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Old 07-26-2017, 03:26 PM   #1
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To drain water system or no to drain

Our last trip with the Windjammer was the first of May and unfortunately it has been sitting in the yard since then. Question...should I drain the H2O system including hot water heater? The fresh water tank is empty. At this time not sure when our next trip will be.
Thanks for the feed back.
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Old 07-26-2017, 03:31 PM   #2
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Yes drain the system.
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Old 07-26-2017, 03:52 PM   #3
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it's DONE...thanks
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Old 07-26-2017, 04:15 PM   #4
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Unless you're concerned about the quality of the water from your last trip, I don't worry about water sitting in the system for months because it's minimal... mostly the 6 gals in the hot water tank. I don't think water goes "bad". The next trip, most of the water gets flushed through anyway.

The only time I purge the system completely is at the end of the season.
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Old 07-26-2017, 04:31 PM   #5
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Unless you're concerned about the quality of the water from your last trip, I don't worry about water sitting in the system for months because it's minimal... mostly the 6 gals in the hot water tank. I don't think water goes "bad". The next trip, most of the water gets flushed through anyway.

The only time I purge the system completely is at the end of the season.
Don't think water goes bad? Put a jug of tap water in the sun for 2 months. Would you drink it?
Yes, it goes bad, Drain the system.
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Old 07-26-2017, 06:19 PM   #6
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I always drain beginning of winter as per winterizing procedure. In season between trips I only drain and refill if it has been in the tank for a month or so. Sometimes I bleach and rinse if it has been in there too long and at the beginning of each camping season.
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Old 07-26-2017, 07:27 PM   #7
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Is there a way to drain the water heater short of pulling the anode rod?
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Old 07-26-2017, 07:30 PM   #8
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Pull the anode rod is the only way on any water heater I've seen. I would flush the water heater instead of draining it. Just run the pump or city water thru it for 10 mins or so. I only drain the water heater when I winterize.
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Old 07-26-2017, 07:30 PM   #9
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A couple of times a year I drain the fresh tank and re-fill and add half cup bleach.
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Old 07-26-2017, 07:44 PM   #10
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Open low point drains, open relief valve on water heater, open hot and cold valve on a fixture. Walk away. That's what I do after every trip. It take 2 1/2 minutes.
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Old 07-26-2017, 08:10 PM   #11
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Open low point drains, open relief valve on water heater, open hot and cold valve on a fixture. Walk away. That's what I do after every trip. It take 2 1/2 minutes.
Good way to go.
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Old 07-27-2017, 01:38 PM   #12
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Don't think water goes bad? Put a jug of tap water in the sun for 2 months.
Especially if it's well water and not treated, municipal water. If I've been on well water at a CG, I drain it when I get home.
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Old 07-27-2017, 01:57 PM   #13
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Bacteria growth is the prime concern especially in warm moist holding tanks. (Bleach the system once or twice a year.) That's why we never drink the water. We always carry our own bottled water just for drinking.
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Old 07-27-2017, 03:22 PM   #14
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Yes, drain it.
Yes water goes bad, quicker than you think.
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Old 07-27-2017, 04:48 PM   #15
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Agreed, just check Springwater it has an expiration date.
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Old 07-27-2017, 05:13 PM   #16
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Agreed, just check Springwater it has an expiration date.
LOL...because they want you to buy more!

I bet people would get upset if there wasn't one.
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Old 07-27-2017, 05:22 PM   #17
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I always drain at least the HW tank. One year my camper was not used for 2 months during very hot weather. The trailer developed a rotten egg smell . I am guessing It was stagnant water, it took a lot of cleaning the system with bleach to destroy the smell. My thinking the HW heater is a closed unit and did not think it would be contaminated. Really don't know if that was the problem but since I started draining the system I have had no more smells.
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Old 07-27-2017, 08:29 PM   #18
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Don't think water goes bad? Put a jug of tap water in the sun for 2 months. Would you drink it?
Yes, it goes bad, Drain the system.


I'll have to give that a try, I don't think water goes bad unless there was something else in the jug to start with.
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Old 07-28-2017, 12:05 PM   #19
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I don't bother draining our water system between trips, first of all how may of your drink hot water coming out of the heater. Second, if you think the water in the pipes has gone bad, just turn the hot and cold water taps on and allow them to flush out the old water, this is much easier than crawling under your RV and opening and closing those drain valves.
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Old 07-28-2017, 01:32 PM   #20
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first of all how may of your drink hot water coming out of the heater.
Correct...you aren't supposed to drink or use for cooking the water that comes through the hot water system even at home. That is because of the anode.
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