Plumbing notes · once a year

Clearing grit from the bottom of a storage tank

Lake Ontario water carries dissolved minerals, and heating it in a tank drops some of them out as a gritty bed on the tank floor. That bed blankets the water from the flame, makes the tank pop and grumble, and shortens its life. A partial drain once a year helps, provided the drain valve at the bottom is still trustworthy.

Call (365) 517-8536

Man is relaxing in a hot sauna — From the almanac guide on flushing a tank water heater.

Before touching anything

If the tank is rented, read the agreement first; the rental company may want to handle it. If the drain valve is an old plastic one, it may not reseal after opening, so have a hose cap handy or be ready to call.

A partial drain

Turn a gas tank’s dial to pilot; for an electric tank, switch its breaker off.
Couple a garden hose to the spigot near the tank bottom and run its far end to the floor grate.
Open the spigot and run it until the water comes out clear.
Close the spigot firmly and remove the hose.
Return the gas control to on, or restore the breaker once the tank is full again.

Signs the bed is already deep

Popping or grumbling while the burner fires
Showers go cool sooner than before
Grit collecting in faucet aerators
Drain water stays cloudy a long while

When to hand it over

A spigot that drips after closing, a tank wet from its shell, a relief valve that discharges, or any smell of gas all mean it is time for a professional.