If you have a traditional water heater in your house, it’s important to flush the tank every once and a while to prevent sediment buildup. Many types of sediment can enter your water heater via water lines. It might seem like a hassle, but draining a water heater can have many benefits, including increased energy efficiency.

Have you flushed a water heater before? If not, there’s no reason to worry. We have a guide on how to drain a water heater that you can use. While you may be hesitant to take this maintenance task upon yourself, you might be surprised to find that the process is simpler than many homeowners think it will be. All you will need to do is have some supplies on hand.

Are you ready to get started? Below, we will discuss the best way to drain a water heater. We'll break the steps down so that they’re easy for beginners to follow.

How Often Should You Drain a Water Heater?

It’s a good idea to drain your hot water heater at least once a year. Some technicians might recommend you complete this maintenance task twice a year — especially if you have hard water. Hard water contains minerals that can settle in your tank over time, lowering its efficiency and negatively affecting its performance. Failing to maintain your tank can have many consequences, including the need for a 

How To Flush a Water Heater in 7 Easy Steps

If you’ve been searching for a guide on how to drain a water heater, you might have noticed that the entire process can take several hours to complete. It’s best to schedule some time to perform this maintenance task. Although it is a fairly easy and straightforward process, some steps will require downtime.

Is today the day you’re finally going to flush the water heater tank? Great! Now that you’ve set aside some time, let’s go through the process step by step.

Before we can discuss the best way to drain a water heater, it’s important to ensure you have all the proper equipment readily on hand. You will need a garden hose and, potentially, a large bucket.

First and foremost, you’ll need to shut off the power to the water heater. This is a critical step since you risk damaging the heating elements if the unit keeps running.

If you have an electric water heater, you can simply shut off the power at the electric panel. If you have a gas water heater, turn off the gas and switch the unit to “pilot” mode.

Next, it’s time to turn off the water supply. You can do this by closing off the water valve that’s connected to the water heater. Once you’ve done this, you’ll want to wait for the water in the tank to cool down as an added precaution; this might take a few hours. But you don’t want to risk hurting yourself!

The water heater drain valve is typically located at the bottom of the tank. Once you’ve located the drain valve, it’s time to bring out the garden hose. Attach one end of the hose to the drain valve and place the free end in the floor drain. If you don’t have a floor drain, this is where the large bucket can come in handy. As you flush the water heater tank, though, you’ll want to switch out the bucket to ensure it doesn’t overflow.

As you can see, there’s really no “best” way to drain a water heater. If you don’t have a floor drain, you can make do with whatever equipment you have at home.

Go around your home and open all the hot water taps. If you don’t feel like opening every single hot water faucet, you can opt to open one tap that’s located near your water heater. This step will help drain your water heater faster.

Now that the water has cooled and you’ve ensured everything is in place, you can finally start the draining process! Open the drain valve and let the water steadily drain out of the tank. This process can vary in length depending on the amount of sediment sitting inside the tank.

You will know the tank is free of sediment when you see the water flowing clear. If there’s still a hint of sediment in the water, you can refill the tank to restart the flushing process.

Although this can be considered the best way to drain a water heater since it thoroughly helps flush the tank, it may take a few tries — and a lot of patience — to fully remove a larger amount of sediment.

Once the water runs clear and the tank has been completely flushed, you know you’ve finished draining the tank. It’s time to wrap everything up. Remove the garden hose, close the drain valve, and clean up the area. You’ll also want to turn on the cold water supply to refill the tank and restore power to the water heater.

Schedule Water Heater Services With Our Experts

If the water from your tank is running clear, you’ve successfully followed our guide on how to drain a water heater! Knowing how to flush your tank can help you enjoy an energy-efficient water heater for many years to come.

However, it’s possible that you’ll experience a few bumps in the road that simply can’t be prevented with regular maintenance. Whether your water heater is causing low water pressure or has a faulty pressure relief valve, Guardian Plumbers is here to help with a 

, or the surrounding areas. Reach out to our professionals to see how you can benefit from our services!

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Drain a Water Heater

The garbage disposal in your kitchen sink makes cleaning up after dinner a breeze. It can also be incredibly satisfying to dump your leftovers down the sink drain and watch them disappear. At the same time, it’s important to treat your garbage disposal with care and respect. Food particles can easily stick to the inside of the disposal, creating an unwanted, smelly problem.

