, etc. The tanks are only about $50 so it is well worth replacing to protect the investment of your home. I hope this is helpful to those of you who read it. I know it's long, but I felt it necessary to be as detailed as possible to drive home the importance.
Thank you. Water heater is only a year old, but I had a lot of sediment....took at least 10 flushes. Looks like I'll be doing this at least twice a year from now on. Many thanks.
Thank you for the video. Went to Home Depot to buy a garden hose and the thing leaked. I went ahead and used buckets to empty the drain valve. Fun stuff
Very hesitant dealing with a gas hot water heater but fantastic video--it all worked great. I had to flush 6-8 times (was probably not done before we moved in). THANKS!!!
Got a place with a 10 year old water heater... never knew about flushing it and I’m going to be trying that this weekend. Thanks a ton for the video! My water heater looks almost exactly like yours so I should be good
Turn off the cold inlet valve. Open a hot faucet not on a combination faucet.( cold water can cross into the tank). Drain the tank and put on a ball valve and hose connection. Fill the tank , leaving the faucet open until full. Air has to escape the tank. Then flush, settle, flush the tank till the water you catch in a bucket is running almost clear. You won't get all the sediment out, no use trying. Then cap the valve to protect children
Thanks for the step-by-step elaboration. Everything is clear and well-explained except that on the 3rd flush of the tank, you mentioned that there is probably a big flake blocking the drain value from inside the tank and you have to take off the drain hose and "blow it back" to clear it. How exactly is this done? How do you blow back? Thanks and look forward to hearing from you. Cheers.
I'm assuming you blow into the garden hose attached to the drain valve. Depending on the length of your hose, you might have to blow harder. If you don't have a short hose, you can be risky and blow straight into the drain valve and hope you don't get blasted with hot water and sediment. There's a gadget called sediment buster that you can use a bike pump or air compressor that you can blow air with short bursts. I just ordered one from eBay since their website doesn't ship to Canada. There's also another gadget called the Turbo Tank Cleaner. It works like a drain snake but I've seen mixed reviews about the agitator breaking off, and another con about it is that you'd have to take the drain valve off and install the tank cleaner. I hope you'd found the solution by now as your comment is a year old, but if your problem is solved then regular maintenance will be easier!
Yup....nice presentation. Thank you. Either you have the knack for teaching or you don`t. I now feel very confident to tackle the job myself. One comment.... you having city water probably helped the situation since it is periodically tested and controlled vs. a well.
Followed your steps exactly on Thanksgiving! While waiting for the bird to finish, I figured it's best to drain the hot water heater. Two things to point out, it took a while before water started draining. I had to also shut off and close the valves to a circulation pump. The second is that it took some time before hot water came out of the faucets when I finished draining. Just be patient and follow his steps, and you'll be fine. I will set up a reminder to do this every Thanksgiving.
Great video..I would like suggest once the tank is drained, change out the drain spigot on the water heater for a regular garden type spigot that can be purchased at any home improvement store.. The gardened type valve opens wider to allow more chunks of mineral and debris come out.
Excellent video with all clear details 🙏👍. Just one quick clarification. During the final stages to stir up the sediments, you turned ON the cold water into the tank for 30 seconds and kept the hot water faucet in the sink ON too. I saw someone else in another video saying that at this time the hot water faucet in the sink should be turned OFF to build pressure enabling the tank to stir up the sediments. Please clarify
love the videos! can't wait for more, very informative. i did this the other day on an 18 year old tank. the tank plugged too, there was about 4 inches of sediment in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket by the time we were done. the reason we decided to flush the tank was because the temperature was overshooting. aquastat was set at 120, but the water coming out was at 160 degrees Fahrenheit. after changing the aquastat and well with no change in water temp... i realized that the sediment was holding the heat, the burner ran so long because the sediment was insulating the water from heating, so when the water finally hit 120 and shut off the sediment was super hot and continued heating the water even though the burner was off. never seen a case that bad before.
Just viewed and appreciated the detailed step by step instructions...Kind of hard to do a proper how to video in two minutes as some plumbers have done. I saved this for future reference. thanks to the video presenter for such a great job...
Your video it’s awesome you explain clearly and easy to follow up your steps to success the job,so I’m going to to do it on your way thank you very much help people to learn more and god bless you always
Additional detail he missed.: I have this same model and the drain spout wouldn't stop leaking after I shut it off. I bought a 1/2" brass pipe cap but it was too small. It requires a 3/4" cap.
Great detailed video that wasn’t so long I avoided it :). Videos don’t have to be long to show all steps and you have mastered that. Been wanting to do this for awhile. When my old heater died it was full of a crystal like sediment when it was drained. I have not flushed this one and it has been in place probably 12 yrs or more. Wish me luck!
