| Description | | | | Cleaning around them is difficult but can be |
| The term "commercial" in regards to water | | | | accomplished with a special 3 foot nozzle you can |
| heaters simply means it has one or more of the | | | | attach to the end of a rubber yard hose. Do not |
| following features which are different from | | | | chisel or strike the surface of the flue to remove |
| residential water heaters. Commercial heaters put | | | | any sediment. This could damage the thin metal. |
| out a minimum of 75,000 british thermal units. | | | | Lye can be used to dissolve sediment inside the |
| They also have a clean-out port on the side of | | | | tank and on the flues, but only use it if you know |
| the water heater (residential water heaters have | | | | what you're doing. Call a professional if needed. |
| to be cleaned out with special equipment and the | | | | Impressed-Current Anode Rods |
| drain valve). Commercial gas water heaters also | | | | These anodes found in commercial heaters work |
| have multiple gas flues and automatic ventilators. | | | | via electrical energy supplied from an electrical |
| Commercial electric water heaters may have an | | | | outlet or other source. If impressed-current |
| ignition feature. Cold water also enters from a | | | | anodes are installed in your tank, it will be stated |
| cold water inlet near the bottom instead of the | | | | on the wiring diagram found near the instructions |
| top; cold water entering the bottom is definitely | | | | on the front of the tank. If you have drained the |
| the better way. Commercial water heaters may | | | | water heater and opened the side port, you can |
| be found in residences as well as commercial | | | | observe if there is any rusting on the interior |
| businesses. The commercial water heater will also | | | | surface. If rusting appears, call the manufacturer, |
| cost thousands of dollars more than a residential | | | | a plumber, or install sacrificial anode rods instead. |
| heater. | | | | Removing Sediment |
| Side Port | | | | To clean sediment from a commercial heater, |
| Only after the water heater is emptied, can the | | | | first shut off the gas or electricity and the |
| side port be removed. It is bolted to the tank | | | | recirculating pump if there is one. Next drain the |
| with one or more bolts. To remove it, loosen all | | | | tank of all the water using a rubber garden hose |
| the bolts and tap the side port piece with a | | | | attached to the drain valve found at the bottom |
| hammer from the outside. It will fall into the | | | | of the tank. The drain valve looks like an outdoor |
| empty tank. Pick it up and turn it on its end in | | | | hose bibb similar to those found on the outside of |
| order to pull it through the opening. The side port | | | | a house. Close the valve on the hot water outlet, |
| is often an oval shape. Now the inside can be | | | | cold water inlet, and recirculation lines. Open the |
| vaccuumed using a shopvac, but you'll need an | | | | T&P valve to speed up the draining process. If |
| extension piece for the shopvac's hose. NOTE: | | | | there is so much sediment that no water will exit |
| Household vaccuums and hand-vaccuums do not | | | | via the drain valve, remove the drain valve and |
| generate enough power and usually do not have a | | | | use an ice pick or screwdriver to break up the |
| long enough hose to clean the side port. | | | | sediment through the opening where the drain |
| Clean the the opening of the side port of debris | | | | valve was. It will be messy so be prepared. Now |
| and, if possible, replace the gasket. The gasket | | | | you can unbolt the side port, rinse down, and use |
| must be put back on correctly and be undamaged | | | | a shop vac on the inside. Do not strike or chisel |
| in order to get a water tight seal. | | | | the inside surface of the tank. Hire a plumber if |
| Gas Heaters and Flues | | | | needed to chemically dissolve the harder sediment |
| Multiple flues inside the tank add to the surface | | | | inside the tank. Plumbers have special tools for |
| area inside the tank and heats more water faster | | | | this process. Don't forget to replace the gasket |
| than residential heaters. Commercial heaters have | | | | on the side port after you reinstall it. |
| multiple flues running upward through the tank. | | | | |