Anode rod winterizing.

[Nankipoo]

Got the 5'er winterized a couple weeks ago. Anode rod was toast so I ordered a new one. Question is, do y'all leave them out in the winter or do you screw them back in after hot water heater is drained.

[flybouy]

I screw mine in finger tight to keep any mice or other critters out of it.

[JRTJH]

I suppose everyone has their own "theory about what's best".. Here's mine:

I drain and flush the water heater, let it "dry" for several days, then wrap the anode threads with teflon tape, reinstall it, then use a piece of plastic sheeting (like a thick paint drop cloth) to make a seal to place behind the door, reinstall the door and "call it done for the year"... The sheeting is held in place by the door and "hangs out" about an inch in all directions, sealing the space behind the door around the edges, preventing anything from easily getting into the water heater "innerds".

The reason for reinstalling the anode is to prevent spiders or other insects or even mice from nesting inside the water heater tank. The reason for using the plastic sheeting behind the door is to "make it harder" for spiders to build webs or nests in the burner tube.

Does it work ? It has for me, and at the same time, I've got no doubt that others who do nothing have never had a problem, so to them, doing "extra" just isn't warranted... To each their own.... YMMV

[Javi]

I camp all winter in between cold snaps, so I reinstall the anode after draining the heater.

[JRTJH]

I would add this: There was a question. "What about that cup of water that is left in the water heater tank after it's drained?" My "illogical logic" is this: Water is water. It doesn't matter if it's 1/2" deep or 12" deep, water that "covers an area" will act as the conductor for galvanic corrosion. There are seams all around the bottom of the water heater tank that are covered/immersed by that cup of water, so any seam where there may be a gap in the porcelain lining is subject to increased corrosion while exposed to water. That cup of water sitting on the bottom of the water heater tank won't cause an issue with freezing (there is ample space for expansion without damage) but it sure can cause an issue with galvanic corrosion..... YMMV

[Old Mustanger]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

I would add this: There was a question. "What about that cup of water that is left in the water heater tank after it's drained?" My "illogical logic" is this: Water is water. It doesn't matter if it's 1/2" deep or 12" deep, water that "covers an area" will act as the conductor for galvanic corrosion. There are seams all around the bottom of the water heater tank that are covered/immersed by that cup of water, so any seam where there may be a gap in the porcelain lining is subject to increased corrosion while exposed to water. That cup of water sitting on the bottom of the water heater tank won't cause an issue with freezing (there is ample space for expansion without damage) but it sure can cause an issue with galvanic corrosion..... YMMV

I'm wondering how reinstalling the rod would prevent any corrosion from water that it will not be immersed in (the left over water is below the threads for the rod).

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Old Mustanger

I'm wondering how reinstalling the rod would prevent any corrosion from water that it will not be immersed in (the left over water is below the threads for the rod).

I don't see how the anode rod can protect anything in that situation. It serves as a "donor metal" to corrode in place of the steel. In order to effect electrolysis it would have to be immersed in the same water environment as the steel. If the water is not "touching the anode" I don't see how it could provide any protection to the more noble metal (steel lining)...

[spicercars]

Every body has there own method and here is mine. After draining the water heater and winterizing I turn the bypass back on for a few seconds and pump a little antifreeze into the water heater. The reason I do this is because on two of my rvs over the years the inlet to the water heater has froze and broke because it goes up hill and doesn't get any antifreeze in it. Then I reinstall the anode rod just a turn to keep critters out. Then in the spring flush and install for the summer.

[dutchmensport]

Get back to the original question? I leave mine in. One year I missed putting it back in. I realized it was out about 2 months later. I attempted to put it back in and the threads on both the water heater and the rod were so rusted up, I almost couldn't get it back in. I finally did. I put it in and took it back out 3 or 4 times, put a bit of cooking oil over the threads and inserted it back in for the rest of the winter. I've never left the water heater drain hole remain open before or after that one slip up.

Just a word of caution, if you leave the rod out, the threads will rust up on the tank so much, it might become unusable. Keep the plug in.

[Nankipoo]

Thanks for the replies. I went ahead and put mine back in. We may go camping a few days after Christmas. If we do I will have to winterize all over again.

[dutchmensport]

Originally Posted by Nankipoo

... We may go camping a few days after Christmas. If we do I will have to winterize all over again.