My grandfather flushed his water heater every year and changed the anode rod regularly as well. The manufacturer’s date was August 1948. We replaced it in 1999. The one and only reason was we wanted a more efficient unit. It was still working and not leaking when we changed it out. Slight improvement to your method: drain the water heater down only about half way, then turn the valve on and off several times in short bursts before letting it drain completely and following the rest of your process. This allows for better flow and gets more sediment out.
You're welcome!! Glad to know that you are finding the videos helpful. We receive the blessings and may the Lord abundantly bless you and yours as well!!
Love this video to repeat many times before draining my water heater but for sure I’m going to do it right because your are very good instructor thank you very much
It was a very good presentation. For a leaking valve, I would always just keep a can under the valve. In time, it will quit. I didn't know about the little sealer cap. Thank you very much for your presentation. Our hot water heater is natural gas and it was put in 1987. I keep changing the anode rod often. We live near a lake and we get our water from a sand point. We live in a small hamlet in central west Saskatchewan. We are the home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Great walk thru video. Started to drain water heater yesterday but igniter not working and didn't want hassle of finding pilot. Now I know I don't have to turn pilot off.
Very informative video and I like how you get a good visual on what you drain out of it. Pressure relief valves are not designed to be operated that way. They are safety devices and I wouldn't be using it that way. Honestly I prefer using a pump it's just faster and I feel like it really gets more sediment out
Thanks for this video. In the process of flushing mine now. Wanted to add that if you're meeting resistance at the valve while flushing as you did during your third flush you can also try turning the valve off with the flat head screw driver and then turning it back on versus taking the hose off. I did this first and it seemed to break up whatever was clogging it up and it's draining again now .
I added one step. I was using a short washing machine hose since I was next to the drain. After draining I put a funnel on the end of the hose and poured a gallon of white vinegar into the open drain to dissolve sediment in the bottom of the tank. I let it sit for several hours then did pretty much the same as video.
Good sharing ! I enjoy to share more valuable experiences. 1. Always prepare a new cap for your drain pipe with rubber gasket in case it leaks. Return if you don't use it. 2. Never turn off your pilot, stay on Vacation will save you tons of trouble, especially for newer spark ignition models. 3. Always turn on the closest Hot water faucet ( make sure no strainer attached ) until the whole job is done. 4. Never try to Release your Pressure Relief Valve, especially those who never drain or repair before. The old scale or precipitate Might hold the spring gaps and causing leaks. Otherwise, you might end up with another Valve Leaking job that cause you money and trouble. Blessings !
Excellent presentation. I appreciated your going through each step to cover any contingencies that may arise. Professional plumber videos seem to gloss over a lot of the details in their discussion (probably because it seems mundane to them), so it was a welcome change. Thanks for taking the time to lay it all out for us.
I think, since you're showing how to turn the pilot off, you should re-light it. Also, there's probably debris in that drain-valve seat so you might reverse-flush the valve; blow water back in, past the seat. Most plumbers seem to advise "NEVER cycle the overflow valve" but I do it anyway. I figure that, if it leaks, it was crusty and needs replacing. Therefore, it might be adviseable to just replace it after the fluse...or before. :-) Good Job!
Very good video. Draining my hot water heater was on my list of things to do. I will follow your steps today while I’m out cleaning the garage. Thanks!!
Ideally, replacing the factory drain valve with a full port brass ball valve with a brass nipple on the water heater side and a brass hose adapter on the outlet side of the valve. Leave the water supply to the water heater on, connect the garden hose, and run it out on the lawn, and fully open the ball valve. Let it run for five minutes and you're done. Do this every 4 to six months on a new water heater and your deposits will be minimal. From a retired plumber.
I think this is a more practical way to flush a hot water heater than what was shown in the video. Far fewer steps that may discourage folks from flushing. Because the cold water inlet pipe extends all the way down to the bottom of the tank, it does a good job of agitating the sediment at the bottom as the cold water "smashes" into the sediment. Because this process requires only connecting a hose and opening the drain valve, it is a piece of cake to perform every 4-6 months as CentralCoastCamper said.
@@SignorLuigi I vacuum my electric BW hot water heater out😂 every 6 months... as our city water supply Is really quite bad...scale at the bottom of tank is about 1 inch thick after only 6 months.....use a wet vac and a flexible rubber 3 ft tube to vacuum out ...gets out all the sludge....then replace both elements as they get really gunked up!!
I am a veteran Plumber in Arizona everyone please read the yellow Tag on the Temp and pressure relief valve, it states the valve should be worked at least once a year for proper function if it fails to open it could possibly cause serious damage to body and property.
@@akkbuilders I'm sure Jim is aware of the redundancy. He's obviously referring to situations where the pressure HAS built up and the relief valve NEEDS to work properly.
