Hot water tank drain valve.

[thegreatoutdoors]

Hey everyone, we are new to the camping world and I was wondering if there was away to install a drain valve(petcock or small ball valve) on my hot water tank drain. Maybe I'm not looking at it from the proper stand point, but wouldn't the issue be the anode? Thanks for any input and suggestions.

[Wiscampsin]

Here ya go:
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...rs-4-12-/37395

Just don't forget you'll still have to remove it to check the condition of the sacrificial anode rod. Best to do this at the end of the season when you flush out and crud from the tank.

[gasman6674]

I believe one of the vendors (camco, atwood) have an anode with a drain built in. I remember seeing it I think at CW (but I also suffer from CRS)
Regards and welcome to the fourm

[Todouble]

Thought of this many times on my old TT. I don't know how you would keep the anode rod in service and add a drain. I always just pulled the rod when I needed to drain. Although the new fiver I bought has no anode rod and just a plastic plug. Now that I may be able to add a drain. Not sure why there getting away from anodes. Dealer did tell me that most people wanna change out the plastic plug for a brass one but not to because it's designed to blow out if there's a prob. Although I thought that was what the pressure/temp relief was for. Redundancy??

[Lloydg]

Wouldn't using an anode with drain lead to corrosion of the device into the tank unless owners make sure they remove it annually?

[thegreatoutdoors]

I was thinking the same thing Todouble, I'm not sure if this is even feasible. Just something my brain was thinking about trying to make life easier.

[thegreatoutdoors]

Thanks for the link Wiscampsin, I have access to all the necessary pipe and fixtures that would be involved to make this work. But my issue is "what about the anode?" How will it allow water to drain when it is installed? This all my be just a "pipe" dream.

[thegreatoutdoors]

gasman6674,I sometimes suffer from (trying to better someone else's product) for no apparent reason. If you could find such an animal like your talking about, please send me the link.

[gasman6674]

The greatoutdoors the link Wiscampsin posted is what I was talking about (he beat me to it:-), It is an anode with the drain built in easy peezy. The Atwood heaters with the plastic plug only are a aluminmum tank and dont require an anode, but there has been lots of discussion on here about adding one

[Todouble]

Originally Posted by gasman6674

The Atwood heaters with the plastic plug only are a aluminmum tank and dont require an anode, but there has been lots of discussion on here about adding one

Did not know they were aluminum vs my old TT with a anode which I'm guessing was steel.

[gasman6674]

I can't say this with 100% confidence but I believe the Atwoods are aluminmum and the Suburbans are steel. I had a Suburban on my V Cross and my current rig is an Atwood and it is a little harder to work on as the Electric element in in the back of the unit and on mine a bi--h to get too.

[BigTJohn]

Atwood = NO Anode
Suburban = Anode REQUIRED
Both = Drain at least annually, both will acquire crud and clog the faucet filters and plumbing if not done at least annually. And doing so will help keep the hot water tank from growing an algae farm and causing stinky hot water.

[bubbles]

The anode rods that have the built in drain cock that I have seen are all for Atwood water heaters. Suburban water heaters typically require a 9" rod and all the drain capable rods I have seen are very short. Could be wrong.

[thegreatoutdoors]

LOL gasman, I found one also but my anode is longer. Does the length of the anode really matter. Thus the age old question- Does size matter?

[thegreatoutdoors]

bubbles, you are absolutely correct. Mine requires the 9" rod. But... could I use the shorter anode? Even better, do they make such an animal as a 9" anode with a drain?

[gasman6674]

Anode will work the same, Anode life will be shorter. Size = Life. So pull it out after a couple years or every years and visually inspect it

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by thegreatoutdoors

bubbles, you are absolutely correct. Mine requires the 9" rod. But... could I use the shorter anode? Even better, do they make such an animal as a 9" anode with a drain?

In the end it's your unit. No one can make that call for you (shorter rod). Get in touch with Suburban and pose the question to them. I personally have not seen a longer rod with drain capability. Good luck.

[thegreatoutdoors]

Thanks gasman, I normally drain my tank after every trip. Only due to the fact that our trips are not that frequent. I might just try it and see how it works.

[thegreatoutdoors]

thank you bubbles, I haven't seen on either. I will definitely pose the question to them.

[Al Fresco]

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