Hot Water Flush

The last time I flushed mine, I put a gallon of vinegar in it, let it sit for several hours and then flushed it again. More "stuff" came loose and washed out.

Watch out, the grass doesn't like the vinegar, be sure to flood the area with a lot of water to dilute it.

I've also gone to a three filter set up for incoming water, it does help cut down on the stuff in the tank.

Bill

This is one of the main reasons why the heating element will quickly fail if the water heater is not flushed when it is replaced.

The same thing happens in our home water heater too. That lime build up can grow several inches deep in the bottom of a home water heater. That's why is recommended to flush your home water heater every so often. If that lime build up gets high enough to touch the bottom heating element, the heating element will short out. That's usually the sing its time for a new water heater, as that lime build up is almost impossible to flush out once it gets that high.

Then what once started out as a 75 pound water heater, now weighs 175 pounds because of all the lime in the bottom.

In an RV, flushing that lime build up out regularly is a good thing, and should not be overlooked. If the build up reaches the heating element, it will short out in an RV too. And the distance between the bottom of the tank and that element is not very much.

I flush mine with an old water hose used on the back of a washing machine. I simply cut it about 12 inches long. It's the perfect size to fit in the RV water heater drain hole.

And oh... by the way ... Lime is in water everywhere. It's just in some places, it's more concentrated than others. So if you think being on city water opposed to a well reduces the lime and calcium in the water, sorry to bust your bubble, it might be less, but it's still there. It just takes longer to build up in your water heater since its not so concentrated.

Many years ago as a newby, the first time I drained my water heater for the winter I forgot to relieve the pressure first and then ease the anode rod out. The anode rod popped out and I had water along with all that crud all down my jeans. I thought something was wrong with the WH until I started reading about the need to flush regularly. And now I use a wand also.