Fine presentation but I do have a very important question. In the process of explaining the gas valve settings you turned the valve off and then after a bit back on without relighting the pilot. It would be better to have in your mind before hand what you intend to do so there is not any issues with the gas. I don't know if you used video magic but that stood out for me.
This is great. This gives confidence to a novice like me. Can be done. I loved the details and pointing out the location of different parts that we must manipulate for draining
Great information! If you are having problems with the drain valve plugging up every 5 seconds like I was you can get a full port ball drain valve like I did, it has a much larger hole and doesn't plug up nearly as badly, plus it's easier to use because it has a handle and it allows much more flow so the water heater drains a lot faster.
Terrific video. Very clear presentation. I put together a brief "cookbook" of steps on paper, and taped it to my water heater - - along with a space for "date of flushing". The goal for me is to do this once a year. Also - - make sure you check/replace your anode once every 3-5 years. It will double the life of your water heater. If you have to hire the anode replacement work (very likely for most of us), the cost is about $125 from your local plumber/handyman.
Dude 🙏🏾,,this is the second time I drained my tank 💁🏽♂️,,using Your Video !! ☺️,,,Thanks ! And God Bless You !
Most of the time I have to pause videos for instructions but I got that in 1 go around. I couldn't believe my ears when he said "that was a mouth full let me say it again." Thanks alot for the detail!
I did not have the confidence to drain my water heater until I saw your easy to understand and very detailed tutorial. I cannot thank you enough. Please keep up the great job.
My experience showed me this is Step #1:
Before going to bed, TURN DOWN the heater dial to VACATION. In the AM at the least, take a shower [or more unless freezing outside]. That way when you go to drain, you will avoid that darn HOT WATER, which you really do not need [and save $ on gas/electric]. Further, if the water is brown, it means the Anode rod is rusted out and / or the tank is failing and needs replacing.
Great Drain Valve leaky tip [put a cap on it; sweet, cheap and simple]. You are one of the few GOOD GUYS on You Tube, TYVM.
Being a lady on my own, with the help of this great tutorial video I was able to flush my hot water tank...that needed a flush badly. I feel confident now to do this yearly. Thank you.
Me too! Although my plumber said every 6 months is better.
Same! This is the 4th video I watched and the first to have all the details. The first one didn't mention turning off the cold water, opening up the hot, or even how to stir it up. He was a plumbing "professional" and just drained a few gallons out. He wants to create more customers that need a new hot water heater! LOL
Same 👍
Very impressive ladies !! I Respect that..
any hvac issues i have i come to this channel. this man knows his stuff. such a blessing having someone like yourself on youtube. hope you enjoyed the holidays
Some plumbers are saying, water heaters should not be flushed. who do we believe? My old one lasted 17 years without flushing.
Of all the videos I saw on flushing water heaters yours was the best. Even the professional videos could not compare to yours. Very thorough. Good Job!
I'm a do-it-yourselfer and this will be the first time that I'll be doing this operation and I thank you for uploading it to TH-cam for us newbies.
Man, seriously you are an expert on hvac, I am student and I learnt a lot from your videos!!!
Glad to hear that! Thank you and good luck in your studies!
Very good instructions thank you. I especially appreciate the part when you mentioned blowing into the hose if you have blockage.
Yep doing mine today.... I have flushed water heaters before, but good to review the steps... there is an order to be sure.... *Thanks for the no nonsense video.* The house I am in I bought 3 years ago and replaced the water heater in the first year I lived here even though it worked fine, because it is in the attic and the water heater was over 10 years old. I have not flushed it since installed. *The issue is I have is I need at least two 50' garden hoses and go down the attic stairs, through the hall, living room, entrance, out front door to walkway and drive.... I am not a fan of water heaters in attics.... I had one in another house spring a leak ,but it was in the garage and just ran out the concrete garage floor and under the garage door and onto driveway... did no harm (well a little to raised pedestal covered in drywall). Can you imagine an attic water heater leaking.... Of course have a drip pan with drain to outside, and I a water alarm in the pan.... am paranoid because a massive water leak in attic would cause massive damage.
Great video, thanks. The only thing different I would do, is to drain all the water into 5 gal. Buckets (if the water is hot) and later when cooled off then use it in my garden or my lawn. If the water coming out of the water heater is cold, then I would use the hose to water my plants/lawn. This is just the water conservationist in me 😊 ...
Good news for you is there’s no need for this! You see water goes in the drain, gets filtered and then returned to you through a water bill.
Today i drained mine by following your instructions and it went perfectly. Even after turning on the hot water faucet inside, the water didn’t flow until i opened the pressure valve. So those saying that you should never open this valve, are wrong!
Excellent lesson!!! I live in my home 15 yrs and never drained it.... I will do it tomorrow !!! Thanks
Any issue after your drain . I haven’t drained my water heater yet . It is installed 15 years ago. Any suggestions how your draining went
@@WalknTasteEarth No... it's not needed for the type I have, a professional told me!!
