To drain your water heater, you will need a hose long enough to run to the outside or to a drain lower than the water heater. When running the hose to the outside, take care not to drain hot water onto the lawn or onto other plant life. Draining hot water onto the law or in flower beds will very likely kill all plant life. Be mindful of rusty water too; it can and will stain the sidewalk or driveway for many months to follow if allowed to sit and dry. Attach the hose to the water heater drain valve (found at the bottom of the water heater), and run the other end of the hose to an approved location. Refer to your owner’s manual and/or placards for instructions on the use of your type of drain valve; it is probably one of these two: