Anti freeze in water heater
When the tech winterized our MH, the anti freeze went through the water heater ( check valve failed). Is it OK to wait until we dewinterize in the spring to flush out the water heater? (our MH is in ...
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Antifreeze in the water heater is not a problem as long as it's the potable RV antifreeze. Every year when we winterize I intentionally put at least a gallon of antifreeze in the water heater. I did this on our 2001 Adventurer for over 12 years and do the same for our 2013 Adventurer. The drain plug is slightly above the bottom so there will always be some water in it unless it's flushed out.
Atwood says there's no problem with leaving a small amount of water in the heater. However ice in the heater makes it harder to flush and fill the system when we want to use the motorhome in the winter months.
As for the check valve failing I'm assuming you mean the one on the exit side. The one on the inlet side keeps hot water from flowing back into the fresh water tank. The one on the exit side is supposed to keep cold water from entering the heater when a cold water faucet is opened.
It's more likely the tech didn't turn the winterizing valve to shut off the flow of water to the heater. Changing a check valve can be a miserable job if your heater is in a hard to reach place. Be sure the valve actually failed (not that the tech forgot to switch the winterizing valve) before you attempt to replace it.
Atwood says there's no problem with leaving a small amount of water in the heater. However ice in the heater makes it harder to flush and fill the system when we want to use the motorhome in the winter months.
As for the check valve failing I'm assuming you mean the one on the exit side. The one on the inlet side keeps hot water from flowing back into the fresh water tank. The one on the exit side is supposed to keep cold water from entering the heater when a cold water faucet is opened.
It's more likely the tech didn't turn the winterizing valve to shut off the flow of water to the heater. Changing a check valve can be a miserable job if your heater is in a hard to reach place. Be sure the valve actually failed (not that the tech forgot to switch the winterizing valve) before you attempt to replace it.
