Rheem Performance 50 Gal. Electric Water Heater Draining

[hargraveforestry]

Hi and thank you all in advance as I am have hit a road block in my second attempt at draining my year old hot water heater. The hot water heater was installed in August 2019, and I attempted to drain the heater this weekend. My process of draining started with throwing the breaker to the heater, next I attached the garden hose to the drain plug (plastic drain value), then I proceeded to close off the cold water valve, then I went to the back bathroom to open the hotwater faucet as I have been watching youtube videos. I went to open the valve that is attached to the garden hose and very little bit of water trickled out. This was not working.

So my next step, I bought an adapter for the hose where I could blast water through the garden hose, through the plastic drain value, and then back into the tank. I did this for 5 seconds and took the hose off the water source in hoping it would start the draining process. Still a small amount of trickle of water. However, I turned on the cold water value and the flow increased substantially and I did get some lime/calcium sediment. I repeated this process about 3-times.

As of this morning I am skeptical as I am not so sure that I got a good cleaning as the tank would only drain when the cold water was turned on. I also tried the PRV too.

What am I doing wrong? Or what do you think I am doing wrong?

Many Thanks!

 

[CT18]

Leave the cold feed on to the tank if it will drain that way. Once you get a flow try to turn the cold off and see if it will continue

 

[Jeff Handy]

Ct18 is right, leave the cold inlet open.

You don’t want to DRAIN your tank.
You want to FLUSH your tank.

And open and close the drain valve a few times while flushing, because the valve can plug up with sediment.

And opening and closing will help stir up more sediment.