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

[myfirst5th]

Happy New Year to all you Happy Campers !!!
For winterizing discussion, I have a 325 Crusader 5th wheel.
My question is after properly winterizing the RV, is there a reason to leave the Hot Water Tank Drain Plug "OUT" for the winter during outside storage in Michigan ?
I've been told the Drain Plug MUST BE LEFT OUT during winter storage.
Not sure why we should, I used compressed air to chase all the water out.
But if it's suggested to do so, would simply popping the pressure relief valve serve the same purpose?
One of my concerns is that in the spring, some little creature is going to make that his new home.
Thank you much, and Happy Camping,
Mike

[KenHwy61]

I always put my plug back in after draining. That way nothing can get inside and I won't lose the plug.

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by KenHwy61

I always put my plug back in after draining. That way nothing can get inside and I won't lose the plug.

X2

Not tight but enough to stay put, In the spring I wrap it with tape and install with a wrench.

[myfirst5th]

Thanks Ken, I like the way you think !!!
Mike

[myfirst5th]

Hey Ford Idaho,
I like your suggestion of using tape on that plug, rather than plumbers putty !!!

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by Ford Idaho

X2



Not tight but enough to stay put, In the spring I wrap it with tape and install with a wrench.

This is also my process.


Sent (I think)

[myfirst5th]

Thanks Mr. Dan,

Winterize even in TEXAS ???

Mike

[Ham Camper]

Texas gets mighty cold at times. Here in S KY a guy told me he never winterizes his boat. 14 degrees here this morning. He is either lying or has an outboard motor.

[Dave Lyon]

Originally Posted by Ford Idaho

X2

Not tight but enough to stay put, In the spring I wrap it with tape and install with a wrench.

X3

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by myfirst5th

Thanks Mr. Dan,

Winterize even in TEXAS ???

Mike

Yes, it was 23 degrees here at 8 a.m. yesterday morning... and it's not really winter yet. I lost a toilet water valve on a TT I had once. I had winterized (I thought) but hadn't held the toilet valve open when I was blowing out the lines. Here's a weather screen shot from 2 years ago last week.

See my post in this thread and comments from others.
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ml#post1074069

[haroldb2]

Yes, put the plug back in. I left mine out one year and in the spring had to go rent a pipe tap to clean out the threads so the plug would go back in.


Harold in Michigan

[caper]

Put plug back in. A person who is at the same CG as we are had no water when he arrived in Oct. The local repair person put air pressure on the system and blew a dead mouse out of the water system. I got into the pipe when the water filter was not put back on.

[Trudie1]

Good advice to re-install loosely, bought my fiver used 1 year old previous owner left plug out and I had a mess of lady bug type beetles to clean out of water heater.

[jkoenig24]

No.

[Flatlander49]

I always replace it finger tight after winterizing. After the tank is drained there is lots of space for expansion of any residual H2O. As many others have said replacing the plug also prevents any foreign matter from entering the tank. My experience is that after the hot water tank is emptied the real danger from freezing /expansion is from the residual water in the lines, fittings and taps. That's why you need to close the by-pass valve and blow the lines out with compressed air and/or replace the H2O in the lines with anti-freeze.
In 12 years of RVing I've blown out the lines, used RV anti-freeze and done both and they have all worked but I have always replaced the hot water tank drain plug after draining the tank. So far so good.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by myfirst5th

Happy New Year to all you Happy Campers !!!

For winterizing discussion, I have a 325 Crusader 5th wheel.

My question is after properly winterizing the RV, is there a reason to leave the Hot Water Tank Drain Plug "OUT" for the winter during outside storage in Michigan ?

I've been told the Drain Plug MUST BE LEFT OUT during winter storage.

Not sure why we should, I used compressed air to chase all the water out.

But if it's suggested to do so, would simply popping the pressure relief valve serve the same purpose?

One of my concerns is that in the spring, some little creature is going to make that his new home.

Thank you much, and Happy Camping,

Mike

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


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

[youroo]

I remove W/H A-rod and insert cut off washing machine hose to Flush out White Crud Before it takes a Set over the Winter! I also run a BIG bottle brush in the tank at the Same time the Hose is inside,did I say lots of White Crud runs out ! Now I take a tooth brush and clean the thread area and use a Tap to clean the threads and Shop Vac the thread area,check/replace? A-Rod with Tef Tape saves doing in the spring and the Threads are Not Rusted! Youroo!!

[dgibbs1955]

Yes, I also wrap the plug with Teflon tape. I think that if you read the directions on either type of Anode replacement type, it will tell you to use the Teflon tape, not Plumbers putty.

[Delco Bobby]

The dealer left mine out which bothered me but I am a newbie. They said it is standard procedure. But after reading this thread I put mine back in today. I noticed that the threads were rusty from leaving it out. Another reason not to return to that shop.

[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.