How to drain water from a water heater to preserve the water supply system

Indirect heating boiler

Water heaters are divided into two types of direct and indirect heating. The indirect heating heater differs in that the water is heated not from an electric heating element, but from centralized heating.

During operation, indirect heating water heaters also need to be cleaned and for this you need to know how to drain water from an indirect heating boiler:

• On the cover of the boiler there is a Mayevsky crane, if it is absent, it is installed on the bend of the pipe next to the boiler;
• Shut off cold water;
• De-energize the pump and shut off the coil;
• Open the mixer and Mayevsky tap and drain the water.

Boilers of indirect heating are in great demand due to their advantages. They heat water very quickly, are economical in the winter season, and have a large displacement.

Water heaters, like all appliances, require additional maintenance. Proper operation and timely cleaning will help to extend the service life.

How to drain water from the water supply system

From time to time, it may be necessary to completely turn off all taps, fittings, plumbing fixtures, or even drain water from the entire plumbing network (for example, if the house is left unheated all winter).

In this case, it is necessary to perform the following operations, which we present in the technological sequence.

Draining. We turn off the water supply to the house. We turn off gas and electricity from water heating systems. In the presence of central heating, it is necessary to open the outlet cock located on the boiler or on the pipes, for which they usually resort to using a hose. Then you need to open all the valves on the radiators. Starting from the top floor of the house or mansion, open all the hot water taps in the shower, bath, etc. Do not forget to drain the toilet bowl as well.

We remind you once again: all water outlet taps on the heater and other equipment must be open. And the last thing: it is necessary to open the outlet taps of the main water supply line so that all the remaining water leaves.If you leave your house or cottage for the winter for a long time, then do not be too lazy to make sure that all the water has left the system. As an additional protection against frost, add salt or a tablet of glycerin to the water remaining in the siphons. This will protect the siphons from possible rupture and exclude the possibility of odors from the pipelines entering the room.

Rice. one.
1 - compression plug; 2 - pin; 3 - threaded plug; 4 - nozzle

In the process of draining water from the system, it often becomes necessary to disconnect some of its sections. In this case, you need to use plugs. The most common plugs are shown in Figure 26.

Filling the system with water. First of all, you need to close the drain valves on the main pipes. Then you need to close all the taps in the house, including the taps of the boiler and water heater. If there is a cold water heater, open the tap on the radiator and let air in. After all these manipulations, slowly open the main valve of the system and gradually fill the system with water.

Even before turning on the boiler, the batteries must be purged with air. At the final stage, turn on the gas and electricity to turn on the heater and boiler.

Measures to prevent freezing of water. There is a possibility of cold penetration from the street due to malfunctions in the heating system

In this case, it is very important to immediately take the necessary measures against the freezing of pipes, since the water frozen in them will immediately break the pipeline. In very cold weather, even those pipelines that were laid without violating the requirements can freeze, which often happens with pipes for supplying heat to a garage or basement.What measures can be taken to prevent this? If the country house is electrified, in a cold area where the pipe runs, turn on the electric heater or simply place a 100-watt lamp near the pipe

For these purposes, you can even use a hair dryer. It is very good if you insulate the pipe before the onset of winter by wrapping it with newspapers and tying it with a rope

What measures can be taken to prevent this? If the country house is electrified, in a cold area where the pipe runs, turn on the electric heater or simply place a 100-watt lamp near the pipe. For these purposes, you can even use a hair dryer. It is very good if you insulate the pipe before the onset of winter by wrapping it with newspapers and tying it with a rope.

If the pipe is already frozen, wrap it with rags of any material and pour a thin stream of hot water over it so that the fabric around the pipe remains constantly hot.

A properly functioning heating system is an essential component of comfortable living in a house or apartment. Occasionally, there is a need to replace radiators, eliminate leaks in the network, move or move the riser closer to the wall.

Any work in the system requires draining the coolant. And this is understandable. After all, it is impossible to open pipes when the network is full. Therefore, before starting repair and maintenance work, it is necessary to drain the heating riser.

Preparatory stages

Before draining the water, it is important to carry out the following preparatory measures:

1. Prepare all the necessary tools: empty containers for collecting liquid, a hose, an adjustable wrench.

2. Read the instructions for the unit. It contains a description of the features of a particular model and safety rules.

3. Stop the supply of electricity to the device.To do this, simply remove the plug from the socket.

4. Stop the water supply to the water heater. More often, separate taps are installed at the entrance to the boiler. If they are not there, you will have to block the common water supply riser.

In an apartment with access to centralized hot water supply, it is also necessary to turn off the hot water valves. Only after all these actions can you start draining the boiler.

In what cases is it necessary to drain the water, and when it is not recommended to do this.

The issue of draining water from the boiler becomes relevant in many cases. In some situations, emptying the tank is indispensable, for example, it needs to be cleaned. But sometimes such actions can only lead to damage to the system and a significant reduction in the life of the device.

