Draining water from a Thermex water heater. How and why to drain water from a water heater? Is it worth draining the water?

The modern market for household appliances is very diverse. Manufacturers regularly offer their consumers new, more improved models. These include water heaters. Correct operation and compliance with all instructions specified in the instructions will help extend the life of the equipment.

Design Features

Water heaters, or boilers, have taken a strong position in almost every apartment or private house. They provide housing with a regular supply of hot water, helping not to depend on central utility systems. A seemingly simple device actually has a complex design and performs quite important functions. It automatically maintains the temperature of the water in it.

The modern market for similar household appliances is presented in a wide range. Each owner will be able to find a device that suits the design, size and pricing policy. Despite the external differences, all water heaters are designed according to the same principle.

Hidden inside the case is a heating element - a tubular electric heater that is directly responsible for heating. It and other parts (safety valve, magnesium anode) are protected by a thermal insulation layer that runs between the outer and inner walls of the housing.

At the bottom of the structure there is a thermostat, which is responsible for the ability to regulate the temperature. On the outer walls there are special fastenings for possible installation of the water heater on a wall or other surface.

Several simple and familiar components are responsible for performing important functions and making the water heater easy to use.

Possible reasons for water drainage

From time to time it may be necessary to drain the water to empty the boiler tank. Many people are interested in whether it is necessary to drain the water from the water heater for the winter. Let's consider cases when you need to drain the water.

Possible situations:

• The equipment is located in a place that is not heated for a long time, for example, a summer house. Stagnant water in the storage tank and pipes freezes. This may damage the internal structure or rupture the tank;
• Routine cleaning of the inside of the tank. Hard water promotes the appearance of rusty deposits and bacteria. Periodic cleaning is necessary in such situations;
• Replacing the old magnesium anode with a new one. The anode is engaged in purifying the incoming water from harmful impurities, accumulating them in itself. It is recommended to replace a new device annually;
• The appearance of leaks and leaks when using the boiler. If the walls are damaged, operation of the device must be stopped;
• The appearance of an unpleasant odor indicates the need for urgent cleaning. It may appear due to stagnant water in the tank.

It is not recommended to carry out liquid drainage procedures unless absolutely necessary. The ideal option would be to empty the storage tank once a year.

Available options

Experts identify several methods suitable for draining water from a water heater. A competent approach and compliance with safety precautions will help carry out the draining process quickly and without injury or burns.

Reference. Before carrying out the procedure for draining the liquid, you must read the instructions for a more detailed understanding of the design of the water heater.

Several ways to drain water from a water heater:

Following all the steps during operation will help empty the water heater tank.

What to pay attention to

Any of the above processes does not guarantee complete drainage of water. To thoroughly empty the boiler, it is necessary to disassemble it. To do this, carefully unscrew the cover on the bottom surface and carry out the process of disconnecting the wires.

When disconnecting the wiring, you will need to remember all the details of the initial connection to continue operation. The flange serves as a support for the tubular electric heater; it must be unscrewed counterclockwise. Slightly loosening the nut will allow the liquid remaining at the bottom to drain.

After complete emptying, you can completely unscrew the flange. When removing the heating element, difficulties may arise due to scale and rusty deposits on its surface. To do this, you can gently rock the water heater, gradually pulling the heating element up.

Safety precautions

During the repair work, safety regulations must be observed. This will help avoid potentially dangerous injuries and burns, and also extend the life of the water heater.

First of all, experts do not recommend draining the water yourself, provided that the device is still under warranty. Even minor damage will void the warranty. In this case, it is better to turn to professionals for the service.

Before carrying out repair work, the device must be disconnected from the power supply network, and the liquid in the container must be allowed to cool to room temperature. This will prevent the possibility of burns.

It is not recommended to drain water unless absolutely necessary. When empty, the internal casing of the boiler is more susceptible to corrosion. The ideal option would be to clean the internal walls and replace the necessary parts once a year.

Conclusion

Electric water heaters have become a constant companion in any apartment. Timely care, following simple recommendations and safety precautions will help you carry out repair processes yourself and extend the life of the device.

