Should I be emptying my hot water heater?
Should I be emptying my hot water heater after each trip? (We're weekenders -- one or two trips each month.) I haven't been, but now I'm starting to think I should. Will it hurt anything to have th...
Forum Discussion
In the past, I use to drain the water heater at the end of every camp out, usually after draining the holding tanks and before hitting the road. I also drain what's left in my fresh water tank at the same time. I said... in the past.
Did it hurt anything? Absolutely not! Actually, it helped clean out the lime flakes and build up in the bottom of the heater.
I haven't been doing this lately though? Why? Because we're using the water heater as we've been drive-way camping for the last 3 months. We've got water constantly in the camper, so the water heater has not been drained since last March when we returned home for our March trip to South Carolina.
Lately too, I've been leaving water in the tank from home to the campground, so it's already filled when getting there. But I still always drain the fresh tank when on the road ... always. Having the fresh water tank filled before we get there just makes filling the fresh water tank a bit faster, as 6 gallons don't have to be pumped to fill the water heater.
Coming home, regardless, I still drain it and will fill it again once back home (if we are using the camper in the driveway ... which we are.)
Is there an advantage to draining after every trip? I think there is, for the simple reason it helps vacate the lime build up flakes on the bottom of the tank and removes about 52 pounds of weight from the trailer.
In the past, we were never real sure when the next camp out would be either. Sometimes it would be a month before we got out. So this way, the water tank never had a chance to acquire smells or bad taste.
The disadvantage to draining after every trip is simple. It's an extra step and takes an extra minute to pull the plug or anode rod.
If draining, always turn the water heater off at the water heater, in addition to the switches inside the camper. This keeps from accidentally switching on the electric element with the tank empty. This is also a step you need to remember, which is a negative, as it requires something .. well .. you have to remember.
If my camper was sitting for more than a couple days with no usage of the water, I'd drain the water heater. But, that's just me!
In the end, it all depends upon the water you have in the tank and your own comfort level.
Did it hurt anything? Absolutely not! Actually, it helped clean out the lime flakes and build up in the bottom of the heater.
I haven't been doing this lately though? Why? Because we're using the water heater as we've been drive-way camping for the last 3 months. We've got water constantly in the camper, so the water heater has not been drained since last March when we returned home for our March trip to South Carolina.
Lately too, I've been leaving water in the tank from home to the campground, so it's already filled when getting there. But I still always drain the fresh tank when on the road ... always. Having the fresh water tank filled before we get there just makes filling the fresh water tank a bit faster, as 6 gallons don't have to be pumped to fill the water heater.
Coming home, regardless, I still drain it and will fill it again once back home (if we are using the camper in the driveway ... which we are.)
Is there an advantage to draining after every trip? I think there is, for the simple reason it helps vacate the lime build up flakes on the bottom of the tank and removes about 52 pounds of weight from the trailer.
In the past, we were never real sure when the next camp out would be either. Sometimes it would be a month before we got out. So this way, the water tank never had a chance to acquire smells or bad taste.
The disadvantage to draining after every trip is simple. It's an extra step and takes an extra minute to pull the plug or anode rod.
If draining, always turn the water heater off at the water heater, in addition to the switches inside the camper. This keeps from accidentally switching on the electric element with the tank empty. This is also a step you need to remember, which is a negative, as it requires something .. well .. you have to remember.
If my camper was sitting for more than a couple days with no usage of the water, I'd drain the water heater. But, that's just me!
In the end, it all depends upon the water you have in the tank and your own comfort level.
