Water heaters are installed in order to provide hot water, especially in the winter. But what happens if the water heater itself gets frozen? It’s a common thing to experience for people living in areas with low temperatures. If you continue to operate in such conditions, it is obvious that it will disrupt the heater’s functionality, and it may even cause permanent damage.

The solution is pretty simple, and that is to unfreeze the water heater, but not many homeowners are aware of the procedure. If you are struggling to find a way out, this article talks about how to thaw frozen hot water heaters the right way.

Before we jump into the procedure, it is vital for you to understand why the hot water heater freezes in the first place. The heater is supposed to provide you with hot water, then how it can freeze.

Typically, there can be two reasons for your hot water heater to freeze.

It is either because the outside temperature is too cold, or it happens when you leave the water heater unused for a long time. If the water keeps flowing through the heater, it won’t freeze.

This is because draining a water heater tank is a significant step you take when doing the maintenance work.

Hence, if we keep the water heater in use and do not let the water stay still for a long time, the chances are that we may never see a hot water heater freeze.

It is, therefore, a valuable prevention technique you can use in this matter.

However, if you are in a situation where the heater is frozen, below are the steps you can follow to thaw out.

How to defrost a frozen hot water heater?

Warm water is needed for the day-to-day task, and if the water heater gets frozen, we look for an immediate solution. Defrosting a frozen water heater can be done quickly and efficiently only if you know the procedure.

Without getting nervous, let’s discuss the method and get the water heater back to work.

Step 1

The first step involves inspecting the heater and connected elements to make sure it is the water heater that is frozen or the water pipes. Mostly it happens that the inlet and the outlet pipes are frozen and not the heater.

You can check this out by inspecting and touching the water heater and seeing where it feels icy.

Step 2

At the same time, you have to inspect water pipes for damages. We all know that water expands when it freezes, and because of that, the pipes may burst. If this is the case, you will have water all around once the pipes thaw.

Step 3

Now comes the stage where you will start the thawing process. To start with, turn off the gas and as well as the water supply to the heater. Disconnect the components and separate the unit for unfreezing.

Step 4

Get the heater at some other place so that it doesn’t create a mess in the room when it melts. Now the trick is to warm the area, and turning on the space heater is the best option to do that. You can use any other heating element you have for this purpose.

Open the drain valve so that water draws out as it starts to melt. Also, do open an air release valve so that the air gets in the tank and it speeds up the process.

Step 5

Once the melting is done, check the water heater for any cracks or other damage before putting it into place.

How long does it take to thaw a frozen hot water heater?

Unfreezing the hot water heater is not as simple as melting the frozen pipes. So, keep in mind that defrosting the hot water heater might take some time.

Depending on how much heat you supply using the heating element, it can take around 20 to 60 minutes to fully thaw the frozen hot water heater.

Do not try to supply too much heat to lessen the melting time as it can damage the water heater’s components.

Conclusion   

You shouldn’t let the cold weather keep you from getting hot water, so make sure you place your water heater in a warm spot, invest in insulation, and most importantly, don’t leave it unused for long periods.

Showering, washing dishes, clothes, and so many other routine tasks require warm water. So, if the water heater freezes, you must disconnect it and begin the thawing process as described in this article. This will save you the time and money you would otherwise spend on calling a professional