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03-23-2019, 07:20 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 22
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Water heater anode
Got our new camper (2019 Salem 27 REI) delivered yesterday and the technician giving the walk through told me that after each stay (it will parked at a permanent spot and used mostly weekends), I need to relieve the water pressure, and pull out the anode to drain the water heater. This seems odd to me and I don’t want to risk stripping the fitting. I’m looking for recommendations about this.
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03-23-2019, 07:26 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Kalamazoo
Posts: 2,139
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your are going to get a range of answers and no one is probably right or wrong just opinon. If my camper is going to sit for more then two weeks I pull the rod and drain. Less then that I don't bother. don't over tighten and you should not have a problem stripping threads. Just a little tricky at first to tip the weight of rod back so threads line up straight.
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03-23-2019, 07:31 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cedar Creek Lake, TX
Posts: 3,477
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I pull mine once a year when I winterize.
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Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Keystone Loredo 290SRL
2019 Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins crew cab
Andersen hitch
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03-23-2019, 07:44 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 7,053
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What you were told by the tech is bad information. There is no reason to do this.
Since you will be at a permanent site, you should check your anode after a couple of months just to see what it looks like. This will give you an idea of how often you may need to replace it or check it in the future.
Bruce
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2016 Rockwood Windjammer 3029W Diamond Edition
2015 Chevy 3500HD LTZ 6.0 Crew Cab 4x4 Long Bed 4.10:1 SRW
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03-23-2019, 07:51 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,518
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Those of you who say "never" or "once a year" apparently haven't had the water go bad in the water heater.
Those of us who have smelled the rotten eggs coming out of our faucets are more prone to draining the WH more often.
I drain mine if it's gonna be more than a couple of weeks between uses.
Good luck and welcome to FRF!!
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Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
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03-23-2019, 08:21 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,310
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Once a year here, but I run the the cold and hot water to clean the outside of the trailer and awning before each trip.
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XLR Thunderbolt 300X12HP
2014 Ram 3500 DRW
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03-23-2019, 08:38 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 22
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Thanks for the input. I think what I’ll do is check it every couple weeks to get a feel for it. Thanks!
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03-23-2019, 08:42 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5,712
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If mine sets for 3 or more weeks, I turn on the Hot faucet with the WH off and let it run about 6-8 gals of water ....enough to change water in tank. I pull the rod in the fall when I winterize and put it back in the spring.
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03-23-2019, 08:43 AM
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#9
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jtmavs
Got our new camper (2019 Salem 27 REI) delivered yesterday and the technician giving the walk through told me that after each stay (it will parked at a permanent spot and used mostly weekends), I need to relieve the water pressure, and pull out the anode to drain the water heater. This seems odd to me and I don’t want to risk stripping the fitting. I’m looking for recommendations about this.
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If you plan to use it regularly (you said most weekends) then relieving the pressure between visits is good advice but draining the water heater and pulling the anode each week is a bit much IMHO.
The advice of pulling it after several weeks or a month is a good idea just to see what the quality of YOUR water is doing to the anode.
Everyone's water source is different and so are the opinions that come from having whatever water they have.
We have good water at home and when out, I always use a quality filter when either on city water or when filling the fresh tank. With this, I am able to check and replace my anode annually when winterizing.
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2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=86
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03-23-2019, 09:07 AM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 22
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Are the threads universal on water heaters? Does the shorter anode hinder the heating operation?
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03-23-2019, 09:16 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 799
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Threads are all the same on Suburban water heaters. Atwood water heaters do not use anode rods. The anode rod with the built in drain is shorter so the only drawback is less sacrificial material so shorter life span.
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DYNAMAX 2016 FORCE HD
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03-23-2019, 09:32 AM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Grayson County, Texas
Posts: 21,502
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Quote:
Originally Posted by houstonstroker
Threads are all the same on Suburban water heaters. Atwood water heaters do not use anode rods. The anode rod with the built in drain is shorter so the only drawback is less sacrificial material so shorter life span.
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... and it has a much smaller drain opening so it takes longer to drain.
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2015 FR Wildcat 295RSX / GMC Sierra
Nights Camped: '13 = 49/'14 = 74/'15 = 74/'16 = 85/'17 = 110/'18 = 111/'19 = 86/'20 =108/'21 = 115/'22 = 135/'23 = 78; Booked for 2024 = 69
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03-23-2019, 09:52 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 386
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When I winterize at the end of the camping season, if the anode is about half used up, I replace it.
I have noticed that it shows more Wear', if I'm camping near the ocean, less in the mountains.
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2018 Flagstaff 832IKBS Travel Trailer.
2015 Silverado High Country.
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03-23-2019, 09:54 AM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 22
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If we are using mostly weekends from April to October, will the ones with a drain last a season?
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03-23-2019, 10:11 AM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,518
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TURN OFF the water heater both LP and electric FIRST!
We don't recommend the anode with a drain. It's very slow to drain and doesn't let the sediment out.
Just relieve the pressure and unscrew the anode and flip the pop off valve open.
The tank will drain in a minute or 2. Let the pop off valve snap shut rather than just letting it close slowly. Replace the anode and you're good to go for the next time.
CAUTION-- you MUST be sure and refill the water heater before you turn on the electric element!!! Or gas for that matter.
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
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03-23-2019, 10:12 AM
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#17
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Kanadian Kamper
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 8,129
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I’m sensing you’re a relatively new camper Jtmavs. Don’t worry, we were all there once.
Draining your water heater every so often is not a major event.....it’s jjust part of regular maintenance.
I suggest you have a look at your anode as soon as you can and take a picture with your phone of it’s condition as a benchmark. Not sure how new your rig is, I didn’t see that mentioned.
Then, every so often, just drain and inspect the anode condition. You’ll see how it progresses with use. I think you’ll find the original anode type works out fine.
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Ken and Terry
2018 Sunseeker 2430S-CD, nicely modified and carried by a 2017 Ford E450 Sport
Former Georgetown 330TS owner for 10 years with more mods than I can count, pushed by our 2017 GMC Terrain
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03-23-2019, 10:17 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Port Charlotte Fl/Hinsdale Ma
Posts: 4,823
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Quote:
Originally Posted by houstonstroker
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That has a very small hole and can't completely drain the tank thus allowing crud build up,
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