Draining the water heater

[mpotapa]

I have a couple questions about draining the water heater. When I had my pop up I would just take out the anode rod and let it drain out that way. On my hybrid I opened the fresh water tank valve and took the caps off my low point drains and let the water run out. After that I took out my anode rod and there was barely any water in it. Does the fresh water drain or low point drains also empty the hot water tank?

Also, are campgrounds fine with me emptying my fresh water tank and hot water tank at my campsite?

[5picker]

You can drain the water heater for the most part by opening the low point drains and cracking a faucet... BUT... I DO NOT recommend doing it that way.

We have seen far too many reports here of folks with white crud in their lines/faucets.
I believe most of that comes from the water heater. It gets sucked from the heater tank into the lines when draining, where some of it remains and then gets pushed back into the system on re-pressurization.

Your best bet is to first release any pressure on the system, bypass the water heater and remove the anode. Crack the T&P valve (pop-off) to allow the water to escape better. While the anode is out, flush any sediment from the water heater tank. There is a flush tool made just for this.



I can't comment on you draining your system at a campground.
Everyplace has different rules.
You might ask even though it is simply water.

As a side note... I do not drain my water system after each trip. Once I dewinterize in the spring, nothing gets drained till fall. been doing this for more years than I care to admit with no issues.

[rockfordroo]

You should have drained your HWH through the anode rod as you used to do rather than opening the low point drains first. When you open the low point drains first, you drain the HWH backwards through the cold water inlet line. This sucks the white crude from the HWH back into the cold water line. It will then end up clogging your faucet aerators and toilet valve the next time you use your rig.

Campgrounds (and campers) typically don't like you putting large quantities of water on the ground at campsites. Would you want to be the next guy into the site if the guy who left 3 hrs before you dumped his FW tank or HWH on the ground?

[mpotapa]

Thanks for that advice, I hope I didn’t mess up my water lines. What if I run my gray tank full, then run the toilet until my fresh water is empty, then empty the water heater? I keep my camper at a storage lot.

[rockfordroo]

There's really no need to dump your FW tank or HWH after every trip; just do it at the end of the season.

I keep mine in storage, but I bring it to the house to sanitize the plumbing in the spring and to winterize in the fall.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by 5picker

You can drain the water heater for the most part by opening the low point drains and cracking a faucet... BUT... I DO NOT recommend doing it that way.

We have seen far too many reports here of folks with white crud in their lines/faucets.
I believe most of that comes from the water heater. It gets sucked from the heater tank into the lines when draining, where some of it remains and then gets pushed back into the system on re-pressurization.

Your best bet is to first release any pressure on the system, bypass the water heater and remove the anode. Crack the T&P valve (pop-off) to allow the water to escape better. While the anode is out, flush any sediment from the water heater tank. There is a flush tool made just for this.



I can't comment on you draining your system at a campground.
Everyplace has different rules.
You might ask even though it is simply water.

As a side note... I do not drain my water system after each trip. Once I dewinterize in the spring, nothing gets drained till fall. been doing this for more years than I care to admit with no issues.

This way! Youroo!!

[mpotapa]

Thanks for that advice, I hope I didn’t mess up my water lines. What if I run my gray tank full, then run the toilet until my fresh water is empty, then empty the water heater? I keep my camper at a storage lot.

[aceinspp]

I drain my hot water tank after every trip never have an issue with foul smelling water. I flush also when I pull the anode rod. Have does this for 30 years. Later RJD

[Kaadk]

Originally Posted by mpotapa

Thanks for that advice, I hope I didn’t mess up my water lines. What if I run my gray tank full, then run the toilet until my fresh water is empty, then empty the water heater? I keep my camper at a storage lot.

No need for that. Just drain the HW before you ever worry about the low point drains. Do things in this order (if you really want to drain them):

1) Turn off electric on the HW tank if you have it.
2) Pull anode, drain.
3) Open FW tank, drain.
4) Open Low points, drain.

But, we fill ours in the spring (actually on my list of to-do's tonight, I'm running behind this year) and don't drain anything until we went winterize it in the fall (October). Never had a problem with water sitting in the tanks. As long as you're out, say, once a month at a minimum then it should be fine. If you're out every other weekend like us, definitely no problem.

[itat]

All good advice provided above. I will drain my water system if the trailer is going to sit for much more than 2 weeks without use. It may not be necessary but I prefer not to have stale water sitting in the system for too long. By stale, I mean water with little residual chlorine to prevent growth of bacteria. We don’t drink the water but we shower in it, wash our faces with it and brush our teeth with it so we likely do injest some. So I take the extra precaution.

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by mpotapa

I have a couple questions about draining the water heater. When I had my pop up I would just take out the anode rod and let it drain out that way. On my hybrid I opened the fresh water tank valve and took the caps off my low point drains and let the water run out. After that I took out my anode rod and there was barely any water in it. Does the fresh water drain or low point drains also empty the hot water tank?

Also, are campgrounds fine with me emptying my fresh water tank and hot water tank at my campsite?

I drain our FR tank after every trip,,, but I do it @ home !!!
Would not want to make a mud hole for the next family !!!

[RacerRalph]

Originally Posted by Kaadk

No need for that. Just drain the HW before you ever worry about the low point drains. Do things in this order (if you really want to drain them):

1) Turn off electric on the HW tank if you have it.
2) Pull anode, drain.
3) Open FW tank, drain.
4) Open Low points, drain.

But, we fill ours in the spring (actually on my list of to-do's tonight, I'm running behind this year) and don't drain anything until we went winterize it in the fall (October). Never had a problem with water sitting in the tanks. As long as you're out, say, once a month at a minimum then it should be fine. If you're out every other weekend like us, definitely no problem.

Before you remove the anode, use the pressure relief valve to relieve the tank pressure. Guess how I learned about that step!!

[Den69RS96]

Originally Posted by RacerRalph

Before you remove the anode, use the pressure relief valve to relieve the tank pressure. Guess how I learned about that step!!

HAHA. I did too. On my previous StarCraft, I had the nylon plug. I never had to release pressure before emptying the HW tank. I learned real quick that I need to release pressure first on the Rockwood.

[cavie]

Originally Posted by RacerRalph

Before you remove the anode, use the pressure relief valve to relieve the tank pressure. Guess how I learned about that step!!

that's what the outside shower is for.
Wait till you pull that stunt with a 40 gal home WH.

[RacerRalph]

Sure did clean the scale out of the heater.

[JohnD10]

One other thing that hasn't been mentioned yet...

Before you pull that pressure release valve or pull the anode rod...

Make sure the water in the heater isn't hot!

Unless you want second or third degree burns on your hands, legs and feet!

[mpotapa]

Originally Posted by RacerRalph

Before you remove the anode, use the pressure relief valve to relieve the tank pressure. Guess how I learned about that step!!

lol I learned that on my pop up. I actually turn off the water pump and turn in the hot water on one of my faucets. That seems to relieve the pressure.

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by mpotapa

lol I learned that on my pop up. I actually turn off the water pump and turn in the hot water on one of my faucets. That seems to relieve the pressure.

That is not the same thing...

The only way to release the pressure is to use the pressure release valve!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by mpotapa

lol I learned that on my pop up. I actually turn off the water pump and turn on the hot water on one of my faucets. That seems to relieve the pressure.

That will have the same effect as flipping the pressure relief valve.

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

That will have the same effect as flipping the pressure relief valve.

But it won't drain out the crud floating on the top of the water in the heater...

And it won't release the air bubbles, either.