How do I drain the tank for maintainence? - Rheem 40 Gallon FVR NATGAS Low WATER HEATER 6YR 22V40SF

Anon, Make sure gas or breaker(power) is turned off to the Heater so it will not come on during draining,connect a hose onto bottom valve of water heater, run hose to a floor drain and insert, turn your water main off so as not to fill tank while draining, open water heater drain valve, water will then drain from attached hose into floor drain until empty. For water to run faster you may open a near by hot water tap, this will allow air into tank as you drain it, do not forget to turn this tap off before refilling tank. You then can turn main back on for a bit if you would like to do a flush of sediment from the bottom of tank.
See links below for more instruction and video.
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How to Drain Water Heater Today Homeowner

How to drain water heater

http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-drain-a-water-heater/#.VxqJ6NQrJxA

The horrible noise you hear when the water heater fires up is probably caused by mineral buildup in the bottom of the tank. Hot water rises and flows by convection to the top of the tank. When you take a shower or turn on the dishwasher, the hot water you use is replaced by cold water that migrates to the bottom of the tank to be heated.

As far as the fix, regular maintenance is the key. The best thing a homeowner can do is to flush the water heater on a monthly basis. This simple process involves hooking up a garden hose to the drain valve at the base of the heater, opening the valve and with the water inlet valve open to maintain the pressure in the tank, allowing the water to flow until the water runs clean. Try this first. It may help. If not, de-liming is the other option.

Have you tried turning the temperature down. If so and still have problem shut breaker off, let cool completely and then drain the tank by connecting a water hose to it. Sediment tends to build up on the bottom. When finished disconnect hose, turn valve closed, let tank completely. Fill before turning breaker on.

Open the drain valve on bottom of tank

http://waterheatertimer.org/Clean-sediment-out-of-water-heater.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/New-water-heater-making-noise.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-maintain-water-heater.html

Gene
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If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

Best is to replace anode rod, and leave elements and thermostats alone until they go out. IF you can get the anode out.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Replace-anode-rod.html
Anode rod prevents tank from rusting. Anode rods deplete over time in most situations, and then tank begins to rust. If the anode can be successfully removed, and updated, then tank rusting stops, and you're tank is good for another 10 years.
So answer to question is: Depends if tank is rusty, and if tank is sitting in drip pan to protect home from possible leak.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Leaking-water-heater.html
Tank-type electric heater is unique since it can last almost indefinitely, with maintenance. Therefore maintaining tank-type electric water heater can pay you $5-10 per month.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-maintain-water-heater.html
Ordinary electric tank type can outlast all other water heaters, and be far simpler to fix yourself than any other type heater: including gas tank-type, electric hybrid tank-type, electric-and-gas tankless etc. More complicated heaters will eventually fail, and the lifespan is limited. Which is argument against buying expensive water heaters that are controlled by computer chip etc. Avoid tankless promotion. Tankless cost more..Period.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Troubleshoot-Rheem-Tankless-water-heater.html

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

turn off breaker to heater if it is electric, turn off gas if not. turn off water supply to heater. Hook up hose to bottom drain (if one is not all ready piped to outdoors). Open water drain valve at bottom then open any hot water side of the faucet. Tank should drain down, taking some of the buildup with it. Once drained, close faucet that was opened, turn water supply back on and flush out remaining deposits. It may be neccesary to replace the anode rod from the top of the heater if you have excessive build up.

Whirlpool water heaters are made by AOSmith company, which owns American, Reliance, State, Craftmaster and makes water heaters for Kenmore and Whirlpool.
These are good heaters.

Register Whirlpool product at following link:
http://www.whirlpoolwaterheaters.com/support/warrantyreg.aspx

It is not necessary to register product for warranty to be valid.
And if you move to new home and take water heater, then warranty does not follow. So it might be disadvantageous to register product in that circumstance.

You can see brand, model number, and serial number located on label on side of tank.
The serial number is unique and is key for warranty coverage, even if you lost receipt. Serial number shows year of manufacture in first two digits.
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Find-Age-of-water-heater.pdf

It is not necessary to register water heater for warranty to be valid, as long as following applies: Original owner, single-family non-commercial residential installation, and installation that conforms to instructions shown in product manual, and water heater is maintained as shown in product manual.

If you purchased extended warranty, then remember the warranty is carried by a third party that also requires same as above.
And the warranty may be pro-rated, rendering it nearly valueless in later years.

Typical water heater warranty:
First year of warranty covers tank-parts-labor.
After first year, the warranty shrinks to tank-parts.
The math shows that shorter warranty tank has greater percentage of full coverage.
Convert ordinary 6 year tank into 9-12-15 year tank by maintaining water heater. Especially cleaning air intake located on bottom of tank, inspecting anode rod to prevent rusting, and following maintenance schedule shown in product manual.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-maintain-water-heater.html

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

Generally the year of manufacture for Rheem is 3rd and 4th digit of serial number. 06 is 2006, 92 is 1992 etc.
Older gas water heaters are better than new ones, and easier to keep repaired and maintained.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-maintain-water-heater.html
Regardless of age, the key factor is whether tank is rusted, or rusting.
Open drain valve and check if water is rusted.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Replace-anode-rod.html

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

Begin by turning off the gas at the tank and at the valve near the tank. CAUTION: Do not proceed any further if you do not know how to relight the gas pilot!
2) Turn off the COLD water supply to the tank.
3) Attach a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Run the hose to a convenient drain location. Be careful if you use a real cheapy garden hose... some of these become very soft when hot water runs through them, and may leak! If you don't have a drain in the basement floor or suitable sump hole, you have my sympathies... this drain-down can take a while with a bucket! Oh... and be careful if you use a soft plastic bucket. It can also soften from the heated water so don't overfill it or burn yourself!
4) Open up the hot water side of any faucet. Open up the drain valve on the tank and allow it to empty. Miller time. That is, unless you don't have a sump...
NOTE: If the drain valve clogs, turn on the cold water supply to the tank to use water pressure to "blast" through the clog.
5) When the tank is empty, shut off the drain valve and turn on the cold water. This will loosen up more sediment in the tank through the churning action of the cold water in the tank. Let the tank fill partially and drain it again. In fact, if you find that the sediment starts to clog the drain valve, turn on the cold water supply to the tank, which will help loosen the sediment and blast it out.
If you have extreme amounts of sediment, you may have to repeat this procedure a few more times. Look at the drain water... if it is running clear, you are done. Shut off the drain valve, open the cold water supply and allow the tank to fill. Once water comes out of the hot water faucet, the tank is full and your task is done! Now, you can turn the electricity or gas back on to heat the water.
How frequently to clean the sediment from your tank...
This depends on the source and purity of your water supply. Some pros recommend doing it annually, some every few years. I would recommend doing a partial drain down annually if you find any sediment in the tank, otherwise every couple of years.
Remember that with an electric water heater, you must turn the power off! Even a partial drain down may expose the upper heating element to the air and permanently damage it!