One of the worst case scenarios is when you suddenly stop having a source of clean water, but what if you actually have a good amount left? Yup, one of the easiest ways to fight dehydration in such dire consequences is by taking the emergency water from your water heater.
Usually, a water heater will have around 30 to 50 gallons of water. Note that each gallon is 3.78 liters or 15 glasses of water. If you need an emergency source of healthy drinking water, a water heater could last you for as long as 94 days. This only applies, however, if you will only consume about 2 liters or eight glasses of water each day and if you don’t need to take a bath or cook anything.
This means that your water heater could keep you hydrated for three months, which is already an ample amount of time to get rescued or seek help from others. So, how do you exactly take the water from the heater?
Taking the First Step
The instructions provided here will prove to be useful not only when you need emergency water, but also if there’s a leakage and water damage needs to be dealt with accordingly.
Before you start taking the water, you must make sure that the power has been turned off. If you’re trying to stop a leak, you must stop it from getting in cold water by shutting down the appropriate intake line. There should be colored indicators to show which is which.
If it’s an emergency situation, you don’t have to turn off those intake lines. In fact, they’re better off left open because these could get several more gallons of water located in the pipes. However, you should definitely shut down the cold-water intake line if there’s a significant likelihood of contamination.
Utilizing the Faucet
After turning off the water heater, you must open any hot water faucet located in the sinks. This is done to allow the smooth flow of water and to prevent the formation of vacuums.
After opening the faucet, check the drain valve of your water heater. This drain valve is a bit similar to a faucet and it is usually located near the bottom. Once you’ve identified the drain valve, you should get a drinking water hose or a clean garden hose.
Collecting the Water
This is the final step and this is where you’ll be able to collect the water. A great precautionary measure is to put a clean piece of cloth over the hose. This is important especially if your water heater is relatively old and possibly has some sediment in the tank. Likewise, the water you’re about to use might have been around for as long as six months. Thus, it’s always a good thing to have some sort of filter.
Moreover, you will need to use a screwdriver because of how the valve is structured. If you’re thirsty or you need to take a bath, simply open the valve with the screwdriver. A quick reminder: Do not rush the process and take it slowly.
Once everything is back to normal, you need to fill up the tank before turning it on again. If you don’t, your water heater could get damaged. All you have to do to fill up the tank is close the drain valve and open the cold-water intake line. If you follow the instructions correctly, you won’t have to worry about having a decent water source.