When water is drained from the tank:

• At the first start of the boiler or each subsequent one, if it had to be cleaned, it is recommended to fill the full capacity and heat the water to the maximum. After that, it is drained and recruited again. Thus, it will be possible to prepare the walls of the tank for further use;
• Sometimes draining water is motivated by the appearance of an extraneous odor. This is due to the accumulation of impurities from tap water on the walls of the boiler. In this case, the tank is really a necessity to clean, disinfect;
• Often the water from the tank has to be drained in the event of a breakdown. When the tank is turned off for a predetermined or indefinite period and left in an unheated room, it is recommended to drain the water to prevent damage to the tank as a result of freezing, but before starting the vessel must be inspected and, if necessary, cleaned.If there is no water supply in the system, and a certain number of liters remain in the boiler tank, they are usually drained as needed and used for their own needs.

Scheme for draining water from the boiler, in the diagram the drain valve is indicated as a "drain valve"

When it is not recommended to drain the water from the tank:

• Sometimes the water from the tank is drained if it will not be used in the near future. In this case, it is categorically not recommended to empty the vessel, since changes in the environment of exposure to the material accelerate the oxidative process. A tank without water will rust faster than a vessel filled with water.
• If the device is under warranty, it is not recommended to drain the water and clean it yourself. Masters must determine the conditions in which the device is operated and fix the problem on their own. Sometimes such overall devices are repaired on the spot, which makes it possible to immediately check them for serviceability. When there is no apparent reason or need to drain the water.

Regardless of the type of construction and connection method, there are a number of requirements for working with electric water heaters. All work must be carried out after de-energizing the device. The boiler must be cleaned periodically. The frequency of the procedure depends on the degree of operation and water quality. Water before draining must be cooled to the optimum temperature.

Before you start working with a particular model, it is advisable to read the installation and maintenance instructions. In each case, some points may differ from each other, which is prescribed by the manufacturer.

Complete emptying of the boiler tank

Remember that any of the above drain options are not perfect, and not everyone allows you to drain the water from the boiler installation completely. To completely empty the tank, you will need to disassemble the water heater:

1. After a partial drain of the liquid has occurred, you need to unscrew the cap, which is located at the bottom of the tank. On most boiler systems, it performs only a decorative function.
2. Make sure that the device is not connected to electricity. If the drain can be carried out with a connection to the network, then it is absolutely impossible to disassemble the device.
3. The cover cannot be removed completely, so the following steps must be carried out while holding it. Very carefully disconnect the wires from the signal lamp.
4. Then it is necessary to disconnect the electrical wiring from the unit body. Experts recommend taking a picture of the location of the wires, so as not to get confused when reassembling.
5. After you need to unscrew the flange. This mechanism must be rotated counterclockwise. Remaining water will begin to flow, so unscrewing must be carried out slowly so as not to break the thread. By pressure, it will be possible to understand that there is little liquid left and then, complete the final unscrewing.

Draining water from the boiler at first glance may seem complicated

More tips for draining water from the water heater in this video:

Conclusion

The element that heats the water is taken out of the device very carefully. If you do this with a sharp movement, you can damage the heating element. Remember that the entire procedure can be carried out after the contents of the tank have completely cooled down. Even a person who has never had experience with household appliances can cope with the task.The main thing is to perform actions strictly according to the instructions and in case of an emergency, do not panic. The recommendations of the specialists presented above will help you better cope with the problem and find a way out in a difficult situation.

Design features of the boiler

Before talking about draining water from a water heater, it is worth getting some information about the design of this unit. All components of the boiler are in a compact case, which is made of enameled material or stainless steel. Two hoses or pipes are connected to it. Inside the product there is a dry heating element (tubular electric heater), equipped with a thermostat. Ventilation is provided by an automatic air vent. There is thermal insulation on top of the tank. The whole set is mounted in a metal case. An addition to the unit can be an installed temperature sensor and an indicator of the functioning of the heating element.

The fact is that the unit continues to work, and therefore the liquid level in the unit is constantly maintained at a certain level. And if you need to drain everything from the tank, then you need to organize a drain from under the heater tube. To do the process correctly, it is also worth blowing air through the inside of the tank.

General procedure

To completely drain the water from the storage tank of the water heater, it is necessary to provide air access to it, and the easiest way to do this is through the DHW pipe. The basic procedure for this is as follows:

• the boiler MUST be disconnected from the mains;
• the valve for feeding the heater with cold water is closed;
• to relieve excess pressure in the tank, a tap for disassembling hot water is opened;
• the screw securing the safety valve flag, which is between the titanium and the water supply line, is unscrewed;
• if there is no provision for draining the liquid flowing from the safety valve into the sewer, an empty bucket or similar container is substituted under it;
• raising and lowering the valve flag as the bucket fills, drain the water from the heater.

