You should consider bleeding the line on the water heater at least twice, if not more, each year if your home uses a well-water system. Well-water systems and pumps are notorious for introducing minerals and air into the hot water heater that lead to sediment and air bubbles inside the water heater.
How often should you drain your water heater? It's generally a good idea to drain your water heater at least once a year, according to both BobVila.com and The Family Handyman. If you live in an area with hard water, though, Angie's List says you may need to drain it more frequently.
Water Heater Maintenance Tips
Flush your water heater every six months or so. If you have harder water, or water that contains more minerals, you may want to flush it more often.
Most hot water systems are closed systems, which means that there's always water circulating back and forth between the pipes and boiler. Because of this closed system and the fact that most hot water heating systems don't have an automatic purge system, you will need to purge or bleed your system every fall.
If a hot water heating system develops too much air in the piping you may hear bubbling or gurgling in the heating pipes when the heating system is operating, or worse, so much air may be in the heating piping, radiators, or baseboards that heat may simply not circulate at all.
If you don't bleed your radiator at least once a year, air can become trapped within your radiators. These air bubbles contribute to cold spots in your radiator which make it more difficult to heat up your home.
Open the hot water tank drain valve. Let the water run out the garden hose. This can take 20 to 60 minutes, depending on how big the tank is. Be careful not to damage or break the drain valve when you open and close it.
Regardless of what type of water heater tank you have, every system needs regular maintenance. Usually, you need to check your water heater once or twice per year. Gas, electric and tankless water heaters need to be flushed every 6-12 months. This prevents the buildup of sediment, rust and corrosion.
To flush your hot water tank, simply turn on the cold water spigot leading into your hot water tank. Let it run for a few minutes until the water exiting your hose runs clear. This may take a bit. While the water might be running clear and isn't brown, you may still have some sediment.
The number of times it does this depends on how big and how well insulated the tank is, and how much water the household uses. Try an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening; if you don't run out of hot water, then that's enough – no need to spend more money than you have to!
This can take 20 to 60 minutes, depending on how big the tank is. Be careful not to damage or break the drain valve when you open and close it. Never force the valve open or closed. When all the water has drained from the tank, turn on the cold water valve at the top of the tank 3 times.
Quality service you can count on
But while most water heating units can withstand near-constant use, it's still possible for premature wear and tear to take place.
If only your hot water is discolored
Odds are there is sediment in your water heater tank. To clear things out, drain and flush the tank, let it refill and heat up, then test the water again. If it's still discolored, it's time to call a plumber to take a look.
Why is My Water Brown? Your water may be brown because of sediment, minerals or rust that have built up in the water mains over time. These sediments can break loose and enter your home's water supply, causing the water to appear brown or discolored.
You'll know when your water tank is full when the hot water tap, which you turned on earlier, runs normally without any residual air coming out.
You can use a flathead screwdriver to bleed a radiator without a key. Place the flat head into the notches of the bleed valve. To bleed the radiator, turn anticlockwise to open the valve, and clockwise to close the valve. Remember to hold an old cloth or jug under the bleed valve to catch any escaping water.
Why would you need to bleed a radiator? Radiators need bleeding when they have air trapped inside them. This trapped air stops warm water circulating around your radiator. That can make the radiator cold at the top, but warm at the bottom.
To keep your water heater functioning and avoid a buildup of minerals and rust inside the tank, it helps to bleed the line on the water heater annually. Bleeding the line on the water heater removes trapped air and the mineral deposits that can affect the water heater's ability to heat water.
What causes an airlock in the hot water system. A cold or hot water airlock can be cause by the tank running dry or air bubbles with the hot water system from a heating system where the pipe work runs up and then back down causing the air to trap and not vent out as to what should be happening.
Noisy pipes: Loud banging, hammering, or gurgling noises coming from your pipes can indicate the presence of air bubbles. Sputtering faucets: If your faucets are sputtering or spitting water when turned on, this is a clear sign that air is trapped in your plumbing system.
What happens when you get an airlock in a pipe? If air gets trapped in your central heating or hot water system, this can stop hot water from circulating, causing radiators to stop heating up and hot water taps to stop running. Getting the hot water flowing again requires releasing the air out of the system.