How to drain water from a water heater to preserve the water supply system
In summer cottages or country houses that are not used for living in the cold season, care must be taken to prepare all engineering systems for winter. The water and heating circuits must be completely free of water. This also applies to devices for heating water.
We will tell you how to quickly and accurately drain water from the water heater, in what sequence work is carried out to preserve the systems. We describe in detail all the options and methods for removing water from the equipment.
Rules are provided for dismantling equipment that must be observed. We complement the information presented for familiarization with visual diagrams and illustrations, step-by-step photo guide and video instructions.
Some manufacturers do not recommend leaving the device without water for a long time for good reason, since corrosion occurs much faster when in contact with oxygen. However, in the case of storage of the device in sub-zero temperatures, all water in the system must be drained.
Even if storage water heater – boiler – It is used year-round, it is still necessary to periodically clean it. Do this once or twice a year – depending on the water quality.
In addition, during operation, dirt and bacteria accumulate (and even legionella can cause pneumonia), a scum is formed that covers ten and the inner walls of the tank. Scale based on TEN-e, works as a thermal insulator. The longer the water heater does not clean, the thicker the insulating layer it covers.
For this reason, the device heats up more than it processes water. With a contaminated heating element, energy consumption increases by 25-50%.
Various manufacturers in the documentation for the heating unit indicate that in order to avoid flushing a small amount of water through the drain pipe, it is necessary to carry out this at least once a month. This is done in order to remove lime deposits and control the faultless operation of the valve (crane).
For removal of water from water heating equipment There are several standard prerequisites: Signs by which to determine that it is time to clean immediately: The water pressure got weaker; The water began to heat up more;
The device started making an unusual noise; From the safety valve, water flows too often or not at all; It’s time for scheduled preventive cleaning. The need to free the boiler from the contents may also arise in the event of a breakdown, when replacing the heater;but or magnesium anode.
In all these cases, water is drained from the unit according to a similar scheme. If the water in the tank simply stagnates and gives off an unpleasant odor, then just turn on the tap and drain the water for a while to replace it with fresh. Then turn on the maximum heat.
The procedure must be repeated if necessary for the third time, etc. This will kill all pathogenic microflora.
Water heater release procedure Although draining water from an electric water heater is considered a common procedure designed to extend the life of the device, it is better to carefully study the instructions. Each brand or model can have significant differences, so all the nuances are best studied in advance.
Sometimes the manufacturer does not allow anyone other than a service representative to intervene in the operation of the device until the warranty period ends. Complex heating devices should not be disassembled by themselves to completely drain the water, so as not to disable incorrect actions.
If you need to dismantle the boiler straps, do not do without a set of tools. Of the tools you may need: 4 mm hexagon; adjustable wrench (you can take gas number 2); rubber hose of suitable diameter; straight and cross-shaped screwdrivers.
Also prepare a container if the boiler does not fall over the bathtub and the water from the heater can spill onto the floor. Before starting, make sure: The water heater is disconnected from the power supply. The cold water faucet was turned off.
The temperature in the tank has dropped to safe values. To speed up cooling, you can turn off the heating mode and lower a certain amount of hot water to dilute it with cold. Water is drained from electrical water heating equipment in the standard sequence:
Accounting for a water heater device
There are videos on the Internet where the “craftsmen”, connecting the hose and unscrewing the drain valve, wait for the water to somehow flow out of the closed system. In order for your actions to be conscious, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for operating the water heater, its device and the principle of action.
Water heater device: Internal tank. Thermal insulation. External decorative case. Control sensor. Eletric cable. Temperature sensor. Completion of heated water. Magnesium anode Protects against the formation of rust, neutralizes the effect of corrosion.
Requires replacement every two years. TEN – heating element. It consists mainly of a nichrome spiral wrapped in a copper casing, which contributes to the rapid heating of the water. Flow extinguisher. Prevents mixing of layers of cold and hot water (holds cold water below).
Thus, the cold currents, which do not mix with the warm ones, remain below and the warm ones above. This allows you to use warm water continuously while draining water from the system. Temperature controller. It helps to adjust the heating temperature to 75 ° C and fix it at a comfortable value. At a temperature of 85-95 ° C, an automatic shutdown occurs.
Water inlet pipe of the water supply system.
Since the pipe for supplying water to the water heater is located below, water can only be drained through it. So you can understand by looking at the diagram.
On water heaters from any manufacturer, mark the inlet and outlet. There is a blue gasket on the water supply pipe and a red one on the socket.
The stages of purging Disconnect the electricity.
On your electrical connection panel, switch off the modular circuit breaker corresponding to your device. You can also trip the general circuit breaker to cut off all the power supply. An important step for your safety and to avoid damaging the cumulus which could heat up during emptying.
Close the cold water supply from the shut-off valve located at the level of the safety block of your cumulus. You can easily spot it because it is located at the level of the water pipe and the pressure reducer. Open the hot water valve then operate the red button on the safety unit anti-clockwise to open the drain valve. It is advisable to open a hot water tap in the house at the same time to break the pressure.
Connect the garden hose to the drain valve located in principle at the bottom of your balloon. Place the basin under the arrival of the drain pipe or place it in a sink if possible. This operation is unnecessary if your water heater is equipped with a siphon. In this case, the purge is done in the siphon and the water is directly discharged into the waste water pipes. Do not hesitate to consult the operating instructions of the water heater.
Loosen the screw connecting the hot water pipe, this creates an air inlet which will allow the water to escape. Be sure to bring a basin during this step because very hot water may leak out.
Allow the water to empty from the tank. Water drainage lasts 1 to 2 hours. The purge time varies depending on the capacity of the tank and the age of your appliance. Warning: during a spontaneous purge, there is no dismantling of the thermostat, the pressure reducer, the expansion vessel, the dielectric fittings and the thermostatic mixing valve. These elements are dismantled with the safety group and the siphon only in the event of replacement of the electric cumulus by a thermodynamic, electric, gas or solar water heater.
Close the bleed valve, remove the drain pipe.
Then open the cold water tap so that the tank fills up again. When it’s full, you’ll see a drip fall from the hot water tap that’s been left open.
Finally, close the valves and turn the electricity back on.
The water heater is forced back into operation for a heating cycle. Take the opportunity to check the tightness of the tow seal at the hydraulic fittings.