For us, this is now common practice, to winterize and unwinterize over the cold months.

For the last several years, we head to Georgia or Florida for the week of Christmas, and then South Carolina for a week in early March. When we return back to Indiana, I always have to winterize the second time of the season.

This year, we are planning on going to Alabama for the entire month of January. I've already winterized for this year, but still using the camper with no water at home. I already purchased 4 gallons of "pink stuff" for our return from Alabama on January 31.

We learned, getting RV antifreeze is very difficult in the Southern States. So, I started taking it with us before leaving Indiana in December, January, or March.

I keep it stored away under the bed.

One winter, a few years ago, (different trailer), I winterized and unwinterized 4 times between the beginning of December and the beginning of April. It was a wild ride of a season that year.

Not uncommon to winterize multiple times over the winter if you really use your camper. Purchase extra gallons of pink-stuff right now. If you end up not using it, it will still be good next year. As the winter moves along, it gets harder to find RV antifreeze.

Good luck, and enjoy your journies!

[Cbrez]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

I drain and flush the water heater, let it "dry" for several days, then wrap the anode threads with teflon tape, reinstall it, then use a piece of plastic sheeting (like a thick paint drop cloth) to make a seal to place behind the door, reinstall the door and "call it done for the year"

Great tip! Never thought about sealing the compartment with plastic, but makes perfect sense.

[Bill-2020]

Originally Posted by Javi

I camp all winter in between cold snaps, so I reinstall the anode after draining the heater.

I'm with you, Javi. All winter... except I don't have to worry about the anode rod... no-rod-water-heater.

[MattHelm21]

Here's a tip I've been using regarding that cup of water in the bottom of the tank. I take a length of three or four paper towels(shop towels are perfect). Start rolling them diagonally from the top down tightly until you have a "rod" that can fit through the anode opening. Insert about 6 inches of the paper rod into the tank and let the rest hang out past the side of the RV. Shortly, you will find the leftover water in the tank wicking through the towels and dripping off the end outside the RV. This may need to sit like this for several hours but will almost completely empty the water heater. This has been been my process whenever draining the tank for 20 years.

[Nankipoo]

Originally Posted by MattHelm21

Here's a tip I've been using regarding that cup of water in the bottom of the tank. I take a length of three or four paper towels(shop towels are perfect). Start rolling them diagonally from the top down tightly until you have a "rod" that can fit through the anode opening. Insert about 6 inches of the paper rod into the tank and let the rest hang out past the side of the RV. Shortly, you will find the leftover water in the tank wicking through the towels and dripping off the end outside the RV. This may need to sit like this for several hours but will almost completely empty the water heater. This has been been my process whenever draining the tank for 20 years.

Good idea.

[ewbldavis]

All good info guys! I left mine out simply because I haven't ordered replacement yet.

I bet the southern crowd loves reading these conversations knowing, for the most part, they don't have to mess with it

[2Wheels]

I drain my tank in between every trip and leave the anode out. When I get the trailer ready to take out the next time I put it back in.

[Camping family]

Originally Posted by ewbldavis

All good info guys! I left mine out simply because I haven't ordered replacement yet.

I bet the southern crowd loves reading these conversations knowing, for the most part, they don't have to mess with it

While don’t know about that. I’m in North Carolina and I winterize my 5th wheel. Only because there are some nights and days it will get down into the upper 20’s low 30’s and I don’t want to take any chances and it’s not that hard with the new systems on the newer campers. Doesn’t stay that cold long but I worry there might be a problem. So I just do it for my pice of mind.

[Mikelff]

Originally Posted by ewbldavis

All good info guys! I left mine out simply because I haven't ordered replacement yet.

I bet the southern crowd loves reading these conversations knowing, for the most part, they don't have to mess with it

I’m with Camping family. I’m in North Texas and we have already had some hard freezes, so I always winterize the RV. I avoid putting antifreeze in my hot water tank. It can be a real chore to get it cleaned out properly. I have an anode free hot water heater so a good drain and dry out and I am good to go. Haven’t been out much at all this year because of covid, as I am a high risk person. As soon as I get my shots that will change!!

[lindy46]

Originally Posted by Nankipoo

Good idea.

I use a hose and siphon the water from the bottom of the tank. I'll bet I get about a half gallon of water out using the siphon hose.