Table of Contents

open pressure relief valve to drain water heater

Draining a water heater can be a necessary maintenance task, and opening the pressure relief valve is a key step in the process. Follow these steps to safely and effectively drain your water heater⁚

Step 1⁚ Turn Off Gas or Electricity

Before you begin draining your water heater, it is crucial to turn off the gas or electricity supply to the unit. This will prevent any accidents or injuries from occurring while you are working on the water heater.

For gas water heaters⁚ Locate the gas valve on the gas line leading to the water heater. Turn the valve clockwise to shut off the gas supply.

For electric water heaters⁚ Turn off the circuit breaker or fuse that supplies power to the water heater at your home’s electrical panel.

Once you have turned off the gas or electricity, you can proceed to the next step of attaching a hose to the pressure relief valve.

Step 2⁚ Attach a Hose to the Valve

Locate the pressure relief valve on the side of the water heater. It is typically a brass or plastic valve with a lever or handle. Attach one end of a garden hose to the outlet of the pressure relief valve. Make sure the hose is long enough to reach a drain or other disposal point.

To attach the hose, simply screw it onto the outlet by hand. Do not use any tools, as this could damage the valve. Once the hose is securely attached, you can proceed to the next step of opening the valve.

Caution⁚ Before opening the valve, make sure that the hose is securely attached and that there are no kinks or blockages in the hose. If the hose becomes disconnected while the valve is open, hot water could spray out, causing scalding or other injuries.

Step 3⁚ Open the Valve

Once the hose is securely attached, you can open the pressure relief valve. To do this, simply lift the lever or handle on the valve. You may need to use a little force to overcome the spring tension. Once the valve is open, water will begin to flow out of the hose.

Caution⁚ The water coming out of the valve will be hot, so be careful not to touch it or allow it to spray on your skin. It is also important to keep the hose pointed away from yourself and others to avoid any injuries.

Allow the water to drain out of the water heater until it stops flowing. This may take several minutes, depending on the size of the water heater and the amount of water in it. Once the water has stopped flowing, you can close the valve and reattach the cap.

Tip⁚ If the water does not start flowing out of the valve when you open it, there may be a blockage in the valve or the hose. Try tapping the valve gently with a hammer or wrench to dislodge any debris. If the blockage persists, you may need to call a plumber to have the valve serviced or replaced.

Step 4⁚ Drain the Water Heater

Once the pressure relief valve is open, you can begin draining the water heater. To do this, simply open the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater. The drain valve is typically a small, plastic valve that is located near the bottom of the tank. Once the drain valve is open, water will begin to flow out of the water heater and into the hose.

Caution⁚ The water coming out of the drain valve will be hot, so be careful not to touch it or allow it to spray on your skin. It is also important to keep the hose pointed away from yourself and others to avoid any injuries.

Tip⁚ If the water does not start flowing out of the drain valve when you open it, there may be a blockage in the valve or the hose. Try tapping the valve gently with a hammer or wrench to dislodge any debris. If the blockage persists, you may need to call a plumber to have the valve serviced or replaced.

Step 5⁚ Close the Valve and Reattach

Once the water heater is drained, you can close the drain valve and reattach the pressure relief valve;

To close the drain valve, simply turn the valve clockwise until it is snug. Do not overtighten the valve, as this could damage the valve or the water heater.

To reattach the pressure relief valve, simply screw the valve back onto the water heater. Again, do not overtighten the valve, as this could damage the valve or the water heater.

Once the pressure relief valve is reattached, you can turn the gas or electricity back on to the water heater. The water heater will then begin to refill with water.

Caution⁚ Do not turn the gas or electricity back on to the water heater until the pressure relief valve is reattached and the water heater is completely filled with water. Running the water heater without water can damage the heating element.

Once the water heater is refilled, you can check for leaks by opening a hot water faucet. If there are no leaks, then you have successfully drained and refilled your water heater.