Draining water from the storage tank through the safety valve is accompanied by a characteristic gurgling of air bubbles in the boiler. Its absence means that the force of atmospheric pressure is not enough to lift the water in the empty container.

What if it doesn't bubble?

In this case, the procedure has to be expanded:

the connection of the DHW outlet of the heater to the system is disassembled

If it is non-separable, the connection closest to the “hot” outlet of the boiler is disconnected; in extreme cases, a small piece of a rubber hose of a suitable diameter is put on the bend of the hot water tap closest to the water heater;
it is necessary to blow strongly into the hose - this will force the liquid to be forced out of the DHW line into the water heater tank; you can use a compressor or a hand pump - but with precautions .. After all the procedures carried out, the water from the boiler will be drained

But - not completely ... below the edge of the cold water supply pipe, the liquid in the container will still remain. Its volume will depend on the installation height of this tube and can reach several liters.

After all the procedures carried out, the water from the boiler will be drained. But - not completely ... below the edge of the cold water supply pipe, the liquid in the container will still remain.Its volume will depend on the installation height of this tube and can reach several liters.

The final draining of water "dry" can only be done through the mounting holes for fixing the heating element, and it is most often required when replacing a faulty heating element. The second situation when it is necessary to completely empty the storage tank is the conservation of the water heater.

From the technical side, the dismantling of the heating element is a simple operation and does not require special qualifications of the performer. It is only necessary to be careful to avoid damaging the gaskets between the heating element and the tank wall.

It's good when everything is in order!

This connection scheme allows you to quickly drain the water from storage water heater

The described technology for draining water from a water heater implies that the device was connected to utilities in accordance with all the rules - and this, alas, is not always the case. The most common deviations from the rules are the absence of a shut-off valve that shuts off the supply of cold water to the boiler, the absence of a flag on some models of the safety valve, the inability to access the threaded connections of the inlet and outlet pipes ...

Such violations are not critical and do not have a particular effect on the performance of the boiler as a whole - but they make it very difficult to drain water from it. The process can be tangibly facilitated only if its need is foreseen already at the stage wiring system of cold-hot water supply and put a special tap to supply air to the storage tank of the boiler.

Visual video on draining water from a storage boiler

Video:

Video:

Video:

How to drain water from a storage water heater

There are 3 ways to drain water from a water heater. Choosing the right one depends on the model and installation location.

Method 1: Drain water using a safety valve

When installing a storage type boiler, a protective valve is mounted on the inlet pipe. It prevents the flow of liquid from the tank through the cold pipe in the opposite direction. The safety valve is equipped with a spring. The liquid, expanding when heated, overcomes the force of the spring and exits through the channel to the outside.

The manufacturer equips the safety valve with a handle designed to test its performance and drain water from the tank.

Safety valve

When the handle is moved to a horizontal position, the spring is compressed, and the liquid from the tank flows out through a special channel.

When water flows out, a vacuum is created in the tank. It interferes with normal flow. To supply air to the boiler, open a hot water tap or unscrew the hose from the outlet pipe.

Some manufacturers produce a safety valve without a handle for draining water. To drain, you will need to unscrew the hose from the protective mechanism and press the spring forcibly. To do this, use a screwdriver, drill or other thin object. When the water is released by mechanically compressing the spring, liquid will fall on the person's hands. To avoid burns, fill the tank with cold water.

Method 2: drain the water from the tank through the cold water hole

The drain hole of the safety mechanism has a small diameter. It will take a long time to drain the liquid. You can speed up the procedure by dismantling the inlet hose.

Work is performed in the following sequence:

1. Cool the contents. To do this, open the hot water tap on the mixer. Entering the water heater, cold water displaces hot water. This eliminates the possibility of burns.
2. Shut off the cold liquid supply valve.
3. Air mass is supplied by opening the hot water shut-off device.
4. Remove the safety valve. At the same time, a container with a wide neck is installed under the inlet pipe. It can be a bucket, basin, etc.
5. Drain the liquid. The intensity of the jet is regulated by the supply of air into the container.

There are several options for tying a water heater. A tee is mounted between the inlet pipe and the protective valve, the free outlet of which is equipped with a locking mechanism. This makes it easier to extract the liquid.

With such a strapping, a hose is attached to the tap installed on the tee and the contents of the boiler are poured into the sewer. Some experts install a tee with a locking mechanism on the outlet tube. With it, you can adjust the degree of air supply.

Method 3: unscrew the inlet and outlet hoses

The option is suitable for water heaters located above the bathtub or in places for which it is not necessary to use a container to drain the water. During the procedure, first unscrew the outlet, then the inlet hose. So the air mass is freely supplied to the container, and the contents of the tank are removed from the drain hole.

