Can you tell me how to drain the water in winter?(Hokkaido)
Can you tell me how to drain the water in winter?(Hokkaido)
In Hokkaido, between December and March, when temperatures drop below freezing, be sure to drain the water from the pipes to prevent them from freezing.
The method for draining the water supply pipes varies depending on the equipment in the room.
Please select the appropriate item from the list below.
〈Before draining the water〉
If your water heater has a reheating function, please check "How to prevent a water heater with a reheating function from freezing"
〈How to drain water when an electric drain control panel is installed〉
When draining water, be sure to perform all steps in the following order: "① Draining the electric drain control panel" to "⑥ Draining the washing machine faucet."
▶①Draining the water from the electric water draining control panel
1.Open all the faucets in the room.
※If your kitchen has a single-lever faucet, it will provide cold water in the kitchen and hot water in the bathroom.
2.Press the "Push" 「押」button on the electric water drain control panel to switch from "Water flow" 「通水」to "Water drain"「水抜」.
3.Wait until the "Water Drain" light stops flashing and turns on.
※If the electric water drain control panel is not working properly, click here.
Once you have confirmed that no water is coming out of any of the faucets you opened in step 1. above, close all of them tightly.
Please proceed to "②Draining the water heater" below.
▶②Drain the water heater
The procedure will vary depending on the installation status of the drain valve under the water heater.
Please check the bottom of your water heater and select the appropriate item from the list below.
〈Draining procedure when there is a drain plug under the stop valve〉
1.Open the kitchen faucet, make sure the water is not running, then turn it off.
3.Turn the two screws to the left (counterclockwise) to open it, and collect the water that comes out in a washbasin or similar container.
※Be careful not to turn the white handle on top.
4.Once all the water has been drained, turn the screw opened in step 3. above clockwise to close it securely.
Please proceed to "③Draining the bathroom and sink" below.
▶ ③Draining water from the bathroom and sink
1.Open the faucet and let the water out of the pipes.
2.There is a screw-shaped drain plug at the base of the faucet, so remove the screw to drain the water inside.
※The screw installation position may vary depending on the type of faucet.
※If the screw is too tight to turn, use needle-nose pliers or pliers (see below).
▶➃Draining the kitchen
2.With the faucet open, turn the screw (drain plug) counterclockwise to the left to drain the water.
※If the kitchen faucet body does not have a drain plug, proceed to 3.
4.Open the screw (drain plug) and let the water out.
※Do not touch the white handle on top.
To prevent the temperature inside the toilet from dropping below freezing, please leave the toilet door open to warm it up or drain the water from the toilet to prevent freezing.
▶➄Draining the toilet
1.While pulling the lever on the toilet tank towards you, press the white button.
2.The lever will lock and drain the water from the tank.
If your toilet has a heated toilet seat installed or you will be away for an extended period of time, please also check the following:
・Draining the water from the warm water toilet seat
The method for draining water from a heated toilet seat varies depending on the product installed.
For details, please refer to the product instruction manual.
・Prevents freezing inside the toilet bowl when you are away for a long period of time
If you will not be using the toilet for a long period of time, please put antifreeze (coolant) in the toilet bowl to prevent freezing.
※In Hokkaido, antifreeze can be purchased at your nearest convenience store.
1.Disconnect the washing machine's water supply hose from the faucet.
2.Turn the faucet handle and collect the water that comes out in a washbasin or similar.
4.When water stops coming out, turn the faucet handle clockwise (to the right).
This completes the water draining process.
〈Draining procedure when there is a drain faucet under the water heater〉
1.Open the kitchen faucet, make sure the water is not running, then turn it off.
2.Place a water tray such as a washbasin under the drain faucet.
3.Open the drain faucet and collect the water that comes out in a washbasin or similar.
4.Once all the water has been drained, turn the faucet you opened in step 3. to the right (clockwise) to close it tightly.
Please proceed to "③ Draining the bathroom and sink" on the above option: "If there is a drain plug under the stop valve".
〈Draining procedure if there is no drain plug or drain faucet under the stop valve〉
1.Open the kitchen faucet, make sure the water is not running, then turn it off.
2.Place a water tray such as a washbasin under the water heater.
3.Turn the screw (drain plug) at the base of the water heater to the left (counterclockwise) to open it, and collect the water that comes out in a washbasin or similar container.
4.If your faucet is facing up, turn it counterclockwise to open it.
※If you do not have a faucet that is facing up, proceed to step 5.
