hot water tank drain for winterizing

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Take out the anode rod and let the tank drain.  Be sure to depressurize the tank before you loosen the rod.  You can do that with the over pressure relief valve mounted to the upper part of the tank.  The anode rod should be removed and inspected at least annually and replaced when the zinc or aluminum is used up. If you let all the sacrificial metal get eaten off, you'll develop pinholes in your water heater tank and will have to replace it.  I prefer the aluminum anode rods because the zinc ones leave a rotten egg odor in the water after time.  
When you remove the anode rod, you can also clean out accumulated crud in the tank with a spray nozzle.  They make little hoses you can buy to get a better spray inside.  The white crud will clog your strainers on your faucets and if you're a tank water drinker you'll be consuming it.  Yuck.

Edited by lostagain - 18 Aug 2024 at 3:04pm

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lostagain Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2595	Post Options Post Reply Quote lostagain Report Post Quote Reply Topic: hot water tank drain for winterizing Posted: 18 Aug 2024 at 12:35pm
	Take out the anode rod and let the tank drain. Be sure to depressurize the tank before you loosen the rod. You can do that with the over pressure relief valve mounted to the upper part of the tank. The anode rod should be removed and inspected at least annually and replaced when the zinc or aluminum is used up. If you let all the sacrificial metal get eaten off, you'll develop pinholes in your water heater tank and will have to replace it. I prefer the aluminum anode rods because the zinc ones leave a rotten egg odor in the water after time. When you remove the anode rod, you can also clean out accumulated crud in the tank with a spray nozzle. They make little hoses you can buy to get a better spray inside. The white crud will clog your strainers on your faucets and if you're a tank water drinker you'll be consuming it. Yuck. Edited by lostagain - 18 Aug 2024 at 3:04pm
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ilthyn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 21 May 2013 Location: Alberta Online Status: Offline Posts: 66	Post Options Post Reply Quote ilthyn Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Aug 2024 at 9:46am
	Had to replace my tank. Turns out, for 12 years, the low point drain does not drain the tank and it must have frozen each year. OOOOPS! Any suggestions how to drain the tank? I can use air pressure but prefer not to as I have to winterize heading back to Canada from Arizona this winter. Thanks!
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