A typical water heater can supply between 120 and 240 liters of pure drinking water during a disaster. Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and blackouts can deprive you of many things, but drinking water shouldn't be one of them. To retrieve drinking water from your water heater and bring out the Macgyver in you, this is what you need to do.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Getting Drinking Water from the Water Heater
Step 1. Disconnect the water heater from electricity and gas
Turn off the switch on an electric water heater or close the gas valve for a methane or propane water heater. If the water heater is still running when you empty it, its tank will almost certainly suffer serious damage. Most domestic water heaters operate at 208/240 volts, and are protected by two-pole switches or two 30-amp fuses.
- Some gas valves have a forward facing thermostatic control knob. The "Off - Pilot - On" gas supply knob is located on the top, between the red lock button and the black power button. Just turn the knob from the "On" to "Off" position to stop the flow of gas to the burner.
- Some electric water heaters have 30-amp bipolar switches. Switch the switch from "On" to "Off". Once switched off, there is no danger of damaging the heating elements.
Step 2. Maintain the purity of the water in the tank by closing the inlet valve to the tank
When the running water comes back on, you may be provided with contaminated water. You can use that water for flushing and cooking, but not for drinking.
- Figure out if you are dealing with a ball or gate valve. Unlike a traditional gate valve, which has to be turned fully several times to close, a ball valve requires only a quarter of a turn to go from open to closed.
- If traditional gate valves are installed on your water heater, remember that the color of the handle does not guarantee a correspondence with the temperature of the water in the pipe.
Step 3. Find the valve at the bottom of the cistern to let the water out
From here you will draw clean drinking water. Many water heater valves have the option of connecting a garden pump to the drain valve. A small 1 meter pump will make it easier to collect water. A washing machine pickup pump is the perfect length and is available in many homes. Connect the pump and open the valve briefly to remove debris that can collect in the valve. Make sure the drain, pump, and container are clean before using them.
Hooks are usually available to connect a normal garden pump (or a washing machine pump) to the water heater. Some gate valves do not have traditional handles, but rather a slot at the end of the metal rod where they would normally be present. The slot allows you to operate with a screwdriver or a coin. Work gently with this valve, as they are rarely used more than once or twice a year under normal service conditions, and could be damaged if forced
Step 4. Turn on hot water from any tap in the house
In order to drain the water from the tank, you will need to allow air to enter. You can do this easily by turning on any hot water tap in your home, such as the one in the kitchen or bathroom. Once opened, you will hear a sucking sound as the water drains from the water heater valve.
Step 5. Remove any sediment that has collected at the bottom of the water heater
You will often find sediment inside a water heater. These particles heavier than water sink and collect in the container because hot water is drawn from the top of the tank and not from the bottom. If you notice sediments in your drinking water, let it sit for some time to settle to the bottom.
- Typical mineral sediments found in hot water are generally harmless, but if your water heater has an aluminum anode, there may be a lot of gelatinous residue from aluminum corrosion at the bottom of the tank.
- Many people believe that the tank is made of glass (or another inert substance). It is not so. The inside of the tank will likely be lined with glass to prevent corrosion, as this is the main cause of water heater failures. There is no danger in cooking using water from a water heater or using it for drinking.
Part 2 of 2: Other Practical Considerations
Step 1. Although water from a water heater is considered safe to drink, you can consider purifying or filtering it before doing so
While it's probably safe to drink water from a water heater in an emergency, it's best not to take the risk. You can purify the water by boiling it or by using iodine or bleach in very small amounts. You can filter water during an emergency by layering filter agents on top of each other.
Step 2. Seriously consider replacing the original water heater valve with a ball valve system
Factory valves do not have a direct path and have small orifices. In areas where the water is heavy, they can easily become clogged and not allow the water to drain.
Step 3. During an emergency, consider other options for obtaining clean water
If you cannot, for whatever reason, access your water heater during an emergency, don't panic. You should have many other options. Consider these strategies for getting clean water:
- Possible sources of water in the house:
- Liquids contained in canned fruits and vegetables
- Water from the toilet tank (not the one directly inside the cup), unless it has been chemically treated with a detergent
- Water from melted ice cubes
- Possible sources of water outside:
- Water from a rainwater collection system
- Water from rivers, springs and other sources of running water
- Water from ponds, dams and lakes
- It is a good idea to drain water from the bottom of the tank once or twice a year. Sediments can collect at the bottom of the tank. Draining a little water under pressure will be enough to remove them.
- Before disaster strikes, indicate which valve regulates the water intake. Turn on hot water from any tap. Go back to the water heater and put a hand on the pipes there. The entry line is the cold one. It somehow indicates the valve as the inlet valve. It will be the one you will need to shut down in an emergency to prevent contaminated water from entering your water heater.
- A tankless water heater will not offer this source of drinking water. Systems of this type provide hot water via a spiral tube located in a furnace. The water passing through the tube is heated quickly and is available for immediate use. Water is never stored, and a tank is not needed for this.
- Always have at least ten liters of drinking water available. Increase this amount when forecasting extreme climates. Replace water that you have stored for more than a year.
- First, turn off the power to the water heater. Even in the event of a blackout, you will need to turn off the water heater, turn off the switch or close the gas valve first.
- Make sure the water has had time to cool before opening one of the water heater valves!
- Let the tank fill up before you power up the water heater. Open the inlet valve and wait for the water to reach the hot water tap.
- Make sure the water inside the water heater is not too soft. It may contain excess sodium, which is not recommended for people with certain health problems (such as high blood pressure or cardiovascular or kidney disease).
