Is there a real need to leave the Hot Water Drain Plug out for the winter?

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by SKnight

When I winterize I pull the plug, once the tank is drained I then will let a little pink stuff go through the line to the heater to make sure it's protected, then bypass the heater.

Then come spring I will flush out the tank with fresh water. In the meantime I just toss the anode in the bottom of the heater area and put the cover back on.

It's typically recommended that you don't put AF in your water heater. That's the whole purpose of the bypass.

[ferguson65]

I was told by the dealer to leave it out. I made the executive decision to put it in a few threads, as others have posted to keep the critters out. We have a major stinkbug problem and I could just see the WH being full of them if I left the plug out. Actually, I taped the backside of the WH cover so the brown pest stays out completely. I also taped over the heater exhaust and inside the fridge vent. Stinkbugs get into EVERYTHING!

[SKnight]

Originally Posted by Iwritecode

It's typically recommended that you don't put AF in your water heater. That's the whole purpose of the bypass.

I only run enough AF through to make sure the line between the bypass and the water heater is protected. Once I hear the AF hit the tank, I then turn the bypass, so very little AF actually gets to the heater.

On my TT the bypass was literally right at the tank, so I didn't worry about it. But this 5er has about an eight foot run between the bypass and the heater. I don't know that it was cleared so I protected it.

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by SKnight

I only run enough AF through to make sure the line between the bypass and the water heater is protected. Once I hear the AF hit the tank, I then turn the bypass, so very little AF actually gets to the heater.

On my TT the bypass was literally right at the tank, so I didn't worry about it. But this 5er has about an eight foot run between the bypass and the heater. I don't know that it was cleared so I protected it.

Bolded line reads very strange to me, what does the 8 foot run feed/do/ go to?

[SKnight]

Originally Posted by Ford Idaho

Bolded line reads very strange to me, what does the 8 foot run feed/do/ go to?

My bypass valve is in my water panel in the basement, the water heater is roughly six-eight feet away under the bathroom. Presumably, if I bypassed it then ran the antifreeze through the system, the feed line between the bypass valve and the tank would have water in it.

So I turned the bypass valve, ran antifreeze through the system, then turned the bypass back towards normal until I got just a bit of antifreeze to trickle out of the heater. Then turned it back to bypass.

It got the test last night, 21* this morning.

[Asrabbit]

Does anyone know the size of the socket to use on the anode rod?

[youroo]

Originally Posted by Asrabbit

Does anyone know the size of the socket to use on the anode rod?

Suburban is 1 1/16 6pt socket! Youroo!!

[Asrabbit]

I have an inch and 1/8th. I figured I had the wrong size as it would not be me to have the right size. Thank you for the help. I will get a 1 and 1/16th.

[Still Kickin]

Head over the China freight, you can get one of those large impact socket sets that will have that one for just a few bucks more than buying just one.

[SeaDog]

If you pick up the Pittsburg forge brand socket set at Harbor Tool and Freight they come with the same lifetime replacement as the more expensive snap on, craftsman, or husky tools.

[Asrabbit]

My wife comes from Idaho. She is from the Burley/Rupert area. We were in Idaho last summer. It seems owning a camper is a requirement for living in Idaho. We plan to get up that way this summer as well.

[Still Kickin]

Originally Posted by TURBS

I've left mine out every winter for 10 + years.


2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"

Did that first cup of coffee in the new camping year ever have a "twang" to it!

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by Still Kickin

Did that first cup of coffee in the new camping year ever have a "twang" to it!

Don't drink coffee [emoji12]
Never had an issue.


2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"

[brokenaxle]

I live in Mi. also and do leave my plug out set it on the cupboard next to the sink when I winterize the camper. I use plastic sheeting on all the outside accesses refrigerator vents, hot water heater, etc. I put it over them then close cover or door on top of them. Never had an issue. Also when done winterizing dump the pink stuff out of the water filter canister. and leave it empty. A lot of campers in our campground lost them last winter when they cracked.