Water heater general maintenance

[Freetyme1]

Hi all,
Can't recall if this is even mentioned in the manual, but I've been draining the water heater and low point drains after each trip.
Question: Is it better to leave the annod plug out till next trip , and should I be rinsing the tank after each use ? Like to do whatever will increase the longevity of the tank.

[Oaklevel]

I have never had a water heater go bad I drain the water heater and the low point drains once a year....... just prior to winterizing........

[h20ski]

My HW stays full all season long. I drain the entire system when I winterize the camper.

Just MHO.

[Freetyme1]

Hmm, guess it shouldn't matter then. I tend to over think things. Do you guys use a water softener ?

[Boso]

Once a year to winterize

[sfsgm]

Originally Posted by Freetyme1

Hmm, guess it shouldn't matter then. I tend to over think things. Do you guys use a water softener ?

I'm like the others. I drain the water heater once a year in the fall (as I did two days ago). We rarely use the fresh water but I do put several cups of bleach in it just before we leave for home on our last trip, then I drain the tank. I leave the anode out until we start camping again in the Spring.

[Grampa Jim]

We're full timers and I drain the tank once or twice a year to clean out the solid debris that collects in the bottom. The rod stays until it's pretty much eaten up.....usually I replace it annually.

[OldCoot]

Just make sure when you remove the anode, you smear some Danco silicone paste on the tank threads to prevent rust. Even after 40+ yrs with trailers, I forgot to do it when we came home from FL this year and had to "chase" the threads to get the anode back in. CRS strikes again.

[Grampa Jim]

Yup,,,,I agree with the OldCoot. Teflon on the threads of the anode are also necessary. I had some friends who ignored theirs for a couple years. I thought they were going to rip off the threaded base trying to get the anode unloosened. BTW, Old Coot,,,,is Concord, NC in the Blue Ridge. My wife and I are going to be heading that way next spring for a park host gig.

[CNYCamper]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Just make sure when you remove the anode, you smear some Danco silicone paste on the tank threads to prevent rust. Even after 40+ yrs with trailers, I forgot to do it when we came home from FL this year and had to "chase" the threads to get the anode back in. CRS strikes again.

Thanks, OC, for the Danco silicone paste tip. Hadn't heard about this. Should make life easier next spring. Assume I can purchase at the hardware store.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Grampa Jim

Yup,,,,I agree with the OldCoot. Teflon on the threads of the anode are also necessary. I had some friends who ignored theirs for a couple years. I thought they were going to rip off the threaded base trying to get the anode unloosened. BTW, Old Coot,,,,is Concord, NC in the Blue Ridge. My wife and I are going to be heading that way next spring for a park host gig.

Concord is east and south of Blue Ridge mountains. About 365 miles west of the outer banks. Suburb of Charlotte.

[Grampa Jim]

We'll be between Cherokee and Ashville,,,,,one of God's living rooms. Ya done good on North Caroline, Old Coot!!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Grampa Jim

We'll be between Cherokee and Ashville,,,,,one of God's living rooms. Ya done good on North Caroline, Old Coot!!

We're just MO. transplants from AR & IL.

[txredfish]

I have not heard about the Danco silicone paste. I have been using the white thread pipe tape each time about twice a year. Is this similar? Where do you find the Danco paste?

[Boso]

Is silicone paste the new and improved pipe dope I still have a couple cans of the old stuff that I have had at least 25 years

[Jim in Halifax]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Just make sure when you remove the anode, you smear some Danco silicone paste on the tank threads to prevent rust. Even after 40+ yrs with trailers, I forgot to do it when we came home from FL this year and had to "chase" the threads to get the anode back in. CRS strikes again.

When I remove the anode rod I replace it over winter with a teflon plug

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Boso

Is silicone paste the new and improved pipe dope I still have a couple cans of the old stuff that I have had at least 25 years

Danco silicone paste is a lubricant only.

[checkmate99]

As is Teflon tape....it is also a lubricant for the threads, not a sealing tape. A RV hot water tank is the same as your home hot water tank, just much smaller. (As far as maintainance goes). Replacing the anode rod is necessary only when it has sacrificed itself. If one is going to leave the rod out all winter, please put a pipe plug in the hole to prevent critters from making a home inside your tank. Draining the tank after each camping trip is un-necessary. But, you can do it if you like!

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by Jim in Halifax

When I remove the anode rod I replace it over winter with a teflon plug

Teflon Plug,,, very interesting,,, where did you find one of those ???
I would be afraid to leave anode out,,, not knowing what might decide to nest in the WH ???

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Wolverine 1945

Teflon Plug,,, very interesting,,, where did you find one of those ???
I would be afraid to leave anode out,,, not knowing what might decide to nest in the WH ???

I'll assume they meant Nylon or PVC not teflon.