Hot Water Heater Drain Clogged

[SHRED]

Drain valve gradually stopped working. Obvious sediment build-up but where to go from here?

Did all the prelim...turned off gas, shut water input, opened pressure relief valve and a house hot water tap,etc...

As you can see I removed the top of the valve. This was with a full tank. I tried running a "bailing" sized piece of wire up it to dislodge the corrosion but it did little and met little resistance at all. I then hooked another short hose to where I removed the valve stem cap. I then preceded to pinch off the lower hose and blow air pressure into the newly attached top short hose. It gurgled and I could hear the tank bubbling from the air. I then stopped the air, raised the upper hose, and the lower hose would surge a bit, belch a few chunks (lower photo) and stop draining.

This will be a long day if I have to babysit it like this.
Where would you go from here?

Would removing this plastic valve and putting in a brass ball valve help?
Still how to get the water draining/flowing?

Is this drain valve at the bottom or does an internal pipe run somewhere?
thanks

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

1. Stop blocking the air

use a coat hanger and take a hammer and beat on the bottom of the tank a bit. bull the tank some too meaning apply a little brunt force. The sediment is causing blockage. It will drain but you have to work it. don't worry about the tank ,it's trash but do not whack the drain valve with your hammer.sometimes tapping the bottom of the tank gets the flow going. You just have to work it a bit. Once you get a straight stream going the sediment will flow out too.

Oh and remember the tank is inside the outer shield. It's cast iron.

Most tanks I have removed are the electric type.I have no doubt sediment is cause of blockage although sometimes it can be a air pocket. Tap the tank at the top too. I assume gas and electric is disconnected and shut off.

[SHRED]

2. Okay I got "lucky".

Removed the old valve without breaking it!:



Installed a way better option with many times more flow (for the big chunks):



Now draining much better:



Now I need to find out how to flush the corrosion out.

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[Wash. state Desk Jet]

3. Thought you had a leaker

Just run the cold water fill a bit and let it drain. There may be a proceedure but the idea is to drain your tank once a year to let out the sediment.

so-run some more water through the tank and let it drain.

[SHRED]

4. I...

...filled it up about 1/3, with the pressure valve open, I then blew compressed air up the drain hose until it was churning air bubbles in the tank. Did this about 5 times and it seem to break up more of the build-up.

All is well in HW Heater land for now.
;)

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

5. you can call the manufacturer or email

contact their web site first off -see if there is a 800 number or e mail maintenance questions-ask about yearly maintenance draining the tank to remove sediment. Yours is gas but there is most likely not much of a difference in the procedure as it simply calls for draining the tank -in your case you also flushed it.

I think that about covers it,I know you saved yourself about 150 bucks . On those guarantees say it's a 15 year tank or 20 year-, for the guarantee to be claimed in full,the yearly maintenance must be preformed. That's the catch.

Or you can call any company that installs those for the maintenance procedure or google it !

My guess is you about covered it ,not sure about blowing air up into to the tank.

Most people just wait until the tank leaks than call me to come over and change it out !
Although on those electrics every now and again a heating element gets changed out or a thermostat, if the tank is not too old. You can find the year and month the tank was manufactured -but if there is no note about installation date -there is a little guess work involved.

You may want to run hot water full bore through the nearest facet to the tank to run the sediment out of the lines and some of the floating stuff in the tank -as well as the air in the pipes.Standard procedure after draining or replacement.

[SHRED]

6. Thanks for the advice!