Water Heater Cleaning – All You Need To Know

Water heaters are an essential component of any home. Hot water is used for cleaning and showering, as well as other uses in the home. It is therefore important to regularly maintain and clean the water heater to keep it in good functional condition. Regular maintenance of your water heater will keep it functioning optimally as well as make it last longer. Below are the ins and outs of cleaning your water heater using four simple steps.

1. Draining the tank

The first step in cleaning your water heater involves draining the tank. Most water heaters that use electricity have a drainage valve which is located at the lower end of the heater’s drum. The valve is usually made of brass, but some water heaters come with plastic valves. It is advisable to replace your plastic valve with a brass valve.

2. Scrubbing the tank

The only way to get to the debris and calcium accumulated at the bottom of the tank is via the small opening for the drainage valve. Therefore, you will need a slim, stiff bristled brush to go through this opening. These are easily found in hardware stores. Use your brush to work your way up, down and around the bottom of the drum, scrubbing systematically to loosen any build up of sediment and calcium. You may not be able to see what you are doing but this an important part in the cleaning process.

3. Flushing out debris

Once you are convinced that the tank is free from any calcified debris and sediment, it is time to flush these out. Using a small nipple whose diameter is slightly smaller than the drain opening, attach your garden hose to the tank. Turn on the tap that supplies your tank and let it run for about 15 to 20 minutes. You can run this water through three to four times, until the run-off from the pipe is clear. Then you will be sure that the tank is free from any debris.

4. Re-attach the drainage valve

Finally, having established that your tank is clean, it is time to re-attach the drainage valve. You should first remove the nipple, and then you can reinstall your drainage valve. If the valve is old and needs replacement, this is a good time to replace it. Your local hardware should have one that fits well into your water heater tank since most water heaters are standardized, depending on the part of the country you are in.

These four steps make up the basic procedure of cleaning any water heater. However, if your DIY skills are not up to par, you can contact the experts in this field. Remember, cleaning is just one part of the maintenance that a water heater needs to make it last long. Other components of the water heater need to be maintained regularly too. For this service, it is important to contact cleaning experts to avoid any damage or loss of functionality of your water heater.