How to Flush & Vacuum Water Heater Tank to Remove Sediment - [Easy DIY Fix!]

As a general rule, a water heater will make popping sounds as steam bubbles are pressurized and suddenly released by a thick layer of sediment on the bottom as they try to rise to the top of the tank. This can be corrected by flushing or vacuuming the tank and installing a water softener.

- You will need a hose cut in half so that you have a female end and a male end

How to Flush & Vacuum a Water Heater and Stop the Popping Sounds:

1.) Turn off the gas, pilot, and the cold water intake valve
2.) Open a hot water valve on a sink, remove the flue and use a 1 1/16" socket with a 1/2" ratchet to remove the anode rod
3.) Attach hose to the bottom of the tank at the drain spigot and open the spigot valve, drain the water on your driveway
4.) Remove spigot with pipe wrench or channel locks when tank is empty
5.) Use a wet/dry shop vac with a PEX attachment (see video) to vacuum along the inner rim of the tank
6.) Hook up male-end hose where the spigot was and set the other end in the driveway, and hook up the female-end hose to an outside spigot and feed the other end of the female hose into the top of the tank where the anode rod was
7.) Turn on the female-end hose and swirl water inside the tank to aggitate the calcium and allow it to flow out the hose at the bottom and onto your driveway
8.) Repeat steps 5-7 until satisfied

Full article with a picture guide: https://homebatterybank.com/fix-water-heater-making-popping-sounds/