If you want to be extra sure you're not going to
hurt anything, kill your water heater breakers before
doing the flush. Just in case you were able to make more
water go out than was coming in, and that you were
able to manage to let the water get down below the
first heater. Not very likely in a 15 second flush.
Or you can do it the way you're told to do it
http://www.chilipepperapp.com/flush.htm
I've done it that way, and found that the turbulance of
incoming water helped clear it better. Better to clear
stuff from near the drain valve by doing it the recommended
way first, though, since you haven't done it in several years.

Michael Baugh wrote in message
...
"I know it is" "just connecting a garden hose to the
spout and turn it on and let the water drain".
Sounds like you've got it now.
Cold water comes in the top, hot water goes out the top.
If there's sediment, it stays behind.
The cold water goes by way of a dip tube towards the bottom.
So you connect the hose, open the valve, and let the cold water
coming in provide the turbulance to help clear the sediment.
Run it for about 15 seconds, close the valve, let it all rest for an
hour or so, do it again. Repeat as necessary, and on Christmas
and 4th of July, repeat before seeing it being necessary.

Cuse wrote in message
...
I have a Bradford White 50 gallon hot water heater and it has been in
service for about 4 years and never been cleaned. Recently I noticed
the water coming out from the hot water faucet is yellow/brown (cold
water faucet has clear water). It is either corroded pipes or sediment
build up from the hot water tank. I tried different hot water faucet
around the house and they are all coming out with stained water so my
bet is the water heater needs to be flushed or cleaned.

Looking through the user manual I do not see a step by step procedure
for doing this but I know it is not just connecting a garden hose to the
spout and turn it on and let the water drain. There are heating
elements at the top and middle of the tank and I don't think I can just
drain the tank like that. Do I need to disconnect the power to the tank
first? Do I need to turn off the water supply into the tank? What can
I do to "stir" up the sediment while I drain it to get the most junk out
of it? Really would appreciate if someone can provide a step by step
guideline or if there is any resource online I can learn from.

Thanks in advance,

Cuse