At a glance
- Topic
- Sediment out the bottom
- Reading time
- About 2 min
- Phone
- (365) 363-2754
- Matching repair
- Water Heater Repair in Ajax
Why it matters
A sediment layer makes a gas burner work longer for the same hot water and can overheat the tank bottom. In electric tanks it buries the lower element. Flushing is a cheap, quiet way to extend a tank's useful life.
The routine, in order
- Starve the burner or elements. On gas units twist the dial to its PILOT mark; on electric units flip the double breaker labelled for the heater.
- Shut the inlet, the handle on the cold pipe dropping into the tank top.
- Thread a hose onto the spigot at the tank's foot, running its far end to the floor grate or out a basement window. What comes out can scald, so clear the room of kids and the dog.
- Crack a hot faucet on the main floor so the tank can breathe, then turn the spigot.
- Drain and stir. When the tank is mostly empty, crack the cold supply open for a few seconds at a time to churn the sediment and send it out.
- Close the drain valve, remove the hose, open the cold supply and let the tank fill until the upstairs hot tap runs steadily.
- Restore heat. Relight or set the gas control; switch the breaker on only once the tank is full.
Mistakes to avoid
- Turning an electric tank back on before it is full; the element burns out.
- Wrenching on a plastic spigot that refuses to seal; they snap.
- Starting with a tank over a decade old that has never been flushed. Ask a plumber first.
Local tip If the drain valve only trickles, sediment is plugging it. Do not poke at it with wire while the tank is full of hot water.
Where a plumber takes over
When the drain valve leaks, the tank rumbles even after flushing, or anything about the gas control is unclear. Our water heater repair page has more.
Questions we hear on the phone
Is once a year enough?
For a typical Ajax family, yes. Twice if you see heavy grit or have a softener-free house with high usage.