Draining A Water Heater

Draining a Water Heater can take a long time.   So sometimes customers don't mind doing this simple step to allow their work to get done earlier in the day so they have a tank of piping hot water later that evening.

The most important thing is to make sure power to the heating element is turned off.   If the heating element is not covered in water, and turned on, it will fry in less than a second, guaranteed.

1) Turn off power at the circuit breaker or the disconnect.   Circuit breaker is easier and better. 
2) Turn off solar pump (usually mounted on tank) by unplugging it.    if it is a 240V pump, you can't unplug it, but turning the heater breaker off will remove it's power.   
3) close the 3/4" Ball Valve on the cold water supply to the pump.
4) Attach a hose to bottom drain and open the bottom valve with a screwdriver.
5) Lift the P&T relief Valve handle to a straight up position, this lets air into the tank, which is necessary for the water to exit.

It could take 30 to 60 minutes to drain, longer if the bottom is heavily sedimented.

Solar Tax Credit form for 2017

Here is the Fed & HI State solar energy credit form for 2017.

Fed tax credit is 30%



Here is the link to download the form.

 Form 5695 Residential Energy Credit 


Hawaii tax credit is 35% or Up to $2,250.





Here is the link to download the form.

Form N-342  Renewable Energy Technologies Income tax credit