Nosmo King
Gold Member
If you flush your water heater, take only 5 gallons out at a time and do it three times a year. The typical water heater has a 40 gallon capacity. the objective is to save money, so if you flush all 40 gallons out, you'll have to pay for 40 gallons to refill it, plus the energy to bring 40 gallons of water up to temperature.Iron pipe or plastic of some type?
How old is the WH?
I would say the WH is plugged at a quick guess.
If iron pipe though could be a rust plugging issue.
Does water come out of the WH drain when you open it? And at a continued flow?
if so the problem is in the outlet of the WH or the associated plumbing.
I would shut off the gas or electric to the WH before testing/draining to avoid explosions, death that kind of undesireable events.
Also be sure the WH is completely filled before restoring the power/heat source.
Copper, electric don't know how old, we've been here 5 years. I guess I'll have to flush the WH tomorrow, hopefully that will fix the problem. I'm wondering if I can back flush from the washing machine hot water feed to clear any possible blockage at the feed side of the valves.... Older plumbing system, house built in 1972, don't imagine there will be a back flow preventer in the older system.
This might be a good time to replace the old gate valves with ball valves but will have to buy a new "torch", the old one went bad last year.
I've also been considering replacing the WH with a tankless system.
Don't forget to turn the cold water infill valve off first! Otherwise, five gallons of water will pass through your meter, flow through the interior infill pipe and out the drain valve taking none of the sediment with it. also, turn the breaker for the water heater off before you drain. You don't want that top heating element to turn on without being submerged in water first.
Have someone open one of the hot water taps in the house after you shut the infill valve. This will break the vacuum and the drain will flow easier.
I have a tankless water heater (natural gas). It's great as long as only one tap is used at a time. I can't shower, do laundry and wash dishes all at the same time. The flow is just not great enough.