Each month Northglenn residents have the opportunity to share their favorite community spot on a photo that captures Northglenn's serene community atmosphere. The photos submitted are published in the monthly newsletter.
The Winburn Family is the title of the photo selected as the Photo of the Month for July 2005. This photo was taken at Winburn Park in Northglenn, and submitted by Steve Musco, a Northglenn resident.
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| flushing your hot water heater |
CAUTION: When flushing your hot water heater there is danger of being scalded by hot water. Be careful and keep children and pets away during the procedure.
Hot water heater manufacturers recommend flushing your water heater periodically. How often your hot water heater needs to be flushed depends upon the quality of the water in your area. Lab services recommends flushing at least once a year.
Over time, your hot water heater can accumulate sediment consisting of sand, gravel, and various mineral deposits. This buildup can reduce the amount of hot water your water heater holds, can create a variety of interesting noises, and can reduce the efficiency of your water heater. The buildup of sediment at the bottom of the water heater also can harden and sometimes clog the drain valve.
Here are the steps to follow when flushing your water heater:
- Turn off the water heater.
- If you have a gas water heater, set the gas valve to "Pilot" to prevent the burners from coming on while you flushing it. If your water heater is electric, turn off the circuit breakers to the water heater. If the water level drops below the heating elements and the water heater turns on, the heating elements will burn out quite rapidly.
- Connect a garden hose to the drain valve. Make sure the hot water leaving the hose is in a safe area away from pets and children.
Close the shut off valve on the cold water inlet to the water heater.
Carefully open the temperature/pressure relief valve at the top of the heater by lifting the lever. Leave the valve open.
- Open the drain valve at the bottom of the heater allowing the water to flow through the garden hose. If the sediment is clogging the drain valve, then try closing the temperature/pressure relief valve and turn the cold water inlet valve back on to "power flush" the sediment out.
- In some cases, the sediment hardens into large chunks that block the drain valve. If this occurs, run the hot water out of the tank by opening the hot water tap and letting the water flow till it is cool. Remove the garden hose and use a long screwdriver to break up the clog.
- When the water leaving the garden hose runs clear you are finished.
- Close the drain valve and remove the garden hose.
- Close the pressure relief valve and turn the cold water inlet valve back on.
Open a hot water faucet and let it run until no air bubbles come out.
- Turn the water heater back on.
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