Almost everyone who owns an electric heating tank sooner or later faces the question of how to clean it from scale. Due to rising utility bills, including hot water supply, more and more residents are buying water heaters to constantly supply hot water to their apartment or house. The boiler is easy to use, does not take up much space and allows you to use it at any time.

Is it possible to drink water from a boiler: operating principle and design of the device

During operation, scale forms in pipes due to poor water quality. This leads to excessive resource consumption and, ultimately, complete failure of the heating element. In order to protect your home from such a situation, it is necessary to systematically disassemble and clean the heater from scale. Today, in many apartments and houses, closed pressure-type water heating devices are often used for hot water supply systems. It is connected to the water source, as well as the consumption system, by connecting water pipes through shut-off devices.

You can drink the water from the tank, as well as use it for other purposes, but you must properly and carefully care for the water heating device.

One of the main conditions for caring for the tank is the timely drainage of water. Depending on the quality of the connection, the method of emptying the tank is also chosen. Experts have recommendations that determine when exactly you need to drain the water from the tank. As a rule, this is primarily repair work. Also, the boiler must be turned off when there is a break in its operation.

Prerequisites for draining water:

• If the device stands for a long time in an unheated room at a temperature below 5 degrees;
• In case of replacing a heating element made of titanium or magnesium anode;
• For scheduled or emergency cleaning of the tank;
• If the tank spits, becomes airy or leaks.

However, there are a number of cases when experts do not recommend draining water. These moments include fluid stagnation. If this problem affects you, then it is better to distill cold water through the boiler several times. Also, you should not flush the water if your device is under warranty.

Why do you need to drain the water from the boiler if the water heater breaks down?

Another, most common case for draining water is its breakdown and forced transportation to a service center. But, if your device is still under warranty at the time of the malfunction, then it is better not to touch it, but to call specialists from the service center. Very often, repairs of such equipment are carried out on site.

However, if the warranty period has already expired, and specialists do not want to come to your home, then you need to transport the water heater to the workshop yourself.

In order to properly drain the water from the tank and transport it, you must refer to the instructions. Responsible manufacturers always include all aspects and maintenance procedures in the technical documentation. If they are not there, then the best solution would be to listen to the advice of experts.

Water can be drained from the storage tank in several ways:

• If the valve and pipe are located separately, and there is a tee with a tap between them, the water must be turned off at the very entrance to the water heater, and then open the tap, which is located in the middle.
• When your water heater's safety device has a trigger - a special lever, similar to a trigger, which, when pressed lightly, allows the water to drain out easily.
• When the water heater check valve is carefully unscrewed counterclockwise and the water flows out by gravity. In this case, the difficulty will be to ensure safe drainage of the liquid into prepared containers or sewers.

In this case, the return valve does not need to be connected to the inlet of the heater itself, but placed in the space after the cold water meter. With this mounting, the return valve will prevent the water in the tank from going back into the pipes, and will allow it to fill the tank in the flush toilet by gravity.

Let's figure out how to drain water from the boiler and why to do it

Modern water heating devices are household electrical appliances that can provide hot water to residents of populated areas around the clock. At the same time, they do not require any special care. Draining water from boilers of popular companies like Ariston, Electrolux, Termex or Atlantic is not a particularly complicated procedure, but it requires certain knowledge and skills in working with electrical devices of this type.

If a high-quality device is provided with normal operating conditions, and the heater is able to operate properly, draining water from the unit is not required at all.

However, in some cases it is impossible to do without draining the water from the boiler, and this must be done without damaging the device and property in the room. At the same time, you should also distinguish when the drain is absolutely necessary, and when the heater can be left alone.

When you need to get rid of water in the tank:

• If the device fails and needs to be disassembled;
• If necessary, transport the product;
• In case of repair of the water supply system to which the boiler is connected;
• When unwanted impurities get into the water;
• The hot water in the tank runs out quickly;
• The air temperature in the room dropped to +5 degrees.

And remember that spontaneously draining liquid from a “container” that is under warranty is not recommended! After this, even companies such as Gorenje, Thermex, Ariston may refuse warranty service.

Cleaning the boiler: how to empty the water from the water heater

In order for your boiler to serve you for many years, you need to clean it regularly. Ideally, this should be done 2 times a year. For some modern models, once is enough. This depends on how often you use your boiler and the quality of your tap water. If you do not carry out this procedure at all, corrosion may begin inside the device, as well as oxidation of metals, after which scale will form.

