Drain hot water heater? (tank, installed, plumber, gas)
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Hot water heater is a year old and would like to drain it annually. A plumber told me to unplug it and let the heating element cool off and shut off the water supply. Then he said drain it till its empty. He told me to shut the cold water feed so it doesn't shock the exposed heating element and crack it. Is this the proper way to do it? I couldn't imagine draining a boiler with the water on. Any experience on doing this and frequency?
find the make and model of the unit. Go online and see if the manufacture of the unit has a recommended method and interval. I try my best to always find the manufactures recommendation first before just following someone else method. Usually if dealing with a professional, the two instructions will closely match (may not be identical but close enough).
You are on NYC filtered water. There is no reason for you to drain it yearly as you don't have hard water or heavily mineralized water. If you just replaced it a year ago, hopefully you spent the extra few dollars to have the electronics controls on top of the unit and the internal fan on the bottom. But if you feel you must do some draining, connect a hose to the bottom spout and let out only a few gallons which will let out some supposed sentiment. There is no need to empty the entire tank.
You are on NYC filtered water. There is no reason for you to drain it yearly as you don't have hard water or heavily mineralized water. If you just replaced it a year ago, hopefully you spent the extra few dollars to have the electronics controls on top of the unit and the internal fan on the bottom. But if you feel you must do some draining, connect a hose to the bottom spout and let out only a few gallons which will let out some supposed sentiment. There is no need to empty the entire tank.
....if you feel you must do some draining, connect a hose to the bottom spout and let out only a few gallons which will let out some supposed sentiment. There is no need to empty the entire tank.
Thanks for this...why didn't I think of that? Any sediment would be on the bottom, which would of course come out first.
Sometimes the simplest things just fly over my head. lol
Yes many people don't flush it once in a while. Considering i do have NYC water from what i hear its still good to do once a blue moon. My fathers hot water heater busted a few years ago due to buildup of sediment but he lives in a place with very hard water. It extends the life. It really is more important to do if you have hard water.
Slightly on topic because i had no idea you could drain it in the first place....can you do this to find a leak as well?
Not many people know this. Look for a spigot on the bottom but make sure to read the manual first and be careful. Follow directions that come with manual or you can screw the whole thing up. be careful WATER IS HOT.
To extend the life of your water heater, make sure you don't let the anode rod completely dissolve.. check it right when you move into a not new house, it will likely need replacing.. then check the new one in 2 years or so... if it's still in great shape you can check it again at the 5 year mark.... replace it at 5 years to be safe, but in some cases if you have good water they can go a decade.
A magnesium rod provides the best protection but will dissolve faster in hard water. An aluminum rod and might withstand hard water better.. get one that has a small amount of zinc in as well.
A gas water heater with a regularly replaced anode rod should last a long time. I have an "AO Smith" gas heater installed in the home I bought.. installed by a local place.
There is no need to completely flush the tank every year.. maybe every 5 years.. I flushed my 10 year old one and stuff did come out during the refill process but not a whole lot. Replaced the anode rod which was maybe half eaten up. No idea of previous owners did anything, I'm assuming not.
I drain the whole thing - with the water and electricity off, hook a hose to the bottom & open a couple hot spigots upstream to allow air inside..
I drain mine fully & theres a measurable amount of schmutz that comes out at the end.
Dont turn the power back on until you've allowed the unit to fill by running the hot faucets to purge the air.
The tales you were told about cracking the tank or leaving the water on arent credible.
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Any sediment would be on the bottom, which would of course come out first. 
