A melter for preparing a molten medium, in particular for preparing a molten adhesive, has a melting tank that has a melting chamber for receiving and melting a medium to be melted. The melter has a heating device for heating the melting chamber. The melting chamber has an upper chamber section and a lower chamber section. The melting tank has a dispensing opening that can be fluidly connected to a delivery device for delivering the molten medium. The melting tank further has a drain opening. The dispensing opening and the drain opening open into the lower chamber section. The melter further has a closure body for closing the drain opening. In a closed position, the closure body closes the drain opening and an end section of the closure body projects into the lower chamber section.