Cleaning Fresh water tank and water heater

If it's been awhile then definitely drain the water heater. Replace the anode rod if your model uses one.

kellem wrote:
Similar to above posts except I only wait a couple of hours, then flush the system.

Same here, 1/4 cup bleach per 10 gal and a couple hours. No need to wait 24 hours.

Taffy.C wrote:
Thanks for those answers. One more question - Is it best to drain the water heater after the sanitization, or is it ok just to leave the faucet open and pump fresh water through until the bleach smell goes away?

Either way works, it is just quicker to drain the tank.

Taffy.C wrote:
Thanks for those answers. One more question - Is it best to drain the water heater after the sanitization, or is it ok just to leave the faucet open and pump fresh water through until the bleach smell goes away?

There's chlorine in city water. Just flush it until you are comfortable.

Thanks for those answers. One more question - Is it best to drain the water heater after the sanitization, or is it ok just to leave the faucet open and pump fresh water through until the bleach smell goes away?

ZINGERLITE wrote:
Are there clues as to when you should do this? or should this be a once a year/every couple years maintenance thing?

If your water is smelly, or more often if you're a germaphobe.

Are there clues as to when you should do this? or should this be a once a year/every couple years maintenance thing?

Similar to above posts except I only wait a couple of hours, then flush the system.

I use the ratio of 1/4 cup bleach for 10 gallons of water for at least 24 hours. I drain and flush any antifreeze out of the system first. I then put 1 cup of bleach into a gallon jug, fill it with water to dilute it, dump it into my empty fresh water tank, and then fill my 40 gallon tank with fresh water. I run the water pump to fill the water lines and water heater with the bleach solution until I smell bleach from each tap. I refill the water tank and let it sit for at least 1 day (2 days wait and a short 20 mile drive would be better). I finish by draining and flushing the bleach solution and filling the tank with fresh water.

¼ cup of bleach for every 15 gallons of water tank capacity .....mix the required amount of bleach in gallon of water then add to fresh water tank

Leave overnight then drain/flush-rinse until bleach odor is gone