Drain water heater - RV-Dreams Community Forum

jt · RV-Dreams Family Member

Drain water heater

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Joe,

If you aren't going to be in the RV over the winter, draining the hot water heater, draining the water lines, and emptying the fresh, gray, and black tanks is a normal procedure for "winterizing." However, just draining is not the full process of winterizing if you are going to be where freezing temperatures occur while you are "off-season."

A number of us have (and still do) also used low air pressure to clear all the water lines to all of the faucets. Some have also put the RV anti-freeze in the fresh water lines and in the "P" traps of the drains.

So, in answer to your question, it is a good idea to drain the hot water heater and then put the anode rod back in to keep it sealed up.

Terry

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Since you asked, yes, you shuld drain the water heater if it will not be used for some time. Remove the plug in the bottom of the tank (not all water heaters have an anode) [and that is a whole 'nother discussion] and drain the heater. Replace the plug after it empties. The hot and cold low point drains you mention will only remove water that will drain by gravity. Terry mentions using air to blow them out. Since your trailer is a 2011, I will assume it is plumbed with PEX which has some elasticity and will probably not be harmed by some ice. However, it is important that the lines not be full of water, some residual water is OK.
But, with that said, if you have an air compressor, go to an RV sales store and get an adaptor that is intended for purpose. Place it in the city water inlet, hook up the air compressor and put about 35 to 45 psi on the water system. Then open individual faucets to blow water out. Do this several times to be sure all water is gone.
Then drain the fresh water tank, run the water pumps for a few seconds to remove water from the pump, drain all waste water tanks and wait expectantly for next camping season.
Or, do like others do in the cold weather, go South and search for 70 degree weather.

Workinrvers · RV-Dreams Family Member

Before going fulltime we did a lot of week end camping in the summer. We would "de-winterize" in April and "re-winterize" in October (lived in Indiana). We used our campers maybe two week ends per month and maybe a week or two for vacation each season. I never drained the hot water tank between trips and never had an issue. I guess it would all depend on amount of use. I would probably consider draining it if we were not going to use it for several weeks, otherwise I wouldn't worry about it, but that's just me.

Phil

ps: remember, if your water heater also works on electric that no water in the tank and electric switch on= blown heating element. Voice of experience here. :)

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Draining the hot water heater is a good Idea......Most do not understand that all sediment from your hot water heater goes to the bottom of the tank not down the drain.

by draining the tank and flushing it, you are removing it and the scaling going on inside......that all by itself would make me feel better.

untreated standing water accelerates in bacteria growth.

the 3 major Items overlooked in RVing are water service ,refrigeration and why is it no one likes to service there Transmission!

flyone · RV-Dreams Family Member

jt, I drain mine everytime, should cause you no problem. I have had water go bad setting in the water heater between camping trips, therefore I started draing mine everytime we leave. I set it up with a valve and hose to be able to drain it eaisly. Just be sure water heater is turned off, nothing will burn the element out quicker than being on with no water in the heater.

Flyone

Old Snipe · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just make sure you release pressure on the safetly valve first (the brass valve on the top of the heater). The water has some pressure behind it and if you don't release the pressure, you might get a bath when you remove the drain plug.

Don't ask me how I know that...

Best Regards!

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Paul makes a great point....ask ME how I know :):)

RickandJanice · RV-Dreams Family Member

I found a little trick to draining the hot water tank a few years back. Drain the pressure off the tank through one of the faucets and close the faucet as soon as the pressure is released. Then remove the drain plug before opening the pressure relief valve. The vacuum formed in the tank by having all the faucets closed the will hold the water in the tank long enough to remove the plug with very little water seeping out. Then stand aside and open the pressure relief valve to break the vacuum.

flyone · RV-Dreams Family Member

Believe me none of this is necessary, just get a 3/4" by 3/8" bushing screw it into the drain outlet, get a stainless braided sink hose (3/8") screw it into the bushing then get a 3/8" gate valve and screw it on to the end of the hose. anytime you want to drain the water heater open the low point drains hang the valve out of thee water heater compartment and open it, all hot water will now drain out of the low point hw drain. This way you don't have to worry about the pressure, it's very easy to drain you don't have to contend with taking the plug in and out, you have access to hot water outside if you need it. When you are all done draining turn the valve off roll the short hose up inside the heater compartment. shut the WH door and be on your way, with an empty water heater.

Flyone

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

The safe way is to do the whole process and blow the lines out and drain the heater , all water is removed and unit is freeze protected..........

Do not use your hot water heater compartment as storage

1) stainless drain lines are rubber with a shield.......forget to remove it ...lite the heater and you could end up with a fire next to a gas regulator.....not a fire your going to fight with your fire extinguisher unless you happen to carry foam. or just buy putting it in there and driving down the road you could chafe a wire , loosen a gas line......ruin a thermocouple and basically create a headache

2) by removing the plug you remove all obstructions and can rinse the inside of your hot water tank with the garden hose, that way all sand and most scaling is removed.

3) modifying the hot water heater from factory spec. can void your warranty......can also void extended warranties.....of course if you have neither...... It wont make a difference.