LMFAO DON'T DO IT
Good video. Several months ago, I flushed my tank and installed a new anode rod. While I had the anode rod out I flushed the tank again by spraying my water hose in the hole where the anode rod fits. A lot more stuff that looked like sand came out. I changed the heating elements and thermostats too. For sixty-five dollars, I replaced everything serviceable.
My tank is 17 years old. I decided to replace everything while It was empty. It had not been serviced before. All that was left of the original anode rod was basically some wires. The tank is working like a new one. The recovery time is better. One of the original heating elements must have been bad. My tank is an electric AO Smith installed in 2002.
I plan to flush it once a year, before too much sentiment builds up. The anode rod protects the glass lined tank. Replacing the anode rod will prolong the life of a hot water tank. I have four hot water tanks, so learning how to maintain them has saved me hundreds of dollars.
I placed a remote controlled switch with timer inline with our recirculating pump. When we need hot water we use the remote to turn on the recirculating pump. We gave instant hot water in two minutes. The timer keeps it on for two hours. Our electric bill dropped 27 percent the first month. Although the recirculating pump only requires 35 watts, the concrete slab was acting like a giant heat sink and the returning water was cooling enough to cause the 4500 watt heating elements to turn on to reheat the water.
Dual heating element kit with thermostats. $29.00
New anode rod. $36.00.
Inline remote controlled timer. $13.00. ( since 2007, the total savings has been a couple of thousand dollars ) we purchased two more timers just to get some additional remotes for the laundry room and kitchen. Make sure you get the same frequency as your original remote.
Wow, you're lucky to have all the smarts to do that! :)
@@alive-awake and we are lucky he shared all that AND we happened to watch THIS video AND read comments! LOL .. FATE.
When the anode rod disintegrates doesn’t it just key on the bottom?
I wouldn't have spent 2 cents fixing an old water heater. It's at the END of its life span. When they burst, its a mess. I replace mine every 10 years regardless of condition.
Stuart Bear , when the tank burst, it cannot be repaired. If replacing the water heater every ten years works best for you, keep doing that.
you should do MORE videos!!!! you have the sense and clarity that most presenters miss out on!!! again... GREAT JOB!!!!!
You’re the reason I drained my water heater and thank goodness that I did. It probably had not been drained for 5years. It was shocking how much came out. Giant clumps. Many thanks for taking the time to make this video!
If you are like me and don't want to waste all that hot water, you can set the gas valve to pilot or shut the power off and then take a shower to use up a lot of the hot water before draining it so you don't waste all that hot water you paid to heat. If you have an electric water heater this is also a benefit so you can make sure the water isn't heating up again after you shut the power off because you will destroy the heating elements if the power is still on for whatever reason such as a mislabeled breaker or wiring problem.
This video is one the most comprehensive discussion of clearing and draining a hot water heater. Excellent and well done video. Bravo
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A HOT WATER HEATER
@@casualobserver620
Don't say that, you know too little. People might usually call it hot water tank. But I do fix some among the few hundreds that had been converted to be Hot water HEATERS !
@@brianlamb5846 Dribbling is usually a term associated with basketball, but in your case, it defines your reply.
@@casualobserver620 It's a trivial point. There is something wrong with you.
@@Schlaagenheimer So trivial that you found the need to reply. Sounds like a medical condition and may need treatment.
Good to see people like yourself doing these videos. You explain things well.
Back in my day most guys knew how to work on our cars and tweak them.
I see guys now that do not even know how check their oil!!
Awhile back a co worker....young guy came to me saying his car wouldn't start.
I looked under his hood. First thing I checked was the battery....it was loose.
I tightened it up and Wammmo...it started right up.
I really feel worry for our future.
The educational system is so much more into teaching propaganda rather than teaching common sense.
So very true, I see that in young people, they don't even use common sense!
Watched your video for the second Thanksgiving in a row. Had soma issues with slow draining. Had to open a faucet in the kitchen as well as the upstairs guest bathroom. Now the water is flowing. Thanks again for producing a quality video.
You done better than most videos I watched your the only one who explained it clearly
This was an excellent video,..very clear and slow enough for a novice to understand. The best I've seen so far...thank you! I now feel I can do this job myself without having to spend money on a plumber.
Great video with excellent step by step instructions. Also loved that you gave the rationale for the steps taken. As a single female I feel brave enough to try this on my own.
I would not do it
Your videos are great! I find personally the only way to get out all the sediment is to crush it down and flush it out , Impossible to do with the water heater installed. Usually the chunks are to big to leave the drain valve!