5.Once all the water has been drained, turn the screw opened in step 3. above clockwise to close it securely.
6.If you opened the upward-facing faucet in step 4. above, turn the faucet clockwise to close it tightly.
Please proceed to "③ Draining the bathroom and sink" on the above option: "If there is a drain plug under the stop valve"..
〈Before draining the water〉
If your water heater has a reheating function, please check "How to prevent a water heater with a reheating function from freezing"
〈Water draining procedure when a water drain valve is installed〉
Be sure to perform all steps in the following order: "① Draining the antifreeze valve" to "⑥ Draining the washing machine faucet."
Manual drain valves are mainly installed near toilets and washing machine areas.
※The specifications of the drain valve vary depending on the property.
▶① Drain the antifreeze valve (drain valve)
1.Turn the handle of the drain valve in each location in the "drain" 「水抜き」direction.
▶②Drain the water heater
The procedure will vary depending on the installation status of the drain valve under the water heater.
Please check the bottom of your water heater and select the appropriate item from the list below.
〈Draining procedure when there is a drain plug under the stop valve〉
1.Open the kitchen faucet, make sure the water is not running, then turn it off.
3.Turn the two screws to the left (counterclockwise) to open it, and collect the water that comes out in a washbasin or similar container.
※Be careful not to turn the white handle on top.
4.Once all the water has been drained, turn the screw opened in step 3. above clockwise to close it securely.
Please proceed to "③Draining the bathroom and sink" below.
▶ ③Draining water from the bathroom and sink
1.Open the faucet and let the water out of the pipes.
2.There is a screw-shaped drain plug at the base of the faucet, so remove the screw to drain the water inside.
※The screw installation position may vary depending on the type of faucet.
※If the screw is too tight to turn, use needle-nose pliers or pliers (see below).
▶➃Draining the kitchen
2.With the faucet open, turn the screw (drain plug) counterclockwise to the left to drain the water.
※If the kitchen faucet body does not have a drain plug, proceed to 3.
4.Open the screw (drain plug) and let the water out.
※Do not touch the white handle on top.
To prevent the temperature inside the toilet from dropping below freezing, please leave the toilet door open to warm it up or drain the water from the toilet to prevent freezing.
▶➄Draining the toilet
1.While pulling the lever on the toilet tank towards you, press the white button.
2.The lever will lock and drain the water from the tank.
If your toilet has a heated toilet seat installed or you will be away for an extended period of time, please also check the following:
・Draining the water from the warm water toilet seat
The method for draining water from a heated toilet seat varies depending on the product installed.
For details, please refer to the product instruction manual.
・Prevents freezing inside the toilet bowl when you are away for a long period of time
If you will not be using the toilet for a long period of time, please put antifreeze (coolant) in the toilet bowl to prevent freezing.
※In Hokkaido, antifreeze can be purchased at your nearest convenience store.
▶⑥ Draining the washing machine faucet
1.Disconnect the washing machine's water supply hose from the faucet.
2.Turn the faucet handle and collect the water that comes out in a washbasin or similar.
4.When water stops coming out, turn the faucet handle clockwise (to the right).
This completes the water draining process.
〈Draining procedure when there is a drain faucet under the water heater〉
1.Open the kitchen faucet, make sure the water is not running, then turn it off.
2.Place a water tray such as a washbasin under the drain faucet.
3.Open the drain faucet and collect the water that comes out in a washbasin or similar.
4.Once all the water has been drained, turn the faucet you opened in step 3. to the right (clockwise) to close it tightly.
Please proceed to "③ Draining the bathroom and sink" on the above option: "If there is a drain plug under the stop valve".
〈Draining procedure if there is no drain plug or drain faucet under the stop valve〉
1.Open the kitchen faucet, make sure the water is not running, then turn it off.
2.Place a water tray such as a washbasin under the water heater.
3.Turn the screw (drain plug) at the base of the water heater to the left (counterclockwise) to open it, and collect the water that comes out in a washbasin or similar container.
4.If your faucet is facing up, turn it counterclockwise to open it.
※If you do not have a faucet that is facing up, proceed to step 5.
5.Once all the water has been drained, turn the screw opened in step 3. above clockwise to close it securely.
6.If you opened the upward-facing faucet in step 4. above, turn the faucet clockwise to close it tightly.
Please proceed to "③ Draining the bathroom and sink" on the above option: "If there is a drain plug under the stop valve"..