How to Properly Winterize Suburban Water Heater

Leave the plug out, bypass the water heater, disconnect the connector at the circuit board to prevent anyone from inadvertently turning on an empty water heater, done. There is nothing else you need to do to winterize a water heater.

One of the posts says that RV antifreeze does not expand. RV antifreeze rated for -50F will burst copper pipes at -50F and will burst pvc pipes at -10F. It starts to freeze at +12F and will expand as it freezes. It should never be diluted. RV Antifreese rated at -100F can be diluted 1/1 and provide the same protection as -50F Rv antifreeze.

This has been very helpful. Thanks to you who took time to answer.

Best regards,
Big Mike

I would also do a flush on the tank. If you leave all the deposits in the tank, they will dry out and stick together causing problems down the road such as improper heating of the water.

If you have never flushed your tank, do it and see all the gunk that comes out even if you have a water filter.

Once I bypass and winterize the water system and the tank is drained, I leave the annode out all winter, install it first use in the spring.

I winterized mine by removing the anode rod, opening the pressure valve, and letting it empty.

It also is a good idea to turn the water pump off first before doing this.

Leave it empty. With anode rod out of the hole. If you get A/F in the tank, you will have trouble getting the taste, smell out of the water when you use it.

Sanitize in the spring with 1/2 cup bleach in full Fresh water tank. Then fill the water heater from that tank. Let it sit in there for at least an hour. Then drain both tanks and refill with fresh clean water.

We don't put RV antifreeze in water heaters because of the expense. If you are going to put it in there - you need to fully winterize.

The danger from freezing is when the water has no place to expand. It will expand and break things. An empty water heater tank with plenty of air surface can easily handle expansion of the small amount of water remaining in the tank.

Yes, RV antifreeze does turn slushy and will freeze if it gets cold enough - but it does not expand as it freezes.

Sanitizing - just wait until your normal pre-use sanitizing process - run the bleach/ sanitizing mixture through all water lines from your on-board water tank.

Rinse, repeat.

Personally, I don't put the anode back in until I'm ready to use the rig. Here in Texas I'm usually camping every month at some time between Sept and May.

We store our rigs in July and August, sometimes June - when it is too hot to camp even with 50Amp and two ACs running full time. The rig might be cool, but I don't go camping to sit locked in the rig.

By pass the WH if you plan on running rv anti-freeze thru plumbing system

Sanitize.

Maybe at the start of camping season.....no real need prior when storing.

The next question should logically be how to sanitize. Should I put bleach solution into the Water Heater or leave it bypassed?
I do the former.