Water Heater Drain Valve

[Robert SHOESMITH]

The drain valve on my water heater is leaking. What are the steps to drain and replace/repair valve.thank You

[Anonymous]

: The drain valve on my water heater is leaking. What are the steps to drain and replace/repair valve.: thank You1-Shut off the gas valve located on the heater NOT THE GAS COCK 2-shut the C/W supply valve and the H/W discharge valve this way the H/W heater is isolated from the Gas and water suppies 3-attach a hose to the hose bibb on the bottom of the heater BE CAREFUL as the water is hot 4- Run the end of this hose to a safe draining point 5- Lift the lever on the T&P valve to break the vacuum that will occur during draining 6- After all the water has been safely drained remove the hose. 7-get a 10 pipe wrench and carefully remove this valve but be prepared for more water to be flowing with some possible muck. 8- Install a new Brass Ball type hose cock valve 3/4 male threads ( you may possibly may need a 3/4 brass nipple and coupling. 9- close the newly installed Valve on the bottom. 10- open the C/W supply very slowly at 1st Leaving the relief valve open to alow air to escape 11- roll up your garden hose and put it away 12-have a pail under the relief valve T&P to catch some of the water ( you may want to replace this Valve also if it is more than 3 years old) if you do stop filling the tank run out and get an Approved ASME T&P relief valve sized to the BTU input of your heater. 13- As water reaches your relief valve lower the little lever to stop the flow of water. 14- Go when you hear the water stop flowing now open your C/W supply fully open then colse this valve back 1/4 turn if it drips just GENTLY tighten the packing gland (nut) under the handle. 15- Open the H/W line and then go around bleeding air out of the entire system. Afer you get a full flowing stream at each fixture go back to the H/W heater. 16- Get on your knees and open that little box and turn the gas valve to pilot and hold down and lit the end of this tube just in front of the thermo coupling. After you see a lit pilot keep holding this button down for about 2 minutes ( this will heat the end of the thermo coupling proving a positive flame)Release the button slowly and loook to see if the pilot light is still on? 17- Replace the cover on the bottom of this tank and turn that little lever to on and listen for the flame to roar on. At this point you may hear a crackling sound and even may see water this is normal condensation and thermo expansion. 18- IF this tank is electric rather than Gas just Shut off the power supply before draining and after this system is completly filled then turn on the power. Your VERY Welcome. SylvanLMP

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