I couldn't get my pressure valve to stay down by itself. I didnt want to apply to much pressure coz I was afraid I mite damage it. Great directions..easy to follow. Thank you
Wow! I finally learned something from you. Just kidding. I drained a few hot water heaters in the past and I never opened my hot water side at my deeps sink, I always just opened the pressure relief valve. Your way makes a lot of sense, so tomorrow I will drain my hot water heater, I haven't done it in about 1-1/2 years. I'll see if it drains and fills a lot faster. Again, thanks for sharing these great tips.
I just finished draining my hot water heater, not much came out, so that is a good thing. About 6 months ago I changed the anode rod and in the process the whole heater shifted, I finally got it back where it belongs. Thanks for inspiring me to do my water heater.
Look I went thru formal schooling for this but I thank you for what you do , I call you a saint for our times , because no one else will teens this , how to save money ok doing it yourself, he'll no one does it
Couldn't be more perfect in my opinion, just finished doing this after watching first of course and everything went smooth as smooth could go! Thanks for the great video!
Thank you, I have a 15 year old Bradford white very good maintenance
Great detailed video! It was the first one I watched, but by being so detailed I don't need to watch another. All questions were answered regarding draining my tank. I really appreciate the video, now I just need to do it. Thank you Jay, and thank you Word of Advice TV, great job!
I heard to add vinegar also while flushing. Do YOU recommend and if so, do I pour it through the rod plug?
Thanks for the video... Very informative. Wish you had video you getting the sediment out by blowing as I'm not sure how u did that.
Just had a water refinery installed in my home. Used this video to flush out all that old hard water from the water heater out. Perfect. Thanks for the video.
I am a professional handyman general contractor and you made a great video. Thank you.
Thanks Jerry! :)
As a Licensed Journeyman Electrician and HVAC helper, I appreciate the tone that you use and the detail that you go into (without over-explaining and going into Theory) when doing your videos. Most folks need hands-on experience before it sinks in. Your videos are as in depth as necessary for a person with On-Site-but different-Trade to follow easily, with great insight and proper safety measures...except for the socks ONLY spot, I would DEFINITELY wear by work boots, just in case. Keep on doin' what You do !
excellent step by step and my wife and I were able to save plumber fees and did it ourself. Did have a problem getting much "action" until I opened the overflow valve - then it was all downhill from there. Thanks for saving us a bunch - our tank had not ever been drained and we have been fretting it, so now, we're good. thanks, again for a really easy to follow step thru.
Good detail. Might want to talk a little more about the anode rod. Thanks
Thanks. Very thorough demonstration. I talked to a plumber I was referred to by by my fix and flip guy and the only thing he did differently was he said to take either the cold or hot water loose at the top of the water heater instead of using a nearby faucet. I kind of like using the faucet like you did as I think that will be less mess. Thanks again.
I just want to follow up. I tried draining my water heater with all the instructions from Word of Advice. The only thing that didn't work was opening a nearby hot water tap. I opened the two closest hot water faucets and couldn't get it to drain. I loosened the hot water line on top of the heater and it drained like a champ. After draining it I started flushing it. On the 2nd flush when I shut off the cold water intake the expansion tank blew out. I guess it was the water hammer affect of shutting the water off. The expansion tank then filled with water while I was trying to hold my finger over the leak and forced water out the hot water line that I had loosened. Water went everywhere while I ran to the street to turn off the water to the house. Obviously the expansion tank will need to be replaced (none are available at Lowe's). Hopefully that will fix the leak I was experiencing. Apparently the schrader valve in the bottom of the expansion tank was the cause of my initial leak. Somehow water was leaking from the expansion tank into the pan underneath it and the drain line from that pan on top of the water heater then drained into the pan under the water heater. Right now I'm waiting for the plumber I called to get back to me to see when he can get here to verify and/or more thoroughly diagnose my problem. A word to the wise. I had no idea I needed to be checking the expansion tank to be sure it was working. I didn't understand its purpose to begin with. Wish I had known. Apparently these tanks are generally only good for 2 to 5 years. We have lived here 12 years and the house is 17 years old so that tank was probably the original. The recommendations I have now read advise them to be replaced as soon as the tank warranty expires; however, you can learn how to check that the tank is working properly. Just type in an expansion tank search and you will find plenty of explanations. There are several tests we as homeowners can perform to determine if the tank is working. If it's not working properly, have a licensed plumber do the replacement. A bad tank can affect all the plumbing in your home including lines in your walls and slab, and every appliance that uses water like your dish washer, ice maker, etc. I had a hot water slab leak last year that caused almost $20,000 of damage, and now I wonder if it was caused by a faulty expansion tank that was not doing its job. And here is the kicker. The plumber that did the repairs never checked the expansion tank or asked any questions about its age, etc. The tanks are only about $50 so it is well worth replacing to protect the investment of your home. I hope this is helpful to those of you who read it. I know it's long, but I felt it necessary to be as detailed as possible to drive home the importance.
