Flushing water heater tank--questions about maintenance
 

I bought and installed a 40 gallon water heater tank last summer and
the drain valve is some kind of a cheap plastic knob that won't turn
easily and if it did it might shoot hot water out 90 degrees and miss
the catch bucket. (My old tank was easy to draw 4-5 gallons a month.)
I asked the salesman about the drain faucet and he said all the models
they sold have the same kind of drain valve. Anyone give me the
proper procedure for flushing the tank? Will this make any difference
in the long run? Should I turn off the gas, allow the tank to cool
and hook up a hose leading to the outside? TIA

Phisherman wrote:
I bought and installed a 40 gallon water heater tank last summer and
the drain valve is some kind of a cheap plastic knob that won't turn
easily and if it did it might shoot hot water out 90 degrees and miss
the catch bucket. (My old tank was easy to draw 4-5 gallons a month.)
I asked the salesman about the drain faucet and he said all the models
they sold have the same kind of drain valve. Anyone give me the
proper procedure for flushing the tank? Will this make any difference
in the long run? Should I turn off the gas, allow the tank to cool
and hook up a hose leading to the outside? TIA

You should replace that plastic POS with a quarter turn brass ball
valve. I do that to all my water heater installations. They are usually
a 3/4 pipe thread - drain the tank, unscrew the plastic valve (while you
can, if you wait another year you may be SOL), screw in a short nipple,
valve, then hose fitting. When it comes time to flush the tank, hook up
a hose and open the valve. When you're done, put a cap on the end of the
hose fitting, just in case someone hits the valve handle. Or you can
remove the handle and put it on top of the heater for when its needed.
--
Grandpa Koca - SAHD for 6 - Keeper of the Perpetual Kindergarten

My opinion is neither copyrighted nor trademarked. It is price
competitive. If you like, I'll trade for one of yours.

You may wish to mention thread sealants, he might not be familiar with that
concept.

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com


"Grandpa Koca" wrote in message
news:05_Wd.27685$QQ3.27263@trnddc02...

You should replace that plastic POS with a quarter turn brass ball
valve. I do that to all my water heater installations. They are usually
a 3/4 pipe thread - drain the tank, unscrew the plastic valve (while you
can, if you wait another year you may be SOL), screw in a short nipple,
valve, then hose fitting. When it comes time to flush the tank, hook up
a hose and open the valve. When you're done, put a cap on the end of the
hose fitting, just in case someone hits the valve handle. Or you can
remove the handle and put it on top of the heater for when its needed.
--
Grandpa Koca - SAHD for 6 - Keeper of the Perpetual Kindergarten

My opinion is neither copyrighted nor trademarked. It is price
competitive. If you like, I'll trade for one of yours.