Drain your water heater

A great way to add life to your water heater is by draining it once or twice a year.  By doing so you will remove the corrosive build-up at the bottom of the water heater.  If you have not done so in the past few years you may want a plumbing professional come do it for you.  This is because by not using the valves on the water heater very often if ever they may leak or not shut off.  If you are confident in your ability to turn the valves on and off this is how you would do it and add years to life of your water heater.  http://www.joelplumber.com/

1. Connect garden hose to drain valve at bottom of water heater and run to nearest drain
2. Shut off water supply going into water heater
3. Open drain valve at bottom of heater
4. See if water is coming out hose
5. Open water supply going into water heater again and allow to run for 5 minutes
6. Water will run out more rapidly now
7. Shut off water supply and allow pressure to drop in water heater
8. Repeat step 5
9. Shut drain valve at bottom of water heater
10. Remove hose and from drain valve and your done