Draining a water heater annually?

[johndi]

So we just had a new water heater installed with our new furnace ( 50 gallon BW natural gas) and I thought I remembered that it was recommended to turn off and drain the tank once a year?
Does anyone do this and is there any benefit?

Thanks

[EricU]

I think most water heaters have the fill pipe oriented to stir up the calcium deposits to keep them from building up.  But it does anyway.  I have never emptied mine, but I feel guilty about it.

[daddo]

It will sure help keep the drain valve from becoming clogged and doesn't hurt.
Turn the power off or set the gas valve at "Pilot" then turn the drain valve on (Incoming cold water source still on) and let it flush (Using a hose of course). The hot water may kill plants or grass so direct it to the weeds or a neighbors yard you don't like.

[Cecil]

I never drain mine.  I simply open the valve and release a few gallons (maybe 5) to keep the valve clear and clear and sediment.

[fredhargis]

I've always heard that (drain annually) to remove the sediment on the bottom of the tank...but I (and likely 99.9% of everyone else) never have.

[TDKPE]

The one time I tried, the valve was so plugged with sediment, nothing came out.  

[Snipe Hunter]

I drain mine. We are also on a well with sediment problems. Our water passes through 4 filters before hitting the water heater and I still drain it. The one I replaced when we moved in was completely clogged and I had to drill it out with a 10" drill to get water to flow from it. I threw out the water treatment equipment because it was so dirty inside. It took a good bit of work to get the water to run clear.

[woodhead]

I try to clear mine every six months. We get rust (iron) on the bottom. I open the valve full blast!  Well, it has a washermachine hose on it that I hold in the slop sink.  Takes about 20 seconds to run clear.


Al

[daddo]

You can clean an electric ones more easily by draining it, removing the bottom element, then take some of that 3/4" black plastic pipe to make an extension to your shop vac hose and get in there and vacuum the deposits out. Otherwise just draining it does get rid of that much if there is any buildup. I've gotten as much as a full hard gallon jug full of calcium from them when I used to clean them years ago.

[Stwood_]

The hot water may kill plants or grass so direct it to  a neighbors yard you don't like.

I can't afford that amount of garden hose.




When I drain ours, I remove the drain valve and scrap the sediment out. I made a scraper from a 1/8x1/2 piece of flat iron. The end is spoon shaped.