How to properly drain water from a water heater

A storage electric type water heater provides local hot water supply if there is no centralized one. The design of the unit is very simple. That he served for a long time, it is necessary to carry out periodic maintenance. To clean the tank and during breaks in work, it is necessary to drain water from the tank.

When drain is needed

There are the following main situations when it is necessary to merge:

• Installation in the country. If the house maintains a positive temperature, and for every weekend you plan to come and use a sink or shower, you can not drain the boiler and leave it connected to the mains. It will not be spent a lot of energy to heat an already heated tank; good thermal insulation of the tank will retain heat. If the boiler is connected in a country house used only in the warm period, it (like the entire water supply system) must not be left empty for the winter. The ice will expand and break the pipes and tank of the device. Here you can not do without a drain.

Boiler in the country

• Use in a city house with a seasonal lack of hot water. The gap is not threatening, but another risk arises: stagnation will begin in the water heater, algae, mold and microorganisms will multiply in the heat in it. Near you will be ripening biological weapons of medium power. You will also need to completely drain the liquid. If the tank is well dried, it will also help to keep its walls and heating elements from corrosion.
• Intermittent use. It often happens that interruptions with hot water supply occur once a week. Then it’s better not to drain. In a week or two, microflora development processes will not have time to go far, and frequent assembly-disassembly of the device will reduce its service life.

Consumers connected to centralized water supply receive water after disinfection. There are so few microbes in it that they do not have time to multiply to an alarming number.

If the water heater is supplied from a well or a well, once a month it is necessary to update the water in it, then turn on and warm up the device to the maximum.

Boiler pollution

Full discharge from the boiler

After draining from the nozzles, a few more liters of liquid remain in the tank. For a complete drain, you will have to unscrew a few nuts attaching the heater.

At the same time, it becomes possible to clean the inside of the tank from mineral deposits accumulated there and other contaminants. At the same time, it is necessary to check the condition of the magnesium anode, which protects the tank walls and the heater body from corrosion associated with electrochemical reactions.

Tank deposits

A new anode must be prepared in advance. At the same time, manufacturers and repairmen recommend replacing the silicone gasket that seals the TENA mounting flange.

How to drain popular water heaters

The general arrangement of boilers of various brands is very similar. Despite this, there are differences between them in the order of actions when draining.

Ariston

Manufacturers of this popular brand recommend draining if the appliance has not been used for more than three weeks.

Drain hose (green) is connected to the drain pipe

Drain is carried out as follows:

• Switch off the boiler. Allow to cool to at least 40^aboutWITH.
• Close the cold water valve.
• Open the hot tap on the mixer. Part of the fluid drains, the pressure is relieved.
• Open the cold water valve.
• Attach a flexible drain hose to the drain valve located on the inlet.
• Open the drain valve, drain the fluid. This will take quite a while, depending on the capacity of the tank.

At the end of the drain, disconnect the hose and close the tap.

Thermex

No less popular brand also requires draining during a long break in work.

Boiler drain - unscrewed connections

Before you begin, you must disconnect the device from the power supply. After this, let it cool down to at least 40^aboutC to avoid burns.

Next, proceed as follows:

• Close the cold water valve.
• Open the hot water tap on the mixer. Part of the water is drained, the pressure is relieved.
• Release nut under emergency valve.
• Connect the flexible drain hose there.
• Unscrew the nut on the outlet pipe, giving air access. Drainage starts from the drain hose.

After the drain is complete, unscrew the unscrewed nuts.

Bosch

Bosh boilers are connected in one of two ways:

• ordinary;
• simplified.

Regardless of the scheme, you first need to disconnect the device from the network and wait for it to cool.

In the usual scheme:

• Open the hot tap of the mixer. A certain amount of liquid is drained, the tap should be left open.
• Attach the flexible drain hose to the pipe next to the emergency valve.
• Raise valve lever, drain fluid from tank.
• Lower the lever.

With a simplified scheme:

• Open the hot tap of the mixer. The crane should be left open.
• Connect the hose to the nipple of the emergency valve. You can drain into the tank by placing it under the boiler. The water level must be carefully monitored so as not to forget to pour it in a timely manner.
• Open the valve by lifting the lever. Drain the water. A 100-liter tank will require three to four hours.
• If there is no lever, press the spring inside it with a screwdriver or a rod.

