Energy Smart Design

Flushing Your Heater

Most of us pay more for energy then we need to. We waste money money using energy that we could otherwise spend elsewhere. One major area where we can easily save a lot of energy is our use of hot water. In fact you could easily meet your hot water needs with 20%-50% less energy. The problem with water heaters is they are an inherently inefficient mechanically equipment. They essentially keep water warm 24 hours a day 365 days a year in order provide hot water when you need it.  Flushing out your hot water heaters sediment that accumulates at the bottom of the tank is an easy no cost measure that can easily reduce your water's heaters energy requirements. It will also vastly extend the life of the appliance, saving you even more additional money by reducing your replacement costs.

How Flushing Improves a Water Heater's Efficiency

Cold water enters a water heater, usually from a well or a municipal water supply. The water often carries tiny amounts of sand, rust and dissolved minerals that settle to the bottom of the tank. These are generally referred to as sediment In gas and propane fired water heaters, the build up of sediments slowly insulates the water from the tank's heat source. Over time the sediment hardens as it is repeatedly heated and cooled. This reduces the transfer of heat to the water, and as a result it takes more energy to meet your hot water needs.

In an electric water heater, the sediment will also accumulate on the electric heating elements. As the water travels through the heating element, the sediments accumulates on the heating element, and the heat is transferred less efficiently to the water it is heating. The build up of sediment can cause inefficiencies in the heating system and the build will eventually cause overheating of the element and it can break.

How To Flush Your Water Heater

To flush an older tank, a tank that contains a substantial amount of sediment, first shut off the power to the unit. For an electric heater, be sure to turn off the electricity at the breaker box, also known as the main service panel, or at the nearby fuse box. For a gas burner, turn the the gas settings on the hot water heater to "pilot" or turn it off completely. Gas or electric heater, please be sure that you consult your water heater's maunal. Ensure that you follow the instrucutions correctly, as inccorect actions can be very dangerous.Next, turn off the cold water supply to the water heater. The valve is located on a cold water line that usually enters the tank at the top. Now open a hot water facuet somwhere in the house. This will allow air into the tank of the water heater so it can easily drain.

Then, attach a hose to the drain valve at the base of the tank and run it outside or to a nearby floor drain, if there is one. Alternativly you could use a bucket, but it must fit under the drain valve at the base of the heater. Now, Open the drain valve. As the tank begins to drain, expect the water to be cloudy. Thats the sediment you're purging from the tank. When the tank has been drained the water will stop flowing. When the this happens, open the cold water valve at the top of the tank, this will allow clean, cool water into the tank and rinse out additional buildup, also know as scale. You may also wanted to turn the cold water on and off pulsing the water through the tank.