Asked by: Suanne Mihalkov
home and garden home appliances

How long does it take for a 50 gallon water heater to drain?

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Aside from labor time, the tank size itself is what dictates how long it takes to drain your water heater. If you have a 50 gallon tank and the pressure of your hose allows the water to flow at 10 gallons per minute (GPM), then you can expect the tank to fully drain in about 5 minutes[3].


Consequently, how long does a 40 gallon water heater take to drain?

I turned off the main valve just now so we'll see if that does the trick. You should have a pressure relief valve with a downtube attached. Open that valve as well. 45 minutes to drain 40 gallons = less then a gallon per minute.

Beside above, should you drain your water heater? You can see how much sediment ends up in and near the drain valve. Some hot water heater manufacturers recommend only draining off about a gallon of water, but suggest doing so once a month. The sediment interferes with the heating ability of the tank and makes it work harder to heat the water.

Also Know, how long does it take to drain a hot water tank?

It almost takes 20-25 minutes to drain out entire water from the heater and executing the whole process. But this duration varies from the size of the heater. Ideally, with the flow rate between 9 GPM to 17 GPM, for a 5—gallon tank, if the water flows out in the full swing, the tank gets emptied within 6-7 minutes.

How do you break the sediment out of a hot water heater?

How to Flush Sediment Out of a Water Heater

  1. Turn the Water Heater Off.
  2. Turn the Cold Water Valve Off.
  3. Let the water cool.
  4. Attach a drain or garden hose to the drain valve on the side of the tank.
  5. Place the end of the hose in a bucket or drain.
  6. Turn on a faucet (or two)
  7. Start draining the tank by turning on the drain valve.

Related Question Answers

Ganesha Costero

Explainer

What if my hot water heater will not drain?

When your water heater won't drain, the most likely cause is a clogged drain valve. This is generally the result of excessive sediment build-up within the tank. When water is heated, the minerals in the water separate and settle to the bottom of the water heater.

Judy Kueffner

Explainer

How long does it take a water heater to fill up with water?

The average gas heater takes between 30 and 40 minutes to fully heat up the water in its tank. The average electric heater takes about twice as long as the average gas heater to fully heat up the water in its tank, so you can expect it to take between an hour and an hour and 20 minutes to heat up.

Ashiq Bounoua

Explainer

How can you tell when a hot water heater is full?

Open a faucet with the water pump 'on', or connected to city water, and when water runs out the hot faucet without 'belching' air, the water heater is full. When you turn the faucet on/off and it acts like your home water faucet, it's OK.

Sanjuanita Groben

Pundit

Can I flush my own water heater?

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. As you can see, I still had some sediment (can be seen at the bottom) coming out.

Shuo Gottscholl

Pundit

Can a water heater cause low water pressure?

Hard-water buildup in the pipes can block water flow into and out of the hot water heater, resulting in low pressure. Sediment in the hot water tank has the same effect. If the shut-off valve leading to the water heater is partially closed, water pressure from the unit drops.

Antonietta Arambul

Pundit

Does shutting off water affect water heater?

If the element gets turned on without water surrounding it, it gets too hot and burns up. In rare circumstances, you could also get a buildup of dangerous pressure if the relief valve were to fail. So, yes, please turn off your water heater when you turn off your water main.

Zubair Dago

Pundit

How often should hot water heater be drained?

Experts generally recommend that you drain and remove the sediment from your water heater at least once a year. This helps to ensure the greatest supply of hot water to your home, and also prevents the sediment from corroding the water heater's components.

Geane Upsdell

Pundit

Can I drain hot water heater by running hot water?

Run Hot Water and Open the Drain Valve
Run hot water from a nearby tap, upstairs if possible. This allows hot water to drain from the tank and relieves pressure in the system. Open the drain valve and make sure the water is flowing out of the tank.

Abdulrahman Winkens

Teacher

How much does it cost to drain a water heater?

How much does a water heater flush cost? Texas Water Heaters charges $99.50 for a flushing job. Most water heater flushing jobs will cost in the $80 to $100 range, water heater contractors say.

Hongwei Zamorano

Teacher

Why is my water heater draining so slow?

If the water heater won't drain or is draining slowly, the problem is likely to be that too much sediment has built up in the water heater. Sediment can clog the water heater's drain valve. The steps below show you how to break the sediment build up so you can drain a clogged water heater through the valve.

Socaina Viethsen

Reviewer

How do you drain water from home?

To drain the plumbing system, proceed as follows:
  1. Shut off the main water valve at the water meter.
  2. Starting at the top floor, open all the sink faucets.
  3. Go to the basement or the lowest level in your home, then open the faucet in your laundry tub or lowest sink, and let all the water from the above floors drain out.

Yongguang Spritzer

Reviewer

Can a water heater explode?

If the temperature is set too high or the pressure relief valve of a water heater malfunctions, a water heater can explode. This can happen with a gas or electric hot water heater. Although it is unlikely for water heaters to explode, when they do, they operate much the same as a rocket.

Jandro Arrebola

Reviewer

How long can you shower with a 50 gallon water heater?

So, a fully heated, 50-gallon tank will deliver roughly 33 gallons of hot water at any given time. The average shower uses 2 gallons of water per minute, so that same 50-gallon tank is good for a little less than 17 minutes of hot water.

Ricardina Togulev

Reviewer

How do you fill a hot water heater?

How to Fill a Hot Water Heater
  1. Turn off the gas valve or shut off the electricity breaker that powers the hot water heater.
  2. Shut the cold water valve.
  3. Connect a hose to the drainage valve for the purpose of routing water outdoors or into a drain.
  4. Open the drainage valve (usually by turning it counter-clockwise).

Silvina Buenaño

Supporter

How long does it take to flush a water heater?

Just hook up a hose to the drain line, run the hose out to the driveway, open the valve and let it flush for 20 minutes or until the water is clean. Do not close the inlet to the water heater though. Let the water flush thru it.

Lydia Tzarsky

Beginner

How long does it take to fill a 40 gallon water heater?

Usually, it would only take 10-15 minutes to have the water ready for heating. It is not always required to fill it immediately, but it's efficient to do so to start the water heating process. The water heating process usually takes around 2-3 hours, depending on the type of water heater you have at home.

Larosi Cosson

Beginner

Should you drain a water heater when not in use?

Importance of Draining Your Water Heater at Home
Some new heater owners ask me this question; “Should you drain a water heater when not in use?” My answer is always a “yes.” Despite these heaters' differences, it's crucial to drain the water because the sediment inside the tank can block the spigot.

Pastor Vietor

Beginner

Should you flush your hot water heater?

Most homeowners should flush their water heaters every six months or so, but if you have extremely hard water, you may want to do it more often. Flushing your hot water heater could be necessary as often as every few months depending on the mineral content of your local water supply.

Nelutu Paour

Beginner

Why do water heaters need to be raised?

The reason why you have to raise your water heater is to prevent fires. In the San Francisco Bay Area, and also along the Peninsula, there are plumbing standards that you have to comply with in order ensure your own safety.