To minimize breakdowns, when choosing a unit, ask consultants about what thermostat is present in the boiler.

It is better not to buy water heaters with this element made of ferrous metals; they clean rust disgustingly and recycle water terribly.

So, let's clean our water heating tank:

• Turn off the power supply to the water heater;
• After removing the cap from the bottom of the tank, unscrew the wires;
• At the next stage, you need to tightly fit the hose onto the drain valve;
• Lower the other end into the connection with the sewer, water will drain there;
• Close the valve and unscrew the cold water pipe.

If you live in an apartment, then before all actions, turn off the tap that closes the water supply to the room. When performing work, be vigilant, make sure that liquid from the tank does not flow onto the floor and flood the neighbors below.

Restoring your boiler after repair: how to get water again

After we cleaned the heating element and did other manipulations with the tank, let's install it in place.

After installing the unit in its place, we connect all the tubes or flexible hoses to the nozzles. In this case, the gaskets must be replaced with new ones.

After restoring the technical part, it is necessary to restore the electrical filling of the boiler, or, as the instructions say, the water heating tank. And after that we move on to the procedure of filling the tank with water.

First, we do a little testing and then fill the container:

• We set the temperature regulator to the extreme left position, connect the boiler to the mains;
• We set the regulator wheel to the middle position, after which the light should light up and heating should begin;

If everything is fine, then our test is completed, and we turn the adjusting wheel to the extreme left position, and then remove the plug from the socket.

How to drain water from a boiler (video)

Gradually we begin to fill the tank with water. This is done as follows: open the hot water tap on any of the consumers, open cold water into the boiler, carefully check all connections, and, if necessary, eliminate leaks. At the moment when the water begins to drain from the hot tap, close it. We turn on the boiler and set the temperature regulator to the middle position. The boiler should hum and the light should light up.

Boilers are an excellent solution for those houses and apartments that do not have a centralized hot water supply. Such devices provide residents with warm water around the clock and do not require complex maintenance. Only occasionally do you have to drain the water from the boilers and clean the containers from the sediment that has formed.

Briefly about the boiler design

Before you start draining the water, you should study the structure, design features and operating principle of the boiler. Such information is usually contained in the instructions for the water heater. Let's take a closer look at what a boiler is and how it works.

The main structural part of the boiler is a storage tank made of metal: stainless steel or ordinary steel with an enamel coating applied to it. The tank is equipped with two tubes, an air vent and an electric heater. To ensure that the water in the tank maintains a high temperature for a long time, the tank is insulated with a layer of thermal insulating material. This entire structure is enclosed in a common housing, and in order for the boiler to operate in automatic mode, the device is additionally equipped with a thermostat.

Boilers come in different capacities. Small water heaters, as a rule, do not have a drain hole, and water is supplied from above. Draining water from such a container is quite simple; you just need to remove the tank and turn it over.

Advice: when choosing a water heater with a small volume, evaluate the ease of use of the device and give preference to those models from which it will be easy to drain water.

Large boilers are often equipped with a drain hole, but emptying such heaters is more difficult than in the case described above. If you simply close off the access of cold water to the container, and then open the tap to drain the hot water, the liquid will not flow out completely, but only to the level where the highest point of the hot water supply tube is located. The water can be completely drained only if air gets inside the boiler.. To empty large water heaters, the inlet and outlet openings of the structure are equipped with tees with taps.

Schematic representation of the internal structure of the boiler

Why do you need to drain the water and when is the best time to do it?

Water from the boiler must be drained in the following cases:

1. If the water heater is located in an unheated area, the tank must be emptied before winter arrives. With the onset of frost, the liquid will begin to turn into ice and increase in volume, which can lead to serious damage to the device and loss of its functionality.
2. If the warranty period for the boiler has expired, and the structure needs to be repaired or the magnesium anode replaced, the water must also be drained. All such procedures are carried out only with a dry and clean tank. It is worth noting that during the warranty period you cannot carry out repairs yourself, otherwise the warranty will become invalid.
3. At least once every 5 years, the water heater must be descaled. If the water supplied to the tank is not of good quality, it is advisable to carry out a similar procedure more often. The sediment that remains in the tank interferes with the rapid heating of water, which means that the boiler consumes more electricity to operate.

