You can always rely on our knowledgeable water heater experts at Accomplish for water heaters installation or repair. The unit may have been instructed to be flushed or drained if you’re trying to manage your water heaters on your own. These instructions may be unclear to some homeowners; what’s the difference between flushing and draining out your water heater?
Many people fail to understand the literal meaning between flushing and draining. So, for their ease, this blog post highlights the main difference between flushing a water heater and draining a water heater.
Flushing – Meaning
Flushing a water heater simply means letting water flow out but not turning off the water supply. The aim of flushing the water heater is to wash off all the sediments from the water heater.
How to Flush Your Water Heater
Using a water heater is quite easy. However, to keep it perfect and in working condition, it is important for the homeowner to clean the water heater frequently. But before cleaning, it is imperative to remove all the water from it.
Connect a hose to the system’s drain valve so that you may flush out your water heater. You can securely empty the tank’s contents after activating the drain valve without totally turning off the water supply.
Flushing the entire system may be completed fast, and it’s a fantastic method to clean the tank, replenish your hot water supply, and verify that the shut-off valve is functioning properly. Also, it is optional to turn off the water heater. However, several people consider turning it off as a precautionary measure.
Draining – Meaning
Draining is a process of letting the water flow out from the water heater. This process aims to empty the water heater. Also, the major difference between flushing and draining is that the water valve is turned off during draining.
How to Drain Your Water Heater
It is quite different to drain your water heater than to flush it. You must entirely turn off the water supply to accomplish this. It may take some time, but it will give you an opportunity to check the water in the tank to see if it appears to be discolored in any way, if there is sediment in the water, etc.
Make sure to inspect your water drain for rust. Your heater is likely deteriorating and could be prone to leaks if you see more and more rust in your water supply as it approaches the last gallon. If so, you should make an immediate call to a licensed plumber.
Also, when draining water completely out of the water heater, it is important to shut down the appliance completely. It is important as draining the heater with its power on can be a life-threatening condition.
What Does My Water Heater Need?
In general, when your water starts to feel less fresh, you should flush a heater. The typical homeowner should perform this a few times a year. On the other hand, if you have started to detect rust-colored water coming from your shower or drains or if you have recently observed that your water is running slower than usual, signaling a potential leak, you may want to drain your water heater totally.
Flushing or Draining – Which One Is The Better?
Several people ask this question flushing and draining, which one is best for the water heater? According to water heater professionals, draining the water heater can be done every two months. It helps the water heater in operating efficiently. It is also great to keep your water heater free from dirt build-up.
As for flushing, experts advise annual flushing of the water heater. It keeps the water heater in top-of-class condition. Besides, it also reduces the chances of corrosion and unnecessary sediment build-up.
Final Words
There is always a way of confusion between draining and flushing. However, by reading the sections above, you must have got a clear idea of what is an evident difference between draining and flushing.
However, both techniques are major parts of water heaters maintenance. One is best on a monthly basis, whereas the other one is best on an annual basis. Once you start maintaining your water heater, you will observe a great decline in water heater repair costs.
