I need to drain my electric water heater, but the drain valve is clogged w/ sediment, any ideas how 2 drain?
Question:I have to change the lower element in my 50 gal. electric water heater, however when I try to drain it through the drain valve nothing comes out. I've tried opening the nearest hot water faucet to help & nothing, a trickle at best, any suggestions?
Answers:
Poking a wire in the valve is not a good idea, it is likely that you will damage the seat or the valve head so it will not close properly later.
If you have not already done so, try opening the valve with the water supply on. The extra pressure may get you started.
Another option is to turn off the water supply and open a hot water valve somewhere near the heater. Connect a washing machine supply hose to the valve and supply water pressure using a garden hose with the valve open. The effect should be to backflush the valve and remove some sediment.
This is a reoccuring problem with many of the newer plastic valves. It can be messy, but, you will need to clear it with a wire or air compressor and turn the valve back off quickly. Make sure the water is cooled down. If your pressure relief valve is not piped outside the house, hold a container under it and pull the lever up. You may have backflow preventer nipples in the tank and that is the only way to get air into the tank.
Shove something up the drain hole or if you have an air compressor blow air in it.
But if it's really that bad, I think your heater maybe shot anyway.
With the water heater plumbing still in place and the water still on, hook up the garden hose to the drain and open it. Let the water run for a couple of minutes before trying to drain the tank. Then shut the water off while the drain is still open, disconnect the water supply line, and you should be set to go. Of course you need to shut the power off before doing any of this. Hope it helps.
Turn off the power to the heater
You may want to turn off the main water valve,
however to start,you may want to leave it on until you have some water draining.
The pressure will help to push the sediment out.
This is a bit of a messy job :)
Prepare by placing a large shallow pan,such as one of the extra large aluminum trays under the drain.
Also place a bunch of old towels around it to catch some of the drainwater.
Have your drainhose ready once you unblock the valve.
Open the valve and start poking into the hole with a piece of steel wire (like a straightened coathanger) and loosening the debris.
Keep going until you have a reasonable stream coming out.
Then close the valve and connect your drain hose .
Open the drainvalve again and continue draining.
Done this a few times successfully.
It's therefor important to do this on a regular basis.
In a hardwater area possibly once a year.
BTW if the tank is to be discarded,you can bore a hole through the valve as well.
Good luck.
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