How to Drain the Sediment Out of Your Water Heater/Steam Boiler
There isn’t a lot of regular maintenance that you need to do for your hot water heater and steam heating system. One thing is essential, though — draining out the sediment.
Depending on the condition of your water and your heating system, you should do this twice a year at a minimum. Keeping your water heater and boiler clean and sediment free will improve the overall operation of your system — heating effectiveness and heating efficiency.
How Does Sediment Get In?
Over time, naturally occurring minerals in the water, as well as sand and grit flushed from municipal water lines, can settle in the bottom of the tank. Draining a water heater/steam boiler to remove sediments is an easy DIY that takes very little time and just a few basic tools.
How Do I Drain the Sediment Out?
To drain the sediment, you’re going to need a bucket (or a hose) and a drain.
First, locate the drain valve on your water heater or boiler. It should be near the bottom. Often-times it’s located below the sight glass that indicates the water level.
Place the bucket under the drain or attach a hose to drain water directly into a basement floor drain.
For routine maintenance, open the valve and let the water drain for a few seconds until it turns clear. If you do this regularly, there should be a limited amount of sediment — and you won’t have to drain the water very long. If you have a manual water feed for the boiler, open it to allow a little water back into the system.
Once the water is clear, you’re good to go.
There’s a Lot of Sediment. What Do I Do?
If you (or the previous owner) rarely cleaned out the water heater or boiler, there may be a lot of sediment built up. In that case, you probably want to drain the entire tank and run some water through it.
Before you start, turn down the thermostat and allow the boiler to cool down. You never want to introduce cold water into an empty and hot boiler. It could lead to disastrous results for you and/or your boiler.
For your water heater, turn the thermostat to “pilot” or shut off the power at the breaker for electric.
After the boiler has cooled, set up your bucket or hose and open the drain. If you’re using a bucket, you’ll probably have to empty a couple of buckets before the boiler is dry.
Open a hot water tap nearest to the water heater, preferably on the floor above. This alleviates pressure in the system, allowing the water to drain quickly from the tank, much like removing your finger from the top of a drinking straw filled with liquid.
Once the boiler is near empty, manually open the water feed to allow new water into the boiler. The incoming water will help stir up the sediment and carry it out the drain.
When you’re satisfied that you’ve flushed out as much sediment as you can, fill the water heater or boiler up to its normal operating level and turn the heat back on.
Keep It Clean, Keep It Efficient
Once you’ve got your system working efficiently, don’t forget to drain the sediment regularly. If you do so, it will only take a few minutes — and it will keep your boiler running in tip top shape.
Invest a little time in maintenance, and you’ll reap the benefits of more efficient, more effective heating!