Thank you. Water heater is only a year old, but I had a lot of sediment....took at least 10 flushes. Looks like I'll be doing this at least twice a year from now on. Many thanks.
Well done - very easy to follow and you didn't add a lot of fluff that some other DIY videos add.
Thank you for the video. Went to Home Depot to buy a garden hose and the thing leaked. I went ahead and used buckets to empty the drain valve. Fun stuff
Very hesitant dealing with a gas hot water heater but fantastic video--it all worked great. I had to flush 6-8 times (was probably not done before we moved in). THANKS!!!
Thanks so much. Had no idea how to do this...I'll be doing this soon.
Thanks for the info. I have low water pressure so I hope this helps. I moved in about 5 years ago and never drained it. So let’s see how it goes.
Got a place with a 10 year old water heater... never knew about flushing it and I’m going to be trying that this weekend. Thanks a ton for the video! My water heater looks almost exactly like yours so I should be good
Turn off the cold inlet valve. Open a hot faucet not on a combination faucet.( cold water can cross into the tank). Drain the tank and put on a ball valve and hose connection. Fill the tank , leaving the faucet open until full. Air has to escape the tank. Then flush, settle, flush the tank till the water you catch in a bucket is running almost clear. You won't get all the sediment out, no use trying. Then cap the valve to protect children
Thanks for the step-by-step elaboration. Everything is clear and well-explained except that on the 3rd flush of the tank, you mentioned that there is probably a big flake blocking the drain value from inside the tank and you have to take off the drain hose and "blow it back" to clear it. How exactly is this done? How do you blow back? Thanks and look forward to hearing from you. Cheers.
Did you ever figure out what he meant?
I wondered the same thing, weird he didn't explain.
I'm assuming you blow into the garden hose attached to the drain valve. Depending on the length of your hose, you might have to blow harder. If you don't have a short hose, you can be risky and blow straight into the drain valve and hope you don't get blasted with hot water and sediment. There's a gadget called sediment buster that you can use a bike pump or air compressor that you can blow air with short bursts. I just ordered one from eBay since their website doesn't ship to Canada. There's also another gadget called the Turbo Tank Cleaner. It works like a drain snake but I've seen mixed reviews about the agitator breaking off, and another con about it is that you'd have to take the drain valve off and install the tank cleaner. I hope you'd found the solution by now as your comment is a year old, but if your problem is solved then regular maintenance will be easier!
Yup....nice presentation. Thank you. Either you have the knack for teaching or you don`t. I now feel very confident to tackle the job myself. One comment.... you having city water probably helped the situation since it is periodically tested and controlled vs. a well.
Followed your steps exactly on Thanksgiving! While waiting for the bird to finish, I figured it's best to drain the hot water heater.
Two things to point out, it took a while before water started draining. I had to also shut off and close the valves to a circulation pump. The second is that it took some time before hot water came out of the faucets when I finished draining. Just be patient and follow his steps, and you'll be fine. I will set up a reminder to do this every Thanksgiving.
Great video..I would like suggest once the tank is drained, change out the drain spigot on the water heater for a regular garden type spigot that can be purchased at any home improvement store.. The gardened type valve opens wider to allow more chunks of mineral and debris come out.
Excellent video with all clear details 🙏👍. Just one quick clarification. During the final stages to stir up the sediments, you turned ON the cold water into the tank for 30 seconds and kept the hot water faucet in the sink ON too. I saw someone else in another video saying that at this time the hot water faucet in the sink should be turned OFF to build pressure enabling the tank to stir up the sediments. Please clarify
Great video , forgot to mention to remove you faucet aerator while you bleed the air out of the pipe to prevent your faucet screens from clogging
love the videos! can't wait for more, very informative. i did this the other day on an 18 year old tank. the tank plugged too, there was about 4 inches of sediment in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket by the time we were done. the reason we decided to flush the tank was because the temperature was overshooting. aquastat was set at 120, but the water coming out was at 160 degrees Fahrenheit. after changing the aquastat and well with no change in water temp... i realized that the sediment was holding the heat, the burner ran so long because the sediment was insulating the water from heating, so when the water finally hit 120 and shut off the sediment was super hot and continued heating the water even though the burner was off. never seen a case that bad before.
Thank you! As a new home owner I was very nervous to do this on my own! Your video was so clear and easy to understand. I followed step by step.
Just viewed and appreciated the detailed step by step instructions...Kind of hard to do a proper how to video in two minutes as some plumbers have done. I saved this for future reference.
thanks to the video presenter for such a great job...
Great Job. Very easy to follow.
Your video it’s awesome you explain clearly and easy to follow up your steps to success the job,so I’m going to to do it on your way thank you very much help people to learn more and god bless you always
Awesome video. This is what TH-cam was meant for… a stepdad in your pocket. Thanks!
