DIY & Home Improvement

First of all lift the pressure release safety valve. Will be near the top of the cylinder with a little tag on it that says you should have replaced it 5-10 years ago. when the sound subsides to nothing or a tiny gurgle let the valve close.

With hose, bucket and towels to hand, disconnect the lowermost water pipe, and attach the hose. Standard garden screw fittings should be the right size. Or you can shove an unfitted hose into the brass nipple and wrap it in tape, (anything will do since there's no pressure to worry about).

Vacuum should keep the flow down to a trickle whilst you do this.

If you're lucky the cylinder might even have a separate drain fitting you can use to avoid all of the above.

Once you have the hose connected, reopen the pressure release valve to release the vacuum, and depending on the temperature of the water, water your garden or the driveway.

Google "draining a hot water cylinder"