Siphon to drain below-sink water heater

[Boofuss]

I have a 7 gallon water heater below our kitchen sink (installed under the floor in the basement). It was newly installed 6 years ago and the anode has never been checked. My plumbing skills are limited but I'm hoping I can handle this myself without disconnecting/reconnecting anything. I need to drain the heater to inspect the anode rod and I'm hoping that I can drain it by siphoning. I have a utility sink close by in the basement connected as shown. It seems to me that both lines going to the utility sink (about 5 feet below the heater) are full. I'd like to drain into the utility sink. Is it as simple as 1) shutting off the incoming cold water at the valve shown, 2) opening the cold water valve at the kitchen sink, and 3) opening the hot water valve at the utility sink?

 

[Fitter30]

Does it even have a anode? Bet not.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Boofuss]

Does it even have a anode? Bet not.

Yes, in fact it's supposed to be inspected every year, and changed at least once every 2 years. That seems a little excessive but I definitely need to change it by now. And I'd like a plan that's simple enough that I will actually inspect it at least every few years.

 

[wwhitney]

Is it as simple as 1) shutting off the incoming cold water at the valve shown, 2) opening the cold water valve at the kitchen sink, and 3) opening the hot water valve at the utility sink?

Not 100% sure, but my first thoughts:

If the hot water outlet on the tank has a dip tube so that it draws from the bottom of the tank, and if the cold water inlet does not, then I believe the above sequence would let you drain the tank to the bottom of the hot water outlet dip tube. However, I don't think that's how dip tubes are normally arranged in a water heater? And no idea about such small water heaters.

If there are no dip tubes, with both the connections at the top of the tank, i believe that as soon as air comes into the tank and can reach the hot water outlet, no more water will drain from the tank. So you'll be able to drain the cold water pipe between the kitchen sink and the tank, and hot water pipe between the tank and the utility sink, but very little from the tank itself.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

You have to be nuts to even want to attempt this.....

leave it alone and find something else to fool with

 

[Boofuss]

Not 100% sure, but my first thoughts:

If the hot water outlet on the tank has a dip tube so that it draws from the bottom of the tank, and if the cold water inlet does not, then I believe the above sequence would let you drain the tank to the bottom of the hot water outlet dip tube. However, I don't think that's how dip tubes are normally arranged in a water heater? And no idea about such small water heaters.

If there are no dip tubes, with both the connections at the top of the tank, i believe that as soon as air comes into the tank and can reach the hot water outlet, no more water will drain from the tank. So you'll be able to drain the cold water pipe between the kitchen sink and the tank, and hot water pipe between the tank and the utility sink, but very little from the tank itself.

Cheers, Wayne

Thanks. Checked with manufacturer, cold inlet has dip tube to about 2 1/2 in. above tank bottom, hot does not. Oh well, I'll just siphon through hot water outlet - was trying to make it so simple I would be more attentive to it.

 

[Fitter30]

Shop vac and 5/16 hose