I've read in many posts here that it is important to flush your water heater regularly. All instructions have been to connect a hose to the boiler valve at the bottom of the tank and let it run until the water runs clear. My heater has a valve about halfway up the tank with a plastic hose running from it down to the ground. I put a bucket under this hose and opened the valve and some of the nastiest stuff I have ever seen came out. I let it run until the water ran clear. Is this essentially the same thing? Or should I still connect at the bottom of the tank to flush?

Thanks

Hi Bob,

" My heater has a valve about halfway up the tank with a plastic hose running from it down to the ground. I put a bucket under this hose and opened the valve and some of the nastiest stuff I have ever seen came out. I let it run until the water ran clear. Is this essentially the same thing?"

Not even close,Bob. What you did was to open the T & P. Temperature and Pressure) valve. The minerals being heavier then water builds up in the bottom of the tank. To flush your heater you have to go where the crud lives. All you did was to blow out the trash the T & P valve collected over the years. Let me show you how to flush your heater. ATTACH A HOSE TO THE BOILER DRAIN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. With the pressure on, open the boiler drain and let it run until the water runs clear. You will see a spurt of red,(rust) and some white grains,(lime or calcium carbonate). The whole thing shouldn't take more then a few minutes. Don't forget to flush it out every month. Your heater will thank you for it. You might want to consider cleaning the screens on your areators if you have a high mineral buildup. If thev problem still persists after you have flushed, you will have to drain the heater, remove the boiler drain and go up in the bottom of the tank with a wood or plastic rod, (not metal) and try to break up the mineral and flush it out. Good luck, Tom

Thanks Tom-

While I'm not having any problems with the water in the house as it is, I'd sure like it to stay that way. I'll take your advice and go pick up a hose this afternoon.

Thanks again for all your help thus far.