As a homeowner, you may wonder, “Are you supposed to clean a garbage disposal?” The answer to this question is yes. In fact, it’s best to perform a cleaning every one to two weeks. If this surprises you, though, there’s no reason to panic. It’s never too late to keep up with your disposal needs. Let’s discuss how to clean a garbage disposal and a few helpful maintenance tips to keep in mind.

Why Should You Clean Your Garbage Disposal?

Once the food has traveled down your sink drain, it’s easy to turn on the disposal and forget about it. However, some items, such as fibrous vegetables and egg shells, don’t break down easily in the garbage disposal. When these items are left to collect in your drains, bacteria can grow — which is something no homeowner wants to happen.

Fortunately, learning how to clean a garbage disposal can prevent foul smells and bacteria from wreaking havoc in your kitchen. Keeping up with your drain’s needs can also help you avoid 

. Use this easy step-by-step guide to ensure your disposal is looking, smelling, and functioning great:

Don’t work on your garbage disposal without taking the proper safety precautions! It’s important to turn off the power leading to your disposal. You can either shut the power off at the breaker or unplug the garbage disposal where it’s plugged in beneath your sink. Remember: the best way to clean a garbage disposal is to always keep safety in mind.

The rubber cover peeking out of your drain is called the baffle or splash guard. This component of your garbage disposal helps prevent water and food particles from spraying up and out of your sink. At the same time, food residue can collect beneath the baffle.

Scrub the underneath of the baffle with a sponge and a few drops of dish soap. Scrub the underside until the grease and food particles have been thoroughly washed away. Next, you’ll want to remove the baffle from your sink so that you have full access to the disposal.

If there are any food particles still lingering in your disposal, now is finally the time to remove them. Removing the baffle is the best way to clean a garbage disposal because you’ll have easy access to any remaining food pieces. It’s recommended to remove these items with a pair of tongs — you’ll only want to use your hands as a last resort. Remember to wear rubber gloves during this entire process as an extra layer of protection.

Pour one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar into the disposal. Once you’ve done this, plug the drain with a sink stopper and let the mixture sit for a few hours. This combination of baking soda and vinegar is known to clear clogged drains and can help remove leftover debris that’s hiding out in your disposal. After waiting, flush the disposal with some hot water or a pot of boiled water. Although this isn’t necessarily the best way to clean a garbage disposal, it doesn’t hurt to try.

You can also try using a dish soap cleaning method. Fill the sink with hot water and add a little dish soap. Turn on the garbage disposal with the soapy water inside and let it flush the garbage disposal. This method does a better job than simply running water through the disposal.

There isn’t one single best way to clean a garbage disposal, but it’s never a bad idea to play it safe. Using these baking soda mixture and dish soap cleaning methods can add an extra layer of protection against foul smells and pesky clogs.

When learning how to clean a garbage disposal, you might prefer to use the easiest, most convenient method. For example, if you have a few ice cubes and a container of salt lying around, you can use these items to clean the disposal blades. All you have to do is pour a cup of ice cubes down the disposal followed by a cup of salt. Once you’ve done this, run cold water and turn the disposal on for a few seconds. Run the disposal until the ice has been ground up.

Are you looking to fill your kitchen with a refreshing smell? You can try grinding up citrus peels as well. While this won’t do much in the way of cleaning your disposal, it will create a light, pleasant scent.

Take Care of Your Plumbing System With Help From Our Experts

Now that you have a better understanding of how to clean a garbage disposal, you can be proactive and avoid a smelly mess in the future. However, clogged drains and plumbing problems can appear even with maintenance and proper precautions. If you find yourself needing help, Guardian Plumbers offers dependable 

, and the surrounding areas. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment!

Learn How to Clean a Garbage Disposal

When you hear the word “plumbing system,” you probably think of your toilets and sink drains. For many, the state of their sewer lines goes widely ignored — that is, until a blockage appears seemingly out of nowhere.

Warning signs of a clogged sewer line can include everything from slow drains to water backing up in your plumbing fixtures. These issues can be incredibly inconvenient and unsanitary. If you suspect you have a sewer line blockage on your hands, you might be wondering what causes the main sewer line to clog in the first place.

Here is everything you need to know about the common causes of sewer line clogs.

There’s a good chance that tree roots are to blame for your clogged sewer line. Tree roots seek out water and nutrients, so a lot of times, they will grow in the direction of sewer pipes. With time, these roots can break through the line altogether.

