From: Ken Hall 
Newsgroups: alt.home.repair misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: Water Heater Questions
Date: Wed, 04 May 2005 20:34:15 -0500

On Thu, 05 May 2005 00:27:58 GMT, "Dr. Hardcrab"
 wrote:

>> Vacuum.  Put a straw in a glass of water.  Put your finger over the end 
>> and lift it out.  Same thing with the heater.  If air is not allowed in, 
>> the water cannot get out.
>
>You can open the relief valve to make it drain quicker IF you are draining 
>one you are going to replace. I would advise you NOT to open the relief 
>valve on one that you are just draining (for clean-out). I have seen too 
>many of them that do not seat (or seal) properly once this has been done and 
>then you end up with an annoying drip. 

I agree with both statements, but I ask you the same question -- why
doesn't opening hot water faucets also work?

Ken