Emptying gravity feed HWS ?

[nic]

G'day

I disconnected our old gravity feed hot water system in the roof.
I'd like to empty it out but the hot water outlet is located at around 10 cm form the top.
How do people usually do it ?
-Leave the water in there
-Pump it out,
-Drill a hole and hope for the best ?

Thanks

Nic

[Wood Butcher]

Where's the cold water inlet??

[tameriska]

Simple (or stupid) suggestion.
Drop a hose in it, run the end of the hose outside, to a lower point than the HWS and give the end a suck (I am being serious here) it should work as a syphon. This (although on a smaller scale) is how I empty the fishtank.

[NCArcher]

Undo the element, assuming all power is disconnected, and let the water flow into the tin base. The base usually has a pipe that runs to the eaves.
You can shove a couple of wedges under the HWS opposite the element to get the dregs out.
If you want to remove the unit it usually has to be cut up to get it out. Often easier just to leave it there.

[nic]

cold water arrives at the bottom through a floater valve located at the top.
I could have removed the cold water pipe that runs to the bottom, but I was worried of having water gush out and flooding the roof.

I'll try the siphon first, assuming I can find a way into the tank, there is about 20 cm clearance between the tank and the rafters ..

Thanks

Nic