It is possible to drain the water from the water heater in this way in the shortest possible time. If during operation it was necessary to stop the flow, block the outlet hose. This blocks the access of air to the tank, inside which a vacuum is formed and stops the exit of the contents.

How to drain water from a storage boiler

Consider this type of boiler, its connection, and how water is drained from it. To see more details, click on the photo and it will open in a new tab, and then click again to enlarge the photo. As you can see in the photo, the relief valve is screwed on the boiler, separately from cold water, which is very convenient, and the water is very easy to drain here.

1. Disconnect the boiler from the power supply

2. We close 2 inlet valves (faucets) for the apartment, cold water, hot water.

3. Open the tap on one mixer for hot water, and on the other for cold water. Hot opens so that a vacuum is not created, and the water flows freely.
4. Open the taps on the boiler and wait until the water drains. That's all the action, if such a scheme.

How to drain the water from the water heater with this connection

Here, the relief valve is installed on the cold water supply, but as you can see, it is not connected to the boiler, but to the tee, and the tee is already connected to the thread of the cold water boiler inlet, a tap is screwed into the side outlet of the tee, here it was done a little unaesthetically, it could have been instead of a tap and iron pipe install faucet with external thread and it would be nice, and less connections.

Made not aesthetically pleasing, but convenient ("I blinded him from what was"). Here it could be made more beautiful, but this is the correct connection, and it is convenient to drain the water

I would like to draw your attention to the relief valve model, this model does not provide for draining from the boiler, but this valve model provides for draining

Flexible hoses are also an eyesore, although they are reinforced, but since this is in the private sector, and there is no pressure of more than 2 atmospheres, I think they will stand for 5 years for sure. With this connection, the water from the boiler is drained without problems. The hoses are connected to the taps. How do we drain the water heater in this case:

1. Disconnect from the power supply

2. We close the inlet tap for supplying hot water to the apartment

3. Close the cold water supply valve to the boiler

4. We open the tap that comes out of the tee, first we put a hose on it, and we direct the hose into the sewer.

5. We open the hot water tap on the mixer, and the water begins to drain from the hose from the boiler.

How water is drained from the boiler, with a normal connection

This is how craftsmen from companies, or simply “craftsmen”, connect at least a valve with a lever to release water. How do you drain the water in this case?

1. Turn off the power.

2. Shut off the inlet taps for supplying cold and hot water, if there is a separate one for the boiler, then you can only shut them off.

3. We take a bucket and put it under the boiler, unscrew the hot water outlet hose, not much water will drain, then unscrew the cold water supply hose, prepare the bucket, and unscrew the valve, and drain the water into the bucket, when the bucket is full, plug the hole with your finger, you will succeed, the pressure is small, but this procedure must be done together, one with a bucket, and the second “guards” the discharge of water.

If a valve with a lever is installed, do as in the first two paragraphs, open the hot water tap on the mixer, then put the lever in a horizontal position, and water will start to drain from the drain hole, but there is one big minus - water from an 80-liter boiler, for example, you are way you will drain at least 1-2 hours, and in my practice I have noticed that these valves often break. There are some more options, but I think the main information should be clear to you - how to drain water from a water heater.

In a private sector, or a water heater is installed in the country, in houses where there is no hot water supply, the drain is done in the same way, only without closing the hot water tap (for not having one available).

Good luck to you!!!

When should the water be drained from the boiler?

Draining water from the boiler tank.

“I don’t use the boiler yet, which means that I definitely don’t need water in it, otherwise it will stagnate” - such an opinion of consumers can be encountered everywhere. But it turns out that in the case of storage heaters, everything is not so simple.

For example, if the device is under warranty service, then such actions are regarded by service representatives as third-party interference. This means that in the event of a boiler breakdown, its owner automatically loses the right to free repair or replacement.

In addition, the magnesium anode, designed to protect the internal elements of the device from corrosion, performs its functions exclusively in water. Consequently, by emptying the tank, consumers involuntarily accelerate corrosion processes.

But there are also circumstances under which experts answer in the affirmative to the question of whether it is necessary to drain the water from the boiler or not:

• lowering the temperature to values ​​from + 5⁰C and below (if the heater is installed in an unheated house, the procedure must be performed before the onset of winter cold weather);
• independent replacement of the magnesium anode, cleaning of limescale and elimination of breakdowns after the expiration of the warranty period (otherwise, the master from the service office must drain the water).

Will the water go bad in the boiler?

In other situations, it is recommended to leave the boiler filled, even if no one will use it for a long time. Do not worry that the water in the tank will deteriorate. If it was originally clean, the absence of stagnant factors (air and light) will prevent the appearance of a musty smell and "bloom".

One undoubted plus should be noted - there is always a reserve of liquid in a house or apartment. It can be used for technical purposes in case the central water supply is turned off or the pump breaks down.