Now I would like to consider cases when there is no need to drain water from the boiler:

1. When turning off the water heater during the warm season, it is not recommended to drain all the liquid from the tank. If the device is not threatened by frost, it is better to leave some water in the container - this will protect the interior of the tank from corrosion. In addition, if, out of forgetfulness, you plug in an empty boiler, a fire hazard may arise..
2. If the device has been left unplugged for some time and the water in it has stagnated, it is also not worthwhile to completely empty the container. Stale water simply needs to be refreshed by filling the tank full several times. It is advisable to repeat this procedure every 3 months, running 100 liters of cold water through the heater.
3. If the unit is still covered by the warranty, it is highly not recommended to drain the water, much less repair any parts yourself. In such a case, the warranty will become void. If problems arise with the boiler, it is better to simply call qualified specialists. They will drain the water themselves, fix the breakdowns and do it for free.

You can use a suitable container to drain water from the boiler.

Draining water: necessary tools

The principle of draining water from boilers of different manufacturers is generally similar, and the main working tools are an adjustable wrench and a rubber hose. When working with Ariston water heaters, you may also need screwdrivers, a hexagon, and wrenches. If the hose will not lead into the bathtub, you should prepare a large container into which the water will drain.

Preparing the boiler for draining water is as follows:

1. Like any device that runs on electricity, the water heater should first be disconnected from the power supply.
2. Then you need to shut off the water supply from the water supply to the boiler.
3. Do not drain hot water from the tank, as this can cause injury. Therefore, the boiler must remain turned off for some time so that the liquid in it has time to cool.
4. After this, you need to remove the cold and hot water supply tubes from the water heater.

Please note: when putting the device into operation after draining the water and removing sediment, it is important to make sure that the container is filled with fresh water. Connecting an empty water heater to the network is fraught not only with damage to the equipment itself, but also with the risk of a fire.

Instructions

Emptying the Thermex water heater tank

The process of draining water from a Thermex boiler consists of several stages:

1. First, prepare the necessary tools: a gas adjustable wrench and a rubber hose. Using a wrench, close the cold water supply pipe to the tank.
2. To prevent a vacuum from forming inside the container, open the hot water tap on the mixer.
3. Drain the water until the arrow on the boiler reaches the zero mark. When this happens, close the hot water tap.
4. At the point where cold water enters the tank, unscrew the check valve nut using an adjustable wrench.
5. Connect one end of the rubber hose to the cold water supply pipe. Lead the second end of the hose into the sewer or into a previously prepared container. Disconnect the hot water outlet from the unit. When you do this, water from the tank will flow through the hose.
6. Unscrew the nut that secures the hot water outlet. After this, air will begin to enter the boiler, and the tank will empty completely. It happens that water does not immediately begin to flow out of the container; in this case, you need to blow into the hose.
7. After draining the water, screw back all the unscrewed nuts.

Accompanying video

How to remove Electrolux brand from equipment

The advantage of Electrolux water heaters is their economical heating mode, which prevents the formation of scale on the inner surface of the tank. It is best to drain water from such boilers using a check valve located on the inlet pipe. Let's look at the process step by step:

1. First you need to shut off the cold water supply to the tank by tightening the appropriate valve.
2. Then you should put a hose of suitable diameter on the drain hole of the safety valve, and lead its other end into a prepared container or into a sewer drain hole.
3. Then you need to open the hot water tap on the mixer. The flag located on the side of the protective device should be raised so that water begins to flow out through the drainage hole.

As when working with other water heaters, the Electrolux boiler must be disconnected from the power supply before starting work.

Emptying the Ariston heater

To empty the Ariston water heater tank, you will need not only an adjustable wrench and a hose, but also a straight screwdriver and a 4 mm hexagon. We will describe the process of emptying the container step by step:

1. After disconnecting the boiler from the power supply, close the tap valve for supplying cold water to the tank.
2. To equalize the pressure inside the unit, unscrew the hot water tap.
3. Now you need to make sure that air gets inside the boiler. To do this, open the tap on the pipe supplying hot water from the boiler.
4. Connect a rubber hose of a suitable diameter to the device, open the water drain valve and empty the tank completely.

