Do you drain your water heater after every use?

[Eman85]

topic came up on a FB forum. Some say every time they return from an outing they drain their water heater tank. What's the general opinion on this? Pulling the anode after every trip just don't sound right to me.

 

[flybouy]

For me it depends on 2 factors. First, how long before our next trip and second how hot/humid it is. As an example, if our next trip is 2 weeks away and the temps are below 80° F then I won't drain. If the temps are in the high 90's then I most likely will. The quality of the water can be a factor but it's mitigated by using a quality water filter.

The only reason to drain it IMO is help prevent the "sulfer" smell than can occur. IMO, the hot water is not used for drinking or food prep so not being directly ingested. We only use hot water for cleaning so it will have soap mixed with it. I'm not concerned with the amount used for rinsing.

 

[sourdough]

As Marshall indicated, it's how often you use it. I fill mine in the late spring before the first use, use it often and then don't drain/flush it until I return from our winter trip in early spring. If I took one trip a year I would drain it upon return. If I went every couple of weeks I wouldn't.

 

[Kirk's Outback.]

topic came up on a FB forum. Some say every time they return from an outing they drain their water heater tank. What's the general opinion on this? Pulling the anode after every trip just don't sound right to me.

I only drain my hot water tank once or twice a year to inspect the rod and flush the tank and never had an issue with the water that's provided mainly from Florida State Parks.

 

[jonahex2099]

I only drain my hot water tank once or twice a year to inspect the rod and flush the tank and never had an issue with the water that's provided mainly from Florida State Parks.

Same, only Washington parks... Which reminds me, I need to do this today...

 

[Eman85]

OK, that sounds logical. Just surprised the many on the FB forum all said they pull the anode after every trip. Obviously hot water only used for washing and not really using that much hot water at that.

 

[NH_Bulldog]

When we had a tank style water heater (Dometic with no anode rod), we would fill it in the spring and pull the plug and drain it in the fall. We never filled with any water that wasn't filtered before it entered the camper, even if it was gravity filled. Our current camper has a tankless, and again it doesn't get drained (especially since it can't be). Besides, when we are parked between trips I like to fully charge the water system with the onboard pump and then shut it off. About once a week, I go in and flip the pump on and see if the system lost pressure. If the pump doesn't come on, then my system held pressure, but if the pump does run for a second, then I know I might have a leak somewhere and I can try to track it down. In our previous camper, this is exactly how I found that a PEX fitting behind the shower faucet had a small leak inside the wall, and also how I found a PEX fitting leak to the outdoor kitchen sink.

 

[{Tpc}]

I typically only drain mine when I am done for the season. Never had an issue. The only caveat is if the water at the campground is already smelly or something like that, then I'll pull it before I leave. Just be careful if you do....its hot!

 

[JRTJH]

Really, when you "reflect on draining the tank" you can pretty much do the same thing while you're getting ready for a trip by just turning on the hot water faucets while connected to "city water" in your driveway. That will "purge the tank" and pretty much do the same thing as removing the anode to drain it and refilling it. Just "purge it and go camping"... Then, at the end of the season, pull the anode rod, clean it/wire brush it, wash out the "chunks in the bottom" with a small diameter flex hose and reinstall the anode rod to keep "mickey and minnie out".

 

[flybouy]

OK, that sounds logical. Just surprised the many on the FB forum all said they pull the anode after every trip. Obviously hot water only used for washing and not really using that much hot water at that.

I don't use FB as I don't need the drama that comes with it. However; nearly everyone I've talked to that do use it tells me that it's quite common to have "followers" that will agree with every statement that their "friends" make or they will parrot their comments. On these forums that's not a common practice.

You'll find that these folks give their opinions based mostly on their experiences. Just don't ask what their towing MPG is unless you have your boots on first!

 

[Sean D-KEY]

I do because the anode is a wear item and it’s only a turn of a wrench. I think it’s pure laziness if you’re not draining the tank.

 

[Eman85]

So after every trip you remove the anode and drain the tank? I don't take 6 mo. trips, usually mid week few day stays at parks. I do pull the anode and I do have a spare on the shelf. I don't think I'll wear it out every couple of weeks.

 

[Sean D-KEY]

So after every trip you remove the anode and drain the tank? I don't take 6 mo. trips, usually mid week few day stays at parks. I do pull the anode and I do have a spare on the shelf. I don't think I'll wear it out every couple of weeks.

Yes after every trip. My trips are usually a week at the lake or campground. When I get home I wash it. Drain the black and two grey tanks. Drain the water heater and pull the fresh water valve so everything is clean and empty.

Not sure if you’re familiar but when you drain it there is sediment from the anode breaking down. Leaving this in the tank will eventually lead to corrosion. I always back fill the drain with the water hose and try to flush everything out also.

I agree I don’t think you should be changing it every time only when the rod is starting to be exposed.

 

[Sean D-KEY]

everyone has their own opinions but I work on mechanical equipment everyday. I believe in promoting the best maintenance routines for best efficiency and longevity of your equipment.

 

[jasin1]

We went to the keys at the end of March/ beginning of April and haven’t used the Rv since then…i usually winterize the rv when we get back from Florida because some years it’s still March when we get home and could have a freezing night or two before it warms up…This year i didn’t bother…Now we are camping for the last few days at a state park and we had the sulphur smell in the water. This started a back and forth with my wife who was convinced it was the campground water and proceeded to to educate me on water quality and sulphuric content in ground water and the many examples during her childhood of different places that had that smell….I was convinced it was the water heater not being drained after our last trip….I also pointed out the state park was likely on the City municipal water supply…she looked at me with a blank look and doubled down and calmly listed her reasons. …Day two and the smell cleared up…looks like i was right….dont know how that will play out….doesnt really feel like a win…won the battle but lost the war…lol

I’m gonna drain and flush mine after every trip…get all the sediment and junk out so it doesn’t clog up the strainers at faucets and shower.Every time i drain the water heater a bunch of mineral deposits come out.
I would never leave any container of fresh water to sit for more then a week or two so not sure why i thought it was ok in the water heater…get the old disgusting water out of the fresh water tank and water heater and start over every trip for now on

 

[flybouy]

Brian, just curious, are you empty nesters? Reason I ask is if you are, do you drain the WH in your house after a couple of week absence? IMO it's more about having a good, clean sanitary system to begin with. With the use of a good, quality water filter the "sulfer smell" from bacteria should be minimal after a week or two in a "closed system". I agree the water FW holding tank should be drained between uses as it is exposed to the outside air via the vent.

 

[ChuckS]

Yup I drain my water heater after every trip .. this removes the anode particles that have fallen to the bottom of the tank … and IMO helps prevent the check valve on the HW oit side of WH from sticking

I also dump the fresh water tank as well as the low point drains

I do saniitize the entire RV water system once a year in the spring prior to first trip out

I’ve done it this way for the last 45 years or so ..

Yup I use a dual stage water filter on the city water hookup .. but I don’t want that stagnant water sitting in my RV

Whether the info is on a FB group or on this forum matters not to me .. I read many posts on various subjects and formulate what I chose to do based on the knowledge I’ve been able to gleem, from all the sources …

YMMV

 

[Stircrazy]

I do because the anode is a wear item and it’s only a turn of a wrench. I think it’s pure laziness if you’re not draining the tank.

if your anode isn't lasting a season then your using the wrong material. if it is going that hard switch to an aluminum rod, Magnesium rods are for soft water. anodes for hot water tanks that have them in the owners manual are an "annual" inspection So by emptying it at the end of the season and filling at the beginning you are doing the annual inspection.