Unsure how you can drain an RV water heater? No drawback, we’ll stroll you thru this step-by-step. The offseason is a good time to make amends for upkeep to scale back the prospect of points arising in the course of the tenting season. Draining your RV water heater needs to be on the high of the record. It’s quick and simple and will help prevent from a pricey restore down the street.
Let’s cowl the significance, beneficial frequency, and steps for this essential RV water heater upkeep activity.
Why Do You Must Drain an RV Water Heater?
There are a number of causes to empty an RV water heater: cleansing, sanitizing, and winterizing.
Cleansing
Seasonal cleansing is the first cause to empty RV water heaters that include a sacrificial anode rod. The rod incorporates numerous metals that break down contained in the tank to stop corrosion. Because the rod breaks down, sediment is left behind.
Calcium buildup may also happen along with anode rod particles. That is true for water heater tanks with and with out a sacrificial anode rod. These sediments should be cleared to keep away from clogging plumbing traces, taps, or showerheads.
Technician Tip: There gained’t be an anode rod you probably have an aluminum tank.
Sanitizing
Along with draining sediment, you need to periodically sanitize your tank. Sanitizing your tank retains your water clear and helps knock free caught sediments. It’s additionally an effective way to eliminate lingering smells.
Winterizing
In case you dwell in a local weather with freezing temperatures, you should drain your tank on the finish of each season. As water freezes, it expands, which may harm your tank and or water traces. That is why draining the tank and winterizing the traces with antifreeze is important. Nonetheless, antifreeze shouldn’t be pumped into your water heater tank, as it will probably neutralize the anode rod’s reactive metals, rising the probabilities of inside tank corrosion and failure.
How Usually To Drain RV Water Heater
Your RV water heater needs to be drained and serviced at the least annually, relying on how typically and incessantly you employ it. In case you’re a full-timer, you would possibly wish to do that extra incessantly, however if you happen to solely camp just a few occasions a yr, annual water heater service is a brilliant thought. In case your camper sits for lengthy durations of time in between journeys (two weeks or extra), extra frequent drainings are beneficial.
How To Drain Water Heater on RV
Though the draining process for many water heaters is analogous, there might be some variations. For instance, how you can drain a Dometic RV water heater might be barely completely different than how you can drain a Suburban RV water heater. That’s why it’s essential to reference your particular water heater’s proprietor’s handbook earlier than getting began.
To get began, you’ll want just a few instruments, primarily a drain plug wrench. An adjustable crescent-style wrench may go for this until your drain plug is in a good house (most are); on this case, you might want a socket with an extension or an RV water heater drain plug wrench.
Technician Tip: The drain isn’t all the time on the tank’s lowest level, so there’s nonetheless an opportunity for water and sediment to gather on the backside. To empty the tank utterly, use a water heater tank rinser to clear the remaining water and particles.
It’s good to have a bucket to catch water if you happen to’re in an space the place it can’t drain onto the bottom, however odds are some water will escape regardless.
- Flip off the facility to the water heater. Relying in your mannequin, there might be a number of switches, and these swap areas can differ. Begin by wanting contained in the trailer for wall switches or breakers in the principle panel. Then, take the service cowl off the outside wall and search for switches inside to disconnect.
- Run the recent water taps with the water heater turned off till the water temperature has dropped to a secure degree.
- Disconnect metropolis water (if geared up) and take away energy from the RV water pump (see fuse panel or wall swap).
- Open the strain reduction valve on the tank by lifting the deal with.
- Utilizing an appropriately sized device, take away the drain plug and let the tank drain utterly. (For some fashions, the drain plug may also double because the anode rod.)
Technician Tip: If water movement appears restricted when draining, use a rinsing wand or a boring plastic probe to take away any obstructions from the drain gap. Watch out to not scratch the tank’s interior lining. A sediment blockage on the drain opening might be eliminated with a metallic probe, however a non-marring device might be substituted to stop the potential for unintended harm from a tough or sharp edge. Metropolis water strain can be utilized to rinse the tank as long as it’s utilized after the drain plug has been safely eliminated. It shouldn’t exceed 80 PSI to stop the particles leaving the tank from touring at harmful speeds, risking damage or harm. Town water strain technique is tougher to regulate and could also be much less efficient than a curved wand.
Cleansing and Sanitizing an RV Water Heater
As soon as the tank is empty, you’ll be able to start cleansing and sanitizing.
- Shut the strain reduction valve and switch the water provide again on.
- Enable the tank to flush for a couple of minutes.
- Flip off the water and reinstall the drain plug.
- Utilizing a winterization equipment, pump white vinegar into the water heater tank.
- Let the vinegar sit for just a few hours.
- Take away the drain plug, activate the water, and let the system flush for just a few extra minutes.
- Reinstall the plug with plumber’s tape and resupply energy.
After getting completed cleansing and sanitizing, exchange your anode rod if the damage is past the producer’s specs.
The place Is the RV Scorching Water Tank Drain Plug?
The recent water tank plug location can differ by producer and mannequin, however most are close to the underside of the tank, accessible by the outside service door. Under is a photograph of the drain plug proven on two widespread RV water heaters, Dometic and Suburban. In case you can’t discover yours, reference your water heater’s proprietor’s handbook for the precise location.
What Measurement Is the Drain Plug on RV Scorching Water Heater?
Relying on the water heater producer, you’ll want wherever from a ⅞” to 1-1/16” socket to take away the drain plug. Whereas ⅞” and 15/16” sockets are widespread in most units, bigger sockets usually should be bought individually. This bigger bolt head measurement is why some RVers use an adjustable wrench to take away their water heater’s drain plug. Nonetheless, that comes with the added threat of damaging the plug or different parts. Buying the proper socket with an extension or utilizing a water heater wrench are your finest strategies for eradicating a water heater’s drain plug.
Hopefully, you are feeling assured to sort out your subsequent water heater upkeep challenge. If not, no worries—we’ve a service middle close to you to assist. Try a few of these different nice articles on RV water heaters:
Tell us within the feedback under if you happen to’ve ever drained the tank in your water heater and the way it went!
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