Video hint

Correct emptying of the Gorenje boiler

The principle of draining water from a Gorenje water heater is similar to the cases described above, the whole process consists of the following actions:

1. First, the boiler is disconnected from the power supply. Then open the valve on the hot water mixer.
2. After waiting until the hot water has completely drained, a hose is connected to the cold water tap, the return end of which is led into a sewer drain or into any suitable container.
3. By opening the drain valve and ensuring air supply to the tank, the boiler is emptied. This process takes about 10 minutes.

The water from the Gorenje heater can be drained through the safety valve. Many people use this simple method, but this process takes a lot of time.

Please note: on some boiler models, the safety valve is not equipped with a special flag. In this case, you need to find a spring inside the valve and press it out using a tube. Under no circumstances should the valve be unscrewed.

Removing sediment

During operation, sediment forms in the boiler, which must be removed periodically

During operation of the boiler, tap water leaves limescale on the internal elements of the unit. As such deposits accumulate, they complicate the operation of the device and slow down the heating of water. Among other things, rust can form in the boiler tank over time. It is best to remove such sediment during the next draining of water from the heater.

Cleaning the boiler from sediment is carried out as follows:

1. First, remove the protective casing from the water heater. After this, turn off the power to all electrical wires in the device.
2. Using a gas wrench, unscrew the union nut holding the heating element.
3. By swinging the heating element from side to side, you will release the water along with the sediment present in it. Do not forget to place a suitable container under the boiler into which the water will drain.
4. After this, remove the tubular heating element. Through the resulting hole, inspect the internal cavity of the boiler and remove all accumulated contaminants from there.
5. Open the shut-off valve slightly and let some water into the system to flush the device.
6. After the work has been done, reassemble the parts of the boiler, fill it with water and plug it into the network.

Advice: when cleaning the boiler, carefully inspect the heating element. If simple cleaning does not allow you to bring the heating element into proper shape, it is better to dismantle the heating element and install a new one in its place. Such a part is not cheap, but it is not recommended to skimp on it.

Video: cleaning a water heating structure

When draining water from the boiler, take your time and perform the steps in the correct sequence. Do not forget to disconnect the device from the power supply, and also allow the hot water to cool thoroughly.

If you use a storage water heater (boiler), an uninterrupted supply of hot water in your living space will be ensured all year round, regardless of any repair work. This practical device will be a good helper in a country house where there is no centralized water supply system. Do I need to drain the water from the heater?

There can be many reasons for draining the contents of a water heater, but the main thing is to perform this procedure correctly. Despite the fact that the manufacturer's instructions describe in detail a diagram of how to drain water from the tank, difficulties often arise, because in some cases it is necessary to dismantle the electric heating device.

Water heater device

The device is a system that includes a thermally insulated container and a heat source located inside. Expensive models have a special control unit. With its help you can set the required temperature regime. In addition, if you have a control panel, it becomes possible to control energy consumption, since the device turns on only if the temperature of the liquid has dropped below the desired level.

The main advantages of a storage water heater:

Although a fairly simple device, the water heater is durable and economical. Its main components are an internal tank, a heating element and a heating element. True, they have now begun to produce models with a more complex device. The principle of operation of a water heater is similar to the principle of operation of a thermostat. In this regard, special attention is paid to the inner lining of the tank.

The household appliance consists of:

• metal or plastic case with bracket;
• stainless steel tank (there are tanks covered with a glass-porcelain layer);
• a heat-insulating layer separating the tank and the body;
• magnesium anode;
• tubular electric heater;
• safety thermostat;
• control unit;
• valve protection system;
• temperature indicator;
• electrical cable.

Do I need to drain the water from my water heater?

Cases when the liquid from the boiler must be drained:

In some cases, draining the water heater tank can even be harmful. Among the common situations that do not require mandatory emptying of the boiler are:

Methods for draining water from a water heater

There are four options for quickly emptying a water heater:

How to drain water from a Thermex boiler?

