Purging a pressure tank and hot water tank is proper maintenance for these items. Purging these cleans out sediment or iron build-up from both tanks. This is also a great way to clean the lines in the home if you are bleaching the pipes. It will remove dirt, gunk and germs from the system.
Purging a Pressure Tank and Hot Water Heater
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Step 1
Turn off the fuse in the fuse box, usually located in the garage, and unplug both the hot water heater and the blue pressure tank.
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Step 2
Turn on all water spigots off inside and outside. This is to ensure that there is no water in the lines. Be tentative before opening the bathtub spigots and outdoor spigots.
Step 3
Grab the two water hoses and attach one to the spigot on the bottom of the hot water heater. It is located at the bottom front of the hot water heater. Attach the other to the spigot on the pressure tank. This spigot is located on the bottom front of the water pressure tank. Ensure that the elevation of the spigot on the pressure tank and hot water heater is higher than where you are draining the water. Turn the spigots on, and allow all water to drain. The hoses outside will not drip when all the water has been released from the tanks.
Step 4
Turn the fuse to the pressure tank on and plug it back in. Allow water to run through the hose for approximately 10 minutes.
Step 5
Close all spigots in the house except the pressure tank. Then go back through and open all hot and cold water spigots to one and half turns. This will allow the water to start trickling through the spigot.
Step 6
Close the spigot on the hot water heater tank and then the pressure tank. Remove the hose from both the hot water heater and the pressure tank.
Step 7
Start with the lowest elevated spigot, and start closing all the spigots until you have reached the kitchen sink spigot. This will most likely be the highest elevated, unless it is a multiple-story house.
Step 8
Turn one spigot, at a time, on starting with the lowest elevated and moving to the highest elevated. Run the spigots for two minutes each. If air pushes out the spigot, then start over at step five.
Step 9
If no air pushes out, then plug the hot water heater back into the wall and turn on the fuse.