Most homeowners don’t know that their water heater has a drain valve until it starts leaking. If your water heater is leaking from the drain valve, you can replace it without draining the tank. First, turn off the power to the water heater.
Next, open the cold water supply valve and attach a garden hose to the drain valve. Open the drain valve and let the water flow into a bucket until it runs clear. Close the drain valve and remove the hose.
If your home has a water heater, chances are the drain valve needs to be replaced at some point. While this may seem like a daunting task, it’s actually quite easy to do yourself without having to drain the entire tank! Here’s how:
1. Turn off the power to the water heater. This is usually done by flipping a switch on the breaker box.
2. Place a bucket under the cold water inlet pipe (this is where the new valve will be installed).
3. Use a wrench to loosen the nut that secures the old valve in place. Be careful not to damage the threads on the pipe.
4. Remove the old valve and discard it.
5 .Install the new valve by screwing it into place (hand-tighten only).
REPLACE A GAS CONTROL VALVE WITHOUT DRAINING WATER HEATER (DO AT YOUR OWN RISK) | SERVICE PLUMBING
How Do You Drain a Water Heater Without a Drain Valve?
Most water heaters have a drain valve near the bottom of the tank that can be used to remove sediment from the bottom of the tank. If your water heater does not have a drain valve, you can still drain it by attaching a garden hose to the cold water inlet at the top of the tank and running it to a floor drain or outside.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Drain Valve on a Hot Water Heater?
According to Home Advisor, the average cost to replace a drain valve on a hot water heater is $172, with most homeowners spending between $136 and $208. This includes the cost of labor, which is typically between $80 and $100 per hour, as well as the cost of materials, which can range from $20 to $50.
How Do You Replace a Water Heater Drain Valve?
If your water heater drain valve leaks, or if it needs to be replaced for any reason, follow the steps below. You’ll need a few tools and materials before getting started:
– adjustable wrench
– pliers
– Teflon tape
– pipe dope
1. Turn off the power to your water heater. If it’s a gas water heater, turn off the gas at the shutoff valve. For an electric water heater, flip the switch on the circuit breaker.
2. Drain your water heater by attaching a garden hose to the drain valve and running it outside. Open up the cold water intake valve at the top of your tank to speed up draining. Once the tank is empty, close both valves.
3. Use an adjustable wrench to loosen and remove the old drain valve. Be careful not to strip or damage the threads on either side of the valve body! 4. Wrap Teflon tape around one end of a new NPT (National Pipe Thread) drain valve, then screw it into place hand-tight with pliers or an adjustable wrench until snugged up againstthe washer.
.5 Finish tightening with an adjustable wrench, being careful not to overtighten and crackthepiping .6 Attach one end of a length of garden hose tothe newdrainvalve , then open up both valves (coldwater supplyandnewdrainvalve )to flush out any debris that might have gotten inside during installation..7
Credit: www.water-heater-repair-guide.com
Water Heater Drain Valve Dripping
If your home has a water heater, there’s a good chance that the drain valve is dripping. This is not only annoying, but it can also be costly if left unchecked. The good news is, there are a few things you can do to fix the problem.
First, try tightening the packing nut. This is located under the handle of the valve. If this doesn’t work, you may need to replace the washer.
You can find replacement washers at most hardware stores.
If neither of these solutions works, you may need to replace the entire valve. This is a more involved repair and you may want to call a plumber if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself.
No matter what solution you choose, fixing a dripping water heater drain valve will save you money in the long run by preventing wasted water and potential damage to your home from leaks.
Water Heater Plastic Drain Valve Leaking
If your water heater’s plastic drain valve is leaking, there are a few things you can do to try and fix the issue. First, tighten the packing nut on the valve. If that doesn’t work, you can try replacing the O-ring seal on the valve.
If neither of those solutions work, you may need to replace the entire drain valve.
Water Heater Drain Valve Types
There are two types of water heater drain valves- the ball type valve and the gate type valve. Ball type valves are more common in residential applications, while gate type valves are more common in commercial applications. Both types of valves serve the same purpose- to allow for the release of water from the water heater.
The ball type valve is opened and closed with a lever that is attached to a ball inside the valve. The lever controls how far the ball moves, which in turn controls how much water can flow through the valve. To open the valve, simply pull on the lever until the ball is in line with the opening.
This will allow water to flow freely out of the valve. To close the valve, push onthe lever untilthe ball is no longer in line withthe opening. This will block off any water from flowing out ofthe valve.
The gate type valve operates similarly to a ball type valve, but instead of a lever controlling a ball, there is a knob that opens and closes a gate inside the valve. To openthevalve, simply turnthe knob untilthegateis inline withtheopening .Thiswillallowwatertoflowfreelyoutofthevalve .
Conclusion
If your home’s water heater drain valve is leaking, you may be able to replace it without draining the tank. First, turn off the power to the water heater and shut off the cold water supply line. Then, open a hot water faucet in your home to release pressure from the tank.
Next, disconnect the old drain valve and remove any sediment from the threads. Finally, screw on the new valve and turn on the cold water supply line. Test for leaks by turning on the power to the water heater and opening a hot water faucet in your home.