Step-by-step instructions for draining water from a Thermex boiler:

1. Using a gas adjustable wrench, close the pipe that supplies cold liquid to the boiler.
2. To avoid the formation of a vacuum on the mixer, open the tap with hot liquid.
3. Wait until the water comes out. The process begins in about one to two minutes.
4. Close the tap when they see that the boiler arrow points to zero.
5. Using careful movements, unscrew the nuts in the area where cold water enters. When the nuts are unscrewed, the liquid should not flow again.
6. Then take a rubber hose. One end of it is connected to the cold liquid supply to the tank, and the other is directed into a sewer hole or bucket.
7. Disconnect the outlet of hot liquid from the water heater. From this moment, water will begin to flow from the hose.
8. Finally unscrew the nut securing the hot water outlet. The system will quickly begin to fill with air, and the liquid will completely leave the tank of the Termex water heater. If suddenly the liquid does not drain, you can try to blow out the hose.

How to drain water from an Ariston boiler?

First, you should make sure that the water heater is connected to the water supply system according to the instructions. After checking the connection diagrams of all components with the existing boiler and making sure that the installation is correct, they begin to empty the water heater from its contents.

The correct algorithm for draining water from an Ariston boiler:

1. They cut off the water supply.
2. Remove the boiler wire plug from the socket.
3. Close the tap where the cold liquid comes from.
4. Open the hot water tap. Wait until the remaining liquid drains.
5. Do not tighten the mixer. This is necessary so that air can enter the tank.
6. The drain tap is connected to a special hose. He is directed into the nearest sewer hole.
7. After opening the drain valve, watch the water drain.

At the end, check whether the liquid has managed to drain completely. When using this simple method of ridding an Ariston water heating tank of liquid, it is important not to forget that the correct connection diagram for the device is important, otherwise you will have to face unforeseen circumstances.

Modern water heaters are household electrical appliances that can provide hot water around the clock, without requiring any special care. Draining water from the popular Ariston or Termex boilers is not the most technically difficult procedure, but it requires certain knowledge about the principles and operating features of electric “titans”. And the first of these features - draining water, under normal operating conditions of the heater and its proper operation, is not required at all...

Periodic maintenance of storage water heater from dirt

To drain or not to drain? That is the question!..

However, in some situations, it is impossible to do without draining the water from the storage tank of the water heater - and this must be done without damaging the device and flooding the room accompanying improper actions. At the same time, you should also distinguish when draining is really needed, and when it is better not to touch the heater.

For example, the popular recommendation to empty the tank during a relatively long break in the operation of the boiler is simply harmful: an empty heater tank made of metal is destroyed by corrosion much faster than a full one! To reduce the rate of oxidative processes occurring in the tank, some models of water heaters install an anti-corrosion magnesium electrode - but it only works if there is liquid around it.

If there are concerns that after a long break in the operation of the boiler, the water in it will deteriorate and become musty, you should not drain the water from the storage tank! It is much better to open the taps and run the water before turning it on, thereby forcibly “rinsing” the container.

It is a good idea to carry out such a procedure once every few months during normal operation of the heater. For high-quality rinsing, it is enough to pass 2-3 of its volumes through the container being cleaned.

When you can't do without draining

The real need to drain water from Ariston and Thermex water heaters arises in the following cases:

• if the device breaks down, leading to the need for its complete disassembly;
• at , which includes a boiler:
• when requiring disassembly of the heater - cleaning the container and heating element from scale;
• when certain impurities get into the water used, which greatly reduces its quality;
• when the temperature in the room with the water heater drops below 5 degrees Celsius.

It should be borne in mind that it is IMPOSSIBLE to drain liquid from titanium that is under warranty! Both manufacturers and sellers equate this operation to self-repair and the warranty automatically “fails”...

How is it even organized?

To properly drain water from a heating device, you need to know the principle of its operation and internal structure - at least in the most general terms.

General device

The traditional design of an electric boiler is not complicated, but at the same time it is very reliable in operation. Essentially, this is a large thermos with built-in heating of the contents: a storage tank for storing water, inside of which a heating element is installed. The structural design is common to all Thermex and Ariston, and differs only in the shape and material of manufacture of individual elements, the presence of certain components and parts that improve and facilitate the operation of the device, and the degree of “sophistication” of the control units.

