Water Heater Drainage?

[davep]

Was running my copper for my basement bath. Shut off both hot and cold water. Had a couple of problems and had to drain some of the water out of the water heater (don't ask). Anyway, noticed that when draining from the spigot at the base of the water heater the water that come out was very brown. I'm on a well and septic system with both a softener and a filteration system. The water is filtered/softened prior to getting feeding the water heater. I put a small amount of "iron out" with each new bag of salt for the softener to keep the small amount of brown iron residue that gets by the softener/filteration from settling in the toilets. Works great.

So, my question is, should I drain my water heater periodically or is the nasty brown water at the bottom typical of all water heaters and should not be worried about? Never worried about this before, but then again never been doing this much plumbing anf got a look at the water.

BTW, saved myself A LOT of $$ by doing some of my own rough-in work and being smarter about what to have the plumber do based on knowledge I gained through various posts to this BB. THANKS AGAIN.

CHEERS, dp

[Wgoodrich]

Calcium, metals etc no matter how small the particle in the water as it comes into the water heater often has hours to settle being heavier than the water.

What you found is common and not too much to worry about. Actually expected.

If you read the manual with the water heater it advises you to drain the water heater on a regular basis. Most people don't and build up over years finally will get to the water heater. I would drain about half the water heater about every six months to a year if it were me and doing what I should. Confession time? Now that you brought it up would 20 years be too late to drain my water heater? Guess I am guilty of being one who will soon be buying a new water heater don't you think.

Many never do that draining bit but the manufacturer in their manuals suggest regular partial draining of the water heater.

If you drain the water heater at all be aware that you will burn out an electric heating element if water does not cover the element.

Hope this helps

Wg

[Anonymous]

Wondering whether draining is really necessary then, especially if most water heaters tend to last 15 years or so. Guess I'll do it for giggles since it's easy to do and doesn't cost me anything unless as you say I drain too much and screw myself in the process. I'm assuming that by draining from the spigot I am in fact draining from the bottom of the tank and should get most of the sludge build-up. Makes sense to me.

thanks once again, dp

[Wgoodrich]

If you do the draining bit from the bottom drain loyally the entire life of the water heater then you will prolong the life of the heater and prevent that black water condition you first mentioned.

However if you don't do this drain bit for a year or so then do it you would be wasting your time. Too little too late. Larger chunks will have built up stopping the draining from doing much good.

Problem is to be human is to put off till tommorow what you can. This is what i did in my house. I was a bad bad boy. Guess it would be energy savings if I would replace my water heater. Chances are after 20 years of so lime has probably built up enough to limit the heat output of the heating elements. Then again to be human the water heater works fine and I can always bitch about my high electric bill. Ha Ha.

Wg