Great video enjoyed the commentary it was a big help for me and my wife's flushing our water heater. Thank you.
Everything sounds so clear when you explain it,you cover up every little detail which makes it so helpful to learn
Additional detail he missed.: I have this same model and the drain spout wouldn't stop leaking after I shut it off. I bought a 1/2" brass pipe cap but it was too small. It requires a 3/4" cap.
Awesome! Thank you for sharing. I had a new 50 gallon tank installed in May 2019 and I think it's about time I drain the tank.
Great detailed video that wasn’t so long I avoided it :). Videos don’t have to be long to show all steps and you have mastered that. Been wanting to do this for awhile. When my old heater died it was full of a crystal like sediment when it was drained. I have not flushed this one and it has been in place probably 12 yrs or more. Wish me luck!
My grandfather flushed his water heater every year and changed the anode rod regularly as well. The manufacturer’s date was August 1948. We replaced it in 1999. The one and only reason was we wanted a more efficient unit. It was still working and not leaking when we changed it out. Slight improvement to your method: drain the water heater down only about half way, then turn the valve on and off several times in short bursts before letting it drain completely and following the rest of your process. This allows for better flow and gets more sediment out.
Thank you- I watched a few other videos but yours was thorough and gave me the confidence to go ahead and try it.
FROM CHICAGO EXELENT IM YOUR #1 FOLOWING YOUR VIDEOS I KEP WACHING YOUR VIDEOS ALL TH TIME THANK YOU SO MUCH GOD BLESS YOU
You're welcome!! Glad to know that you are finding the videos helpful. We receive the blessings and may the Lord abundantly bless you and yours as well!!
Love this video to repeat many times before draining my water heater but for sure I’m going to do it right because your are very good instructor thank you very much
It was a very good presentation. For a leaking valve, I would always just keep a can under the valve. In time, it will quit. I didn't know about the little sealer cap. Thank you very much for your presentation. Our hot water heater is natural gas and it was put in 1987. I keep changing the anode rod often. We live near a lake and we get our water from a sand point. We live in a small hamlet in central west Saskatchewan. We are the home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Thank You for demonstrating how to flush a water heater. Well spoken, concise and to the point..👍👍
Best "how to do" video I have ever seen. Was so educational. Jack
Great walk thru video. Started to drain water heater yesterday but igniter not working and didn't want hassle of finding pilot. Now I know I don't have to turn pilot off.
I love that Drain Cap idea as a safety measure. I am going to get one now.
Nice to see someone else that does not turn the gas off and just sets it to to Pilot to drain the tank.
Excellent! Great details, layman terms used, and you touch on all the "what if's." Great, great, great, job!
Best video explanation I've seen period. Answers the WHAT and the WHY clearly and in proper sequence.
Thank you! Glad to hear the video was helpful!
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That saddle valve is probably for a humidifier that sits in the air stream. It is usually fed with hot water.
@Clyde Barrow 0 loook
Very informative video and I like how you get a good visual on what you drain out of it. Pressure relief valves are not designed to be operated that way. They are safety devices and I wouldn't be using it that way. Honestly I prefer using a pump it's just faster and I feel like it really gets more sediment out
Thanks for this video. In the process of flushing mine now. Wanted to add that if you're meeting resistance at the valve while flushing as you did during your third flush you can also try turning the valve off with the flat head screw driver and then turning it back on versus taking the hose off. I did this first and it seemed to break up whatever was clogging it up and it's draining again now .
Thanks Man, Best video of all on flushing water heater. Will do it tomorrow morning.
I added one step. I was using a short washing machine hose since I was next to the drain. After draining I put a funnel on the end of the hose and poured a gallon of white vinegar into the open drain to dissolve sediment in the bottom of the tank. I let it sit for several hours then did pretty much the same as video.
That's a great idea! Since simply draining the water heater will not get most of that sediment and scale build up out of there. Thank you for sharing!
Good sharing !
I enjoy to share more valuable experiences.
1. Always prepare a new cap for your drain pipe with rubber gasket in case it leaks. Return if you don't use it.
2. Never turn off your pilot, stay on Vacation will save you tons of trouble, especially for newer spark ignition models.
3. Always turn on the closest Hot water faucet ( make sure no strainer attached ) until the whole job is done.
4. Never try to Release your Pressure Relief Valve, especially those who never drain or repair before. The old scale or precipitate Might hold the spring gaps and causing leaks. Otherwise, you might end up with another Valve Leaking job that cause you money and trouble.
Blessings !
So releasing the pressure relief valve isn't necessary at all.?
Excellent presentation. I appreciated your going through each step to cover any contingencies that may arise. Professional plumber videos seem to gloss over a lot of the details in their discussion (probably because it seems mundane to them), so it was a welcome change. Thanks for taking the time to lay it all out for us.