Tree root intrusions are often considered one of the top causes of sewer line clogs. However, this problem is more common with older pipes. Of course, clogs can appear no matter the age of your sewer lines. It’s important to call a 

 as soon as possible to prevent the issue from worsening.

When you scrub off your dishes in the sink, you might not realize how harmful leftover grease, fats, and oils can be to your sink drains. Once these substances settle in your drains, they quickly harden and transform into a stubborn clog.
When it comes down to it, grease can be what causes the main sewer line to clog. You can avoid this sort of issue by wiping off express grease with a paper towel and throwing it in the trash.

Like most things, your sewer lines can become worn or cracked over time. When these pipes break or collapse in on themselves, the resulting damage can act like a clogged main sewer line. This cannot be remedied with a typical drain cleaning service. Instead, you'll need to replace the broken pipe altogether.

As you may know, the only things you should flush down the toilet are human waste and toilet paper. However, a few extraneous objects can make their way down the drain line — including some items that seem like they can be flushed but shouldn’t.

For example, you should never flush feminine hygiene products, paper towels, tissues, or flushable wipes. These products might be marketed as flushable, but they can be some of the most common causes of sewer line clogs.

Other items, such as toiletries, can also be what cause the main sewer line to clog. Keep any of these items away from your toilets and sink drains by securely storing them in cabinets.

Heavy rainstorms, frigid temperatures, and construction work can cause soil to shift. If the soil moves toward your sewer lines and applies too much pressure, these lines can crack or burst. While this is not always one of the most common causes of sewer line clogs, it is still a possibility — especially if you live in an area prone to heavy storms or extreme conditions.

Clear Your Main Sewer Line With Guardian Plumbers

Once you understand what causes the main sewer line to clog, you can take steps to keep these lines in a better condition. Watch which items go down your sewer drains — whether it’s grease or “flushable” wipes — and remember to schedule regular sewer line inspections.

If you’re currently dealing with a sewer line clog, contact Guardian Plumbers for help. We offer 

, and the surrounding areas. Our plumbers use sewer line and drain cleaning techniques that are highly effective, so you don’t have to worry about using chemical drain cleaners or other household drain cleaning methods. Contact us today to learn more about our services!


Top 5 Causes of Sewer Line Clogs

Since 2010, Guardian Plumbers has been providing honest, reliable, 

 and Temecula, CA, throughout Riverside County, and beyond. Whether you need the help of a professional plumbing company to repair, replace, inspect, or maintain any element of your plumbing system, our plumbing contractors will be there, stat, 24 hours a day! With the level of quality in the products we use and the work we provide, it’s easy to see why our customers consider us the best plumbers in the region. Don’t just take our word for it; contact us today to discuss your unique plumbing needs.

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Plumbing Emergency? Let Guardian Plumbers Protect Your Home and Family!

Clogged drains putting a damper on your day? Overflowing toilet making a mess and damaging your property? Slow-draining sewer line stressing you out?

It doesn’t matter when these problems pop up, whether it’s the middle of the night or a weekend or holiday. If you need a plumbing company that can resolve your issues immediately, you need to call the 24-hour plumbers at Guardian Plumbers.

Our plumbing contractors are dedicated to providing the honest and reliable plumbing services you deserve for your home or business. We’re a family-owned and operated business employing the top licensed plumbers in the industry and proudly serving Temecula, CA, and the surrounding communities for nearly two decades. Our emergency plumbers are on duty 24/7 to tackle the area’s plumbing headaches. When you need us, we'll be there, no matter the hour, and we promise to get the job done right the first time to spare you future hassles and costly repairs. We know we’ve done our job when we’ve earned the trust of our customers. It’s what keeps us going and makes our jobs so rewarding.

To recognize the veterans, military service members, law enforcement, emergency responders, firefighters, teachers, and senior citizens who selflessly serve our local community, we offer special discounts just for these groups. Visit our 

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For five-star customer service at prices you can afford, any time of day, any day of the week, enlist the extensive knowledge, excellent workmanship, and exceptional service of our licensed plumbers! Our work is guaranteed. In addition to being reputable emergency plumbers, we specialize in 

. From toilets and sinks to showers and garbage disposals, our plumbing company can fix almost anything. We also provide eco-friendly equipment to those who live green.

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Step-by-Step Guide: How to Drain a Water Heater

Learn How to Clean a Garbage Disposal

Top 5 Causes of Sewer Line Clogs