Hot water tank

[Butch63255]

Hello all. First time rv owner here. Doing winterization I drained the hot water tank. My question is there seems to still be some water in the bottom. (Stuck my finger in the hole and felt water) is this ok/normal? If not how do I get it out? Also please refresh my memory as it was a lot to take in when we did the walk through...the on/off switch on the outside of the tank. To turn electric on and off to heat the water? Thank you for your time.

[A32Deuce]

Switch to turn off heating element. You could try blowing the air out. I don't worry about it on mine. If I blow it out with the valves in the normal use position, most of the water is gone and the lines to the valves are clear so they don't freeze.

[JohnD10]

Leave the plug/anode rod out and it will evaporate in a couple of days.

Or, if you are hooked up you could raise the RV on the opposite side to tilt it so that the water will run out.

[Bama Rambler]

The little bit of water in the tank won't be a problem as it has plenty of space to expand.

Apparently you have a Suburban water heater if you have a switch in the outside behind the access door. You can either turn it off or turn the breaker in the power panel off.

[Butch63255]

It's been in the off position since we got it. Used it last weekend and had hot water? That's why I thought maybe it was to use electric to heat the water instead of propane?

[fonzie]

To remove remaining of water you can use small wet vac with attachment or stick a long rag into it and other end dangling out and let it wick out overnight.

[Butch63255]

Thank you guys for the responses.

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by Butch63255

It's been in the off position since we got it. Used it last weekend and had hot water? That's why I thought maybe it was to use electric to heat the water instead of propane?

In order to use electric on the water heater, you have to turn the outside switch, which is kinda like a breaker or main on/off in a way, to heat water with electric.

There should be two switches inside for the water heater...one for LP...the other to turn the electric to the water heater on and off.

And, you can use both at the same time to heat the water quicker than one by itself.

[cavie]

Originally Posted by JohnD10

In order to use electric on the water heater, you have to turn the outside switch, which is kinda like a breaker or main on/off in a way, to heat water with electric.

There should be two switches inside for the water heater...one for LP...the other to turn the electric to the water heater on and off.

And, you can use both at the same time to heat the water quicker than one by itself.

Not all have a switch inside for the WH> my 02 wildcat does not.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by cavie

Not all have a switch inside for the WH> my 02 wildcat does not.

Yep, most FR products have Suburban water heaters that have the electric side rocker switch outside, on the WH itself.

[A32Deuce]

Not always two on the inside. I know of several models that have the one outside for electric and only one inside for propane.

Originally Posted by JohnD10

In order to use electric on the water heater, you have to turn the outside switch, which is kinda like a breaker or main on/off in a way, to heat water with electric.

There should be two switches inside for the water heater...one for LP...the other to turn the electric to the water heater on and off.

And, you can use both at the same time to heat the water quicker than one by itself.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by JohnD10

In order to use electric on the water heater, you have to turn the outside switch, which is kinda like a breaker or main on/off in a way, to heat water with electric.

There should be two switches inside for the water heater...one for LP...the other to turn the electric to the water heater on and off.

And, you can use both at the same time to heat the water quicker than one by itself.

Originally Posted by cavie

Not all have a switch inside for the WH> my 02 wildcat does not.

Originally Posted by A32Deuce

Not always two on the inside. I know of several models that have the one outside for electric and only one inside for propane.

X3. Based on my extensive experience (walking through RV shows - ), I think "most" RV's don't have 2 switches for electric. My observations are that only the higher end models have the inside electric switch.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

X3. Based on my extensive experience (walking through RV shows - ), I think "most" RV's don't have 2 switches for electric. My observations are that only the higher end models have the inside electric switch.

Rockford, my brand new $18k TracerAir has a Atwood WH, with both switches inside, next to each other.[emoji16]

[A32Deuce]

Of course Atwoods do. They were talking about Suburban WH when 2 inside switches were discussed. Switch outside in the WH is not an Atwood.

[andymil]

I used a long narrow piece of an old flannel sheet to wick the excess water out of the tank as fonzie recommended. I left it in a couple of days. It seemed to work pretty well but it’s not really necessary.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Rockford, my brand new $18k TracerAir has a Atwood WH, with both switches inside, next to each other.[emoji16]

Dan, as A32Duece said, I meant Suburban WH's. I should have been more specific, although I still think my observation is more correct than not.

Your rig must be "the exception that proves the rule!" (Used the "loose rhetorical sense" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Except...roves_the_rule).

[JohnD10]

I feel for you guys without the inside electric switch for the hot water heater...

That would be a big time drag to have to run outside in my jammies and robe every time I wanted hot water.

Or every time I wanted to use the microwave or make a pot of coffee...to turn the water heater on or off so that the GFI doesn't pop!

I prefer to NOT leave the electric turned on to my water heater unless I am going to use hot water.

Funny, I've never had an RV that didn't have the electric switch both inside and outside.

Except for one that only had LP for the water heater, of course.

Here are my switches:

[rockfordroo]

It's not too difficult to add an inside switch. See Post #6 here:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ch-135779.html

Could be a nice winter project!

John, yours looks like a 110VAC switch, similar to what I installed, rather than the usual 12VDC switch, which is what the Suburban "L" models typically use:



Perhaps your 5ver was modified before you got it?

Or is it a 12VDC switch that looks like a 110VAC one?

[Flybob]

Don't worry about the little but of water left in the WH after removing the anode rod. There is no danger of damage from freezing ( expansion) as there is plenty of room for expansion.

[mjones12]

Originally Posted by Flybob

Don't worry about the little but of water left in the WH after removing the anode rod. There is no danger of damage from freezing ( expansion) as there is plenty of room for expansion.

Exactly right.