Very clear, thanks a lot
Thank you sir! Now I should have the guts to flush my own water tank😊
Video was excellent.
@@miguelpedroza8036 z
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I think, since you're showing how to turn the pilot off, you should re-light it. Also, there's probably debris in that drain-valve seat so you might reverse-flush the valve; blow water back in, past the seat. Most plumbers seem to advise "NEVER cycle the overflow valve" but I do it anyway. I figure that, if it leaks, it was crusty and needs replacing. Therefore, it might be adviseable to just replace it after the fluse...or before. :-) Good Job!
Very clear and concise step by step--so that anyone should be able to do this without any problem!
So to the point, yet thorough! I'm currently draining my tank right now. Thanks!
Very good video. Draining my hot water heater was on my list of things to do. I will follow your steps today while I’m out cleaning the garage. Thanks!!
Thanks so much. I don't know how to to do this before. Now I understand that it is easy to do. Thanks again.
This was a fantastic video, I also have a gas WH and I followed it exactly. Everything you said was spot on and easy to do. Thanks!
This was the best video to walk me through drawing my heater. I thank you very much!
Ideally, replacing the factory drain valve with a full port brass ball valve with a brass nipple on the water heater side and a brass hose adapter on the outlet side of the valve. Leave the water supply to the water heater on, connect the garden hose, and run it out on the lawn, and fully open the ball valve. Let it run for five minutes and you're done. Do this every 4 to six months on a new water heater and your deposits will be minimal. From a retired plumber.
This is the best advice for maintaining water heaters.
And never open the pressure relief valve. All you need is a little gunck to get in there and you're now needing to replace the relief valve.
I think this is a more practical way to flush a hot water heater than what was shown in the video. Far fewer steps that may discourage folks from flushing. Because the cold water inlet pipe extends all the way down to the bottom of the tank, it does a good job of agitating the sediment at the bottom as the cold water "smashes" into the sediment. Because this process requires only connecting a hose and opening the drain valve, it is a piece of cake to perform every 4-6 months as CentralCoastCamper said.
@@SignorLuigi I vacuum my electric BW hot water heater out😂 every 6 months... as our city water supply Is really quite bad...scale at the bottom of tank is about 1 inch thick after only 6 months.....use a wet vac and a flexible rubber 3 ft tube to vacuum out ...gets out all the sludge....then replace both elements as they get really gunked up!!
What was his point in turning off the cold water.@@SignorLuigi
My brother you did a great job showing people how to drain the water heater excellent job.
Thank you! :)
I am a veteran Plumber in Arizona everyone please read the yellow Tag on the Temp and pressure relief valve, it states the valve should be worked at least once a year for proper function if it fails to open it could possibly cause serious damage to body and property.
It’s a redundancy for the burner control valve failing to shut off at targeted temperature. Failure of the t&p itself does not result in harm stated.
@@akkbuilders
I'm sure Jim is aware of the redundancy. He's obviously referring to situations where the pressure HAS built up and the relief valve NEEDS to work properly.
Fine presentation but I do have a very important question. In the process of explaining the gas valve settings you turned the valve off and then after a bit back on without relighting the pilot. It would be better to have in your mind before hand what you intend to do so there is not any issues with the gas. I don't know if you used video magic but that stood out for me.
Nice and easy to follow steps. Every step has been explained in good detail. Thank you do much, from Toronto.
I'm glad to hear the video was easy to follow! Thank you for watching and leaving a comment.
This is great. This gives confidence to a novice like me. Can be done. I loved the details and pointing out the location of different parts that we must manipulate for draining
Great information! If you are having problems with the drain valve plugging up every 5 seconds like I was you can get a full port ball drain valve like I did, it has a much larger hole and doesn't plug up nearly as badly, plus it's easier to use because it has a handle and it allows much more flow so the water heater drains a lot faster.
Nice job explaining everything
Terrific video. Very clear presentation. I put together a brief "cookbook" of steps on paper, and taped it to my water heater - - along with a space for "date of flushing". The goal for me is to do this once a year. Also - - make sure you check/replace your anode once every 3-5 years. It will double the life of your water heater. If you have to hire the anode replacement work (very likely for most of us), the cost is about $125 from your local plumber/handyman.
EXCELLENT REALLY HELPED. Found the pressure release valve. Obviously never used. had to chop away sheetrock. thank u so much!!!
Excellent video. You really have a great way of explaining better than anybody else I’ve seen
Great Video. The other videos I watched left out a step. Yours is very thorough. Thank you.
Now I know what I need to do in the spring. I didn't want to spend $100.00 for the plumber to do it. Thanks.
Great video & the step by step procedure will be able to help me flush my water heater properly avoiding any mistakes. Thank you.
I have watched many video's and yours was the best of all made it sound much simpler them most. Thank you.
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Hby
Thank you. I'm becoming a PRO thanks to you.