At least annually (more often if your water contains hard minerals), you should drain your hot water heater (or more often if hard water exists) as part of its routine maintenance and to keep the plumbing system functioning optimally. Regular draining of sediment from your hot water heater is crucial to its efficient performance and helps ensure it won't fail before its time. Draining sediment from your heater can be messy but follow these tips to make the task much simpler:
Start by shutting off the power to your water heater, which can be accomplished either by closing off its gas supply valve or switching off its breaker if using an electric model. Next, connect a garden hose to its drain valve. Direct any excess water flow towards a bucket, floor drain or safe outside area to avoid flooding your garage or utility closet.
Once your hose is connected, stomp on it firmly from 2 to 3 feet away in order to cause an air bubble to force its way back into your tank and potentially unclog its drain valve. If you do not have a stomping tool available to you, use your hand or screwdriver instead to try to break free any blockages in its way.
Once all the water has drained out of your tank, you can close and disconnect the drain valve and hose. However, before doing so, briefly turn on your cold water faucet in your home to stir any sediment to ensure no trace remains.
