Water Heater Woes Please Help?
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009 at
2:20 pm
I’ve replaced the thermostat on my water heater, but it didn’t seem to help. Since I already have the element as well, I decided to replace that. My issue is with draining the tank. I’ve turned off the breaker, turned off water at the water main, and turned on a hot faucet to prevent the vacuum. I connected a water hose and opened the drain valve… nothing seems to be going through the hose, so I disconnected the hose and slowly turned the valve. I got a few drops of water, but nothing continuous. What am I doing wrong?
Tagged with: Heater • Help • Please • Water • Woes
Filed under: Home Repair
There should be an air valve on the top of the tank. did you open that too?
Almost every water heater builds sediment, and you certainly don’t need to trash the tank because there is a bit of sediment in the drain valve. I have used a small wire in the drain valve to loosen and clean the sediment if the flushing method that Ed W described fails. You are going to get water on the floor but at least you can open the blockage.
The drain valve is plugged with sediment. Open the main again and flush through a hose on the drain valve with the tank under pressure. This should flush the sediment out of the bottom of the tank and the drain valve. Then repeat your original sequence.
there is a pop off valve on the top at he side open it. that should allow it to drain.that is for too much pressure build up it will open.be sure to close it. if it still doesn’t drain it is full of dirt. throw it out and buy a new one. go to a tankless heater.
Put the hose back on and then turn on the inlet tap. There should be water flowing freely. If not, then the tank has filled with sediment.
When this happens it’s time to throw away the tank. Pull out all new parts and kiss it good by.
Try opening the PTV valve on the top or side. There are some other ideas in the article below.