How To Drain an Electric Hot Water Heater Tank

It’s a task most homeowners probably don’t think about, but it’s something that’s well worth the small effort it takes to do. If you have an electric hot water heater tank, over time, sand, iron particles and other sediments build up in the bottom of the tank. This build-up can interfere with the normal working of the tank. The sediment will make it harder for your electric hot water heater to heat your household water and, in turn, raise your electric bills. If the level of sediment gets too high, it can even cause your water to only get heated to a warm temperature instead of truly hot. That, and allowing the sediment to accumulate will shorten the normal lifespan of your electric hot water heater. Thus, you’ll have to replace it more often. These are just three reasons why you need to know how to properly drain an electric hot water heater tank.

Safety Note
Before you begin this household task, keep in mind the water inside your hot water heater tank is normally very hot. It usually is set to maintain a temperature of between 120 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This is hot enough to cause third-degree burns! Take care not to touch the water or let it splash on your skin!

Step #1 Turn the Electricity to the Hot Water Heater Tank Off
The first step to drain the tank is to shut the heater off. It’s probably wired directly to your breaker box so you’ll have to find the switch and shut it off there. Doing this will prevent the heating elements from becoming damaged when they are no longer submersed in water.

Step #2 Shut the Cold Water Valve Off
Look for the cold water inlet valve which will be located directly above your electric hot water heater tank. Shut this off as you don’t want any water coming into the tank while you drain it. That would just be a waste.

If there is no cold water inlet valve located there, then you’ll need to shut off the main cold water valve.

Step #3 Vent the Hot Water Line
Turn on the hot water faucet in your bathtub. This will help vent your hot water heater tank so it will drain quicker. Any water that’s still in the line will come out, but it should taper off, then completely stop after a minute or so. If not, then the heater isn’t properly shut off. Recheck your breaker box to make sure you flipped the right switch.

Step #4 Drain the Heater Tank
For this step, you’ll either need a long garden hose and access to a floor drain, a sink with a drain, or the outdoors. Locate the drain valve on the bottom front of the unit. Securely attach the garden hose to the valve. Place the other end of the hose at a drain or take it outside.

Slowly open the valve and allow the water to drain from your hot water heater tank. Make sure you have the hose attached securely. If it’s leaking, turn the water off and reattach the garden hose.

Safety Note– Remember! This water is normally very hot! Don’t let kids play in it if you take the hose end outside! And don’t let your pets drink from it!

Step #5 Flush Your Hot Water Heater Tank Out
Once the water has quit running out of the tank, shut the drain valve off. Shut the bathtub faucet off too. Then, turn the cold water inlet valve- located above the tank- or the main water valve back on and let the tank fill up for about five minutes.

Shut the cold water off again and open the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. This shot of additional water will help remove any sediments that may remain in the bottom.

Note: If the water that’s draining out is still sandy, cloudy or otherwise discolored, repeat step #5
until it runs clear.

Step #6 Finish the Task
Now that you have properly drained your electric hot water heater tank, turn the drain valve off. Carefully detach the garden hose from the valve and raise it up so the hot water can finish draining out.

Turn the cold water inlet valve or the main cold water supply back on. But, DO NOT turn the electric hot water heater tank back on yet. The tank will need to fill completely up with water first so the heating elements won’t be damaged!

So, the final step, after the tank is filled again, is to turn the electricity back on to the electric hot water heater tank.

A Final Note
How often you should drain your tank depends on the amount of sediments it gets in it and how often. If your household water contains a lot of sand and other deposits, you may need to drain the tank annually. Otherwise, draining it once every two years should be adequate. That’s what I have always done. However, I recently installed a whole-house water filter system. This system will reduce the amount of sediments that reaches the hot water heater tank, so I won’t need to drain it as often.