Okay, I've been reading up on this, and want to know if I understand it enough to do it myself.
First of all, this is in a condo. There is no floor drain in the room, however there is a big pvc pipe that the overflow pipe from the waterheater goes into. If the hose fits into that, can I use that to drain it?
If it doesn't fit........can I just put the other end of the hose in a big bucket, or into a nearby toilet?? I didn't know if the hose had to be lower than the water heater.
I've read that I should: turn off power, shut cold water inlet, attach hose, open a hot water faucet, and let it rip.
But....nothing comes out, so I'm assuming its hard chunks of stuff in there. I've been reading that I can take a screwdriver (or maybe a small dowel rod), and break the stuff up through the the heater's drain. Then, I'm supposed to turn on the cold water and let that flush it out. Do I need to close the outlet?
Have I got it right so far?
One article says to keep the pressure relief valve open during this time. Is that right?
Is this something I should be letting a plummer do, or is it something I could manage myself? I just don't want a million gallons of black water all through the condo!
I know I should probably run a hose all the way outside, but I worry about it somehow leaking all over the carpet, so I was trying to deal with it all very closely to the utility closet.
P.S. For the water heater drain, it doesn't have a faucet....but rather a place to screw on a hose, with a little plastic lever you pull up to open it. It was VERY hard to move this lever. I hope I don't break it off. I put dish soap around it, hoping that would lubricate it, but it didn't help much.
Thanks for your help.

Have I got it right so far?--- Yes.

Pressure relief doesn't make any difference if you have the drain and a faucet open.

Myself, I would get a new water heater. If it isn't cleaned on a regular basis it could be so hard it won't come out, or you break the drain, or its moldy and stinky on the inside. Would you drink water like that?

What are you going to do with the condo?

Thanks hendricus,
I'm thinking we need to replace it too. We're eventually going to sell it. Unfortunately, I need hot water immediately to work on cleaning the place and cleaning the appliances to give to charity. I suppose I could boil water for that. the water......hot and cold, just really stinks bad. Its city water, so at least it has some chlorine.
Another question: If I turned off the cold inlet, and opened up a hot water faucet at the sink, and it only runs for 5 seconds, does that tell me that the capacity is near zero?
I appreciate your help.
P.S. Its the original tank that was put in around 1980. My mother had lived there for 23 years, and I'm sure she has never drained it.

I would run the hot water till it clears up. Just because there is a bunch of junk in the water heater doesn't mean it won't work.

If you turn off the cold water and then open a hot faucet it will quit because there is nothing to push the water through.

29 years is pretty good for a water heater. If it is really that old I wouldn't mess with it.

Thanks hendricus.
I can run the hot water for a long time and it continues to smell horrible, even if the black stuff goes away. Like you said......time for a new one, unfortunately. We're hoping to sell the place within the next few months.

Put a new one in. A thousand bucks for a standard water heater and install oughta do it and they take the old one away.