Can I Flush My Water Heater Myself?
                     How to Flush a Water Heater?
Water  heater  manufacturers  suggest  flushing  water  heaters  every  six  months  to
remove the sediment deposited at the bottom of the water heater tank. The water that
comes to your home is never free from minerals. Over time, these minerals get stuck at
its tank’s bottom and can damage its heating elements and other internal components.
Flushing your water heater regularly prevents the mineral deposition inside of it. Hiring
the  best  plumbers in  Sacramento to  have the  water  heater  flushed  will  be more
affordable than the repairing costs of the damage this buildup can cause to your water
heater. 
But, if you’re wondering whether you can do it yourself, the answer is yes. First, you
need to understand how it works so that you can know how to drain a water heater.
Here Are the Steps You Need to Do to Flush a Water Heater:
 Turn off the water heater 
The  first  step  is  to  turn  off  your  water  heater  before  you  could  start  flushing  and
draining it.  
 Turn off the water heater thermostat
Some water heating units include a “vacation” mode. If you have a gas-powered water
heater,  you need to  set  the  temperature  setting  at  “pilot  mode”.  The purpose of  it
keeping it at piolet mode is to keep the burner from firing itself while the tank is empty.
If it is heating without water, it can cause damage to your water heater. 
 Attach the tank’s drain valve with a garden hose 
Connect  a garden hose to the tank’s  drain valve.  Make sure the other end of  it  is
directed towards the drain. A good way to drain is to let all the hot water come out of
the faucet before you start draining it.  
 Open the drain valve of your water heater
Open the drain valve and allow the tank to drain. Make sure you don’t let the scalding
hot water come out. Wait for some time and let the tank cool down.  While draining the
water heater, you need to keep on checking the amount of sediment coming out of the
hose. If no sediment and water are moving out, it is likely that the valve is clogged with
sediment. 
Just as preventing clogs in drains require  drain cleaning in Sacramento regularly,
keeping the valve clean and clog-free is essential to prevent issues.  In this case, open
the temperature-pressure valve. This step will let off pressure buildup inside and drain
the water which is stuck in the hot water pipes. 
You can use a dry vacuum to clear the blockage in the drain valve to the point water
can move freely. If the blockage is very serious, you should call a professional plumber
to get it done. 
 Drain the tank
Once the tank is drained, turn on the supply of cold water. This step will  push any
remaining sediment stuck at the bottom out of the tank.  Keep running the cold water
until you see the water becomes clear and no sediment is present in the water coming
out of the hose. 
 Detach the hose from the drain valve
Use dry/wet vacuum to remove any sediment left in the opening of the valve. Doing this
is essential to prevent the valve from deteriorating from sediment buildup. It will also
ensure that the valve doesn’t leak. 
Turn on the cold valve again until the tap gets back to their normal water flow. Now,
reset the water heater temperature to your preferred setting. Flushing a water heater
can seem daunting to some. If you are not confident enough to do it, you can always
hire an experienced plumber who specializes in water heater repair in Sacramento. 
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