Plumbing · fix it
Not enough hot water? Here's what to do first
Sediment at the bottom of the tank steals capacity, makes rumbling noises and shortens the heater's life. Flushing once a year fixes all three.
DIY with caution
Doable for a careful homeowner — read the safety note first and stop if anything doesn't match what you see.
Intermediate About 60 min
The water leaving the tank can scald. Let it cool first, and never restore power to an electric heater before it is completely refilled.
Video: AmplifyDIY (YouTube)
What to do, in order
- Step 1: Switch the heater to pilot/vacation, or turn its breaker off on an electric unit, and let the water cool.
- Step 2: Close the cold supply valve on top of the tank.
- Step 3: Attach a garden hose to the drain valve and run it to a floor drain or outside, downhill.
- Step 4: Open the drain valve and a hot tap upstairs to break the vacuum; let the tank empty and run until clear.
- Step 5: Close the drain, reopen the cold supply, let the tank fill fully, then restore power or gas.
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This page also helps with
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