Draining your hot water heater periodically is necessary for it to function properly and last as long as it should. When left unchecked, water that sits in the tank can potentially corrode the tank’s internal components, or even the surrounding walls of your home if they’re made of unprotected wood. Draining it once or twice a year is usually sufficient as long as you remember to do it. However, the frequency of which you need to do this will depend on several factors, including the size of your home and the type of hot water heater installed. If left unchecked, your hot water heater may also emit unpleasant odors, create condensation rings on the walls and floors of your home, and even cause minor leaks that may damage your floors or ceilings. Below is a general guideline for when to drain your water heater.

How often should you drain your hot water heater?

If you have a large home or a large family, you’ll likely need to drain your hot water heater more often than someone who lives in a small apartment. This is because large households tend to have more water flowing through their pipes, which means more water will be sitting in your hot water heater for longer periods of time. Generally, you should drain your water heater once a year, or once every 12-16 months if you’ve got a particularly large family. To properly drain your water heater, simply open the faucet nearest to the tank and let the water flow out. You can also use a water pump to help speed up the process.

How often should you clean your water heater?

If you’ve got an older water heater, or if yours was installed before the EPA began regulating the type of cleaning products that are safe to use on these appliances, you may want to consider hiring a professional to clean it once a year. Older water heaters are more likely to develop harmful bacteria and slime buildup, which can be very unsightly and potentially dangerous. If you do decide to clean your water heater on your own, you can use baking soda and vinegar to remove buildup and clear out the inside of the tank. If you have a newer water heater, you should clean it once a year, or once every 12-16 months.

Drain Your Water Heater for a New Home

If you’re building a new home, you’ll likely need to clean and fill your water heater before you move in. To do this, simply open the faucet nearest to the tank and let the water flow out. Once the water has drained, you can clean out and fill the tank with fresh water. If you’re installing a new water heater in an existing home, you’ll want to clean out the tank before you put it in the wall. This can help prevent any bacteria or other buildup from entering the home’s water supply and potentially making people sick.

Install a New Water Heater

If you’re replacing your water heater, you’ll need to clean it before you install it. You can use the same method described above to clean and fill the old water heater before moving it out of the house. It’s also a good idea to check the water pressure in the house before you replace the water heater. This will make it easier to turn the faucets on and off, and will help prevent water from leaking out of the faucets if you live in an older home that doesn’t have adequate water pressure.

Summing up

Draining your water heater is necessary to prevent it from corroding, and it’s also a good idea to clean it out once a year. You can clean it out by opening the faucets near the tank and letting the water flow out. If you’re installing a new water heater, you should clean out the old one before you install it. Remember to clean your water heater once a year, or once every 12-16 months.