Had a friend advise that its best to pull the rod out of the hot water heater panel after every trip to train the hot water heater. Mine is hard to get to, and tough to do. I don't ever remember seeing any family members do this with their rigs, but could be wrong.Is this an every trip thing? Any tips?

I do it once a year at the end of the season.You don't pull the anode out of your residential WH every few weeks, why do it to your RV?

That's too much work. If you want to drain your water heater, flip off any power or gas to it and remove the drain plug. It's a good idea to keep it empty if your not using it.

I look at mine once a year when I drain the hot water heater. Haven't replaced it yet - still looks good. We don't use the hot water heater all that much. Just as easy to heat some dish washing hot water on the stove. Take our showers in the bath area or standing up in front of sink when out in the woods...Roy Ken

Use my rigs 12 mo a year and NEVER have drained the water heater. I've never had a problem.

Pull your hot water rod after every trip? | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

spoon059
Explorer II
May 22, 2014
I used to just pull it in the fall when I winterized. Once year we didn't camp as much and water just sat in the water heater tank. It started smelling and we got the sulfur odor. Since then, I drain the water heater as part of my camp breakdown after every trip. I have a socket that fits my anode rod and its super easy to get to it. Takes 30 seconds to drain, saves me the trouble of running a bleach solution and letting it sit, running another solution, letting it sit and testing the water for odor.

To each his own. If you don't get any odor, I wouldn't bother. Once you get that sulfur stench, you might find it worthwhile to drain it more often.
1775
Explorer
May 22, 2014
I pull the anode rod out twice in an RVing season and flush the hot water tank which accumulates a lot of mineral deposits. There is a special wand to flush the hot water tank out under some water pressure and flood everything out of the tank. Other than that the anode rod and the water stays in.
Allworth
Explorer II
May 22, 2014
Then there are those of us who have a heater that does not use an anode rod.
concord32
Explorer
May 22, 2014
Campinfan wrote:
I must be the only one who drains the tank after every trip. It was easy when the trailer I had had an Atwood...it was a plastic plug. It was a 10 gallon tank. The heated water started to smell if I let it set. It took about 3 minutes to do and I let it drain while doing other things breaking down camp.

X2 I also do this after every trip.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
May 22, 2014
Mine gets pulled out and checked at the end of the season. I don`t drain it after every trip, never have. the only way to drain mine is to pull the anode!
GMT830
Explorer
May 22, 2014
I drain mine before leaving for home every trip. W/H is at the front of the trailer and I have too much tongue weight as it is. I have a quick drain in there now but will be switching to the anode rod with the quick drain.
DatacomGuy
Explorer
May 22, 2014
I need to read about mine and see if it has a plug. I wouldnt mind pulling the rod if it wasn't such a PITA to get to and get in and out. And i need to buy a socket that fits to make it a hair easier.

If it had a plug, i'd be happier.. but i dont think it does.
et2
Explorer
May 22, 2014
I do every trip as well. Bacteria will grow if it sits without being replenished with fresh water. My wife doesn't like the stink water after it sits.
Sandia_Man
Explorer II
May 21, 2014
Just when winterizing.
timmac
Explorer
May 21, 2014
Once a year is all that is needed, even once every 2 years is also OK, every trip is way to much unless you only use it once a year.