To speed up the drain, open the valve on the outlet pipe.

In the same order, the Haier and Electrolux units are drained.

Atlantic

First, de-energize the device and allow it to cool.

If during the installation of the system they try to save on trifles, they do not install cranes by connecting the pipes directly.

With a working drain valve, it is opened and the water is drained into the drainage or into the substituted container.

If the shutoff valves are not installed, then do so:

• Disconnect the riser.
• Unscrew the nut of the outlet pipe.
• Unscrew the nut of the inlet pipe.
• Raise the valve lever, wait for the full expiration.

Discharge rules depending on the type of connection

There are general rules for draining from a boiler, depending on the version of the used wiring diagram.

Standard connection (with tee)

This scheme is recommended by most manufacturers. It is more difficult to install and more expensive in materials and components. But the liquid can be drained without using tools and with a minimum of effort and time.

Standard circuit

The scheme includes the following elements:

1. Boiler.
2. Cold water valve.
3. Emergency valve.
4. Tee and drain valve.
5. Hot tap on the mixer.
6. Cold tap.
7. Spout mixer.
8. Hot water valve.

This installation method allows a complete drain in 15-20 minutes.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

• Disconnect the device. Cooling down is not required.
• Close the valve (2).
• Open the tap (5), drain the water through the spout (7) into the sink.
• Leave the tap open, allowing access to air.
• Connect the hose to the nozzle exiting the valve (4).
• Open the valve (4) and drain the fluid into the drain.
• After draining, close valve (8).

If water flows slowly, you can connect a compressor to the tap and pump air into the tank. This will significantly speed up the process.

Often during installation, the drain pipe is immediately connected to the drainage pipe. Then it will be even more convenient to merge - your hands will definitely remain dry.

When starting the water heater, open the valve (8), close (5) and (4). After that, you can open the valve (2) and fill the tank, and then plug the device into the network.

Permanent drainage connection (middle pipe)

Improved connection

The installation of tees, both on the cold side and on the hot water side, significantly increases the ease of use of the system. Drain work is carried out as follows:

• Block the inlet valve.
• Connect the drain hose for the drained fluid.
• Open the hot tap on the mixer, reduce the pressure and partially drain the water.
• Open the valve on the tee of the hot water pipe. Give access to air, water - will flow out through the drainage hose.

Simplified connection

Simplifies such a scheme only the work of the plumber mounting the device. A penny of savings on several valves, pipes and fittings will add a lot of worries to the owner of the boiler.

Drain works are carried out in the following order:

• Switch off the water heater and allow it to cool.
• Overlap the riser.
• Release part of the liquid through the hot water tap on the mixer.
• Open the safety valve and drain completely.

Draining will take a lot of time, because the air will come in very slowly. To speed up the process, you can unscrew the nut of the boiler outlet pipe.

Simplified Haier Water Heater Connection

Such a scheme is often used by dishonest plumbers sent by stores. Their main task is to get rid of faster. They use the cheapest materials and components, for example, an emergency valve without a lever.

Valve without lever. The spring will have to be pressed with a screwdriver and held

With this installation, the first discharge will be difficult. But if you prepare the necessary materials and tools, then the connection diagram is better to bring to the standard or improved. To do this, you should invite an experienced master.

A valve without a lever should be replaced with a new one.

How to bleed air from a water heater.

After draining and subsequent filling of the boiler, it happens that air enters it, forming a cork. At the same time, hot water comes in a thin stream, you can hear the gurgling in the device.

To eliminate the jam, do the following:

1. Take a piece of flexible hose and tape.
2. Hose the cold tap to the hot tap. For reliability, wind the hose with tape
3. Open the hot tap.
4. Open the cold water tap for a few seconds.
5. Check the flow of hot water in another mixer.
6. If the first time did not work out - repeat steps 3-5 several times.

If the plug could be lowered, close all taps and remove the hose. If this does not work out, it is better to call an experienced plumber master.