Storage capacity

All manufacturers make storage tanks from anti-corrosion materials, but the quality of this material can vary greatly. Stabilized steel coated with a layer of glass porcelain is considered the best - scale practically does not “stick” to such a surface, and water is not contaminated by particles of the walls. The cheapest material is galvanized steel; It lasts quite a long time, but is highly susceptible to scale formation and adds metal to the composition of the heated water.

Pipe, pipe, pipe all around...

To replenish cold water and draw hot water, two tubes are installed vertically in the container - the cut of the first is at the bottom, and the cut of the second is at the top. The “cold” pipe is usually equipped with a divider that ensures uniform distribution of water throughout the volume of the tank; The cold water entering through this tube displaces the already heated liquid upward, and it enters the hot water system through the “hot” pipe. There is no mixing of liquids inside the tank.

Where would we be without convenience...

In order to automate the operation of the water heater and facilitate its operation, a thermostat is also installed inside the tank, which allows you to regulate the heating temperature of the water and avoid boiling, and a magnesium anode to reduce the level of electrochemical corrosion in the storage tank. The heating element (heating element), also located inside the tank, is a spiral made of wire with high resistivity (usually nichrome) placed in a copper casing.

A mandatory structural element of any heater is a safety valve installed on the “cold” pipe. Its purpose is to relieve excess pressure in the line, equalize the pressures of heated and feed water in the line, and prevent arbitrary flow of liquid from the tank when the “supply” is turned off.

It's time to drain the water

Ariston and Thermex electric boilers belong to pressure vessels and apparatus and, like all such devices, have a sealed design. That is why it will not be possible to empty it completely by simply turning on the analysis of heated water - only the liquid will drain above the cut of the “hot” intake tube and directly from it...

General procedure

To completely drain water from the storage tank of the water heater, it is necessary to provide access to air inside it, and the easiest way to do this is through the hot water pipe. The basic procedure is as follows:

• boiler NECESSARILY disconnected from the power supply;
• the cold water supply valve for the heater is closed;
• to relieve excess pressure in the tank, the hot water tap is opened;
• unscrew the screw securing the flag standing between the titanium and the water supply line;
• if there is no provision for draining the liquid flowing from the safety valve into the sewer system, place an empty bucket or similar container under it;
• By raising and lowering the valve flag as the bucket is filled, we drain the water from the heater.

Draining water from the storage tank through the safety valve is accompanied by the characteristic gurgling of air bubbles in the boiler. Its absence means that the force of atmospheric pressure is not enough to lift the water in the empty container.

What if it doesn't gurgle?..

In this case, the procedure must be expanded:

• The connection between the DHW heater output and the system is disassembled. If it is non-separable, the connection closest to the “hot” outlet of the boiler is disconnected; as a last resort, attach a small piece of rubber hose of suitable diameter to the bend of the hot water tap closest to the water heater;
• it is necessary to blow strongly into the hose - this will forcefully displace the liquid from the hot water supply line into the water heater tank; You can use a compressor or a hand pump - but take precautions.

After all the procedures have been completed, the water from the boiler will be drained. But - not completely... below the edge of the cold water supply tube, the liquid in the container will still remain. Its volume will depend on the installation height of this tube and can reach several liters.

The final drainage of water “to dryness” can only be done through the mounting holes for attaching the heating element, and it is most often required when replacing a faulty heating element. The second situation when complete emptying of the storage tank is necessary is conservation of the water heater.

From the technical side, dismantling a heating element is a simple operation and does not require special qualifications of the performer. You just need to be careful to avoid damage to the gaskets between the heating element and the tank wall.

It's good when everything is according to the rules!

The described technology for draining water from a water heater implies that the connection of the device to utilities was done according to all the rules - and this, alas, is not always the case. The most common deviations from the rules are the absence of a shut-off valve that shuts off the supply of cold water to the boiler, the absence of a flag on some safety valve models, the inability to access the threaded connections of the inlet and outlet pipes...

Such violations are not critical and do not have a special impact on the performance of the boiler as a whole - but they make the process of draining water from it very difficult. The process can be significantly simplified only if you foresee its need already at the stage of installing the cold-hot water supply system and install a special tap to supply air to the boiler storage tank.