I decided to drain my water heater the other day to rid accumulated sediments. I was surprised when only a few drops of water were released. How do I get more water to be released to rid of accumulated sediments? I did this to try to increase the water pressure coming out of my kitchen faucet. I cleaned the nozzle inserts a few times and it will run normal for a few minutes and then it's back to almost a steady drip. I figured my water heater has sediments that may be contributing to the faucet problems.

So how do I get rid of my water heater sediments?

Hi desperante and welcome, instead of just draining your tank you should flush it by leaving the cold water on. Is this what your doing?

To drain a water heater you must open a hot water faucet somewhere to let air in. Water won't come out unless air can get in to replace it. But as Parttimne said, you should flush it not drain it. Just connect a hose to the drain valve and open the drain valve, leaving the water pressure on.

Sediment in the water heater is unlikely to be the problem with the kitchen faucet.

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I cleaned the nozzle inserts a few times

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I am assuming that you mean the aerator.

Turn off the water and remove the hot stem if this is a two handle faucet. Remove the cartridge if it is a single handle faucet. Place a cup or small bowl over the opening and turn on the water briefly, to flush out the faucet hot port. Reassemble the faucet.

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Originally Posted by parttime

Hi desperante and welcome, instead of just draining your tank you should flush it by leaving the cold water on. Is this what your doing?

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I guess I used the wrong word (drain). Yes I am trying to flush it and I tried again this morning by turning on a hot water faucet to get rid of a vacuum that might be preventing the water heater to flush water out. I still got minimum flush. I have to say that my water heater is about 20 years old now but I still have hot water. Is this flushing problem a sign that it might be ready to be replaced. I keep the temperature down to almost the lowest level.

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

To drain a water heater you must open a hot water faucet somewhere to let air in. Water won't come out unless air can get in to replace it. But as Parttimne said, you should flush it not drain it. Just connect a hose to the drain valve and open the drain valve, leaving the water pressure on.

Sediment in the water heater is unlikely to be the problem with the kitchen faucet.


I am assuming that you mean the aerator.

Turn off the water and remove the hot stem if this is a two handle faucet. Remove the cartridge if it is a single handle faucet. Place a cup or small bowl over the opening and turn on the water briefly, to flush out the faucet hot port. Reassemble the faucet.

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Yes, I changed the aerator. I have a single handle faucet. Now to learn how to change the cartridge. Oh boy!

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Turn off the water and remove the hot stem if this is a two handle faucet

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Wrong! Let me show you how to flush your heater out,


For long life and fewer troubles you should keep your heater clear of mineral build-up by FLUSHING NOT DRAINING on a regular schedule.

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) followed by white or yellow grains,(lime or calcium carbonate). This shouldn't take more then a few minutes.

Do this monthly to keep it clear. Now flush out your hot water lines on ALL fixtures that are affected . Now pull each aerator and clean the screens. Be sure you put them back together the same way you took them out. Don't forget to flush it out every month. Your heater will thank you for it. Hope this helps and thank you for rating my answer,

I've done it this way also but just a little bit of water and not too many grains have come out. I have to confess that the last time this was done was about two years ago. So I am afraid that it is all clogged up in there now that it is no longer flushing right. My water heater is about 20 years old now. We keep the temperature at the lowest level possible but with sufficient hot water supply. My problem is the flush will not even fill a whole bucket like before.

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Originally Posted by desperante

I've done it this way also but just a little bit of water and not too many grains have come out. I have to confess that the last time this was done was about two years ago. So I am afraid that it is all clogged up in there now that it is no longer flushing right. My water heater is about 20 years old now. We keep the temperature at the lowest level possible but with sufficient hot water supply. My problem is the flush will not even fill a whole bucket like before.

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My problem is indicated above.

It sounds like minerals and sediment has built up so high that it 's plugging the boiler drain. The solution would to shut the power off, open the closet hot water tap, and let the heater drain out, Now unscrew the boiler drain and take a wooden rod and proceed to break up the sediment, From time to time you may have to open the cold water valve to flush out the debris.
Now do you see why I say, " ,Do this monthly to keep it clear. r heater will thank you for it". Good luck, Tom

Thanks Tom. I don't know if I am confident enough to do this by myself so I'll ask someone who is more mechanically inclined to help me out. I have a gas water heater that is why I'm not too confident. Thanks again Tom.

A suggestion, it might work, it might not.

Get garden hose and a hose for a clothes washer. Connect them together.

Connect one end to an outside faucet, connect the other to the water heater drain.

Turn gas valve to pilot.

Close the cold water input valve to the water heater.

Open several hot water faucets.

Open drain valve.

Turn on water at outside faucet.

That might back flush and clear the drain valve, it might not but it doesn't cost much to try.