Adding Drain Valve to Atwood Water Heater
I'm almost sure I read on the forum about someone replacing the plastic drain plug on a water heater with a valve. But, I did a search and found nothing. The water heater on my old HTT had a Suburba...
Forum Discussion
At wood recommends that the tank be flushed periodically to remove sediment that results from the aluminum cladding doing its job. I flush mine out using a flushing rod I picked up somewhere. If you just drain your tank, the crud sits in the bottom of the tank. You need to agitate the sediment. When I flush it I get a lot of aluminum oxide that comes out of the tank.
The sulfer smell is not from bacteria, but from the result of the cladding doing its job.
I clipped this from the Atwood manual:
FLUSHING YOUR WATER HEATER TO REMOVE THE ROTTEN EGG ODOR
Hydrogen sulfide can result when the protective cladding on the interior of the tank is doing its’ job by preventing corrosion and therefore premature tank failure. The electro galvanic action of the cladding material releases hydrogen from the water. If sulfur or any of its’ combinations are present in the water the two will combine and produce hydrogen sulfide. This compound produces the “rotten egg odor”. Hydrogen sulfide can also be present in your fresh water supply. It is the product of the decay of animal matter and as little as one mg/liter can cause a perceptible odor. Smell the water before starting the flushing procedure. If your fresh water has the rotten egg odor, you will need to find another source of fresh water before flushing and refilling the entire water storage system.
1. Turn off your main water supply - your pump or your water hook up source.
2. Drain your water heater tank. Due to the location of the drain plug, approximately two quarts of water will remain in the bottom of the tank. If while draining the unit you note that it is flowing sporadically or trickling, instead of flowing steadily, we recommend one of two things. First open your pressure-temperature relief valve to allow air into the tank and secondly, take a small gauge wire or coat hanger device and prod through the drain opening to eliminate any obstructions.
3. After thoroughly draining the tank, to remove the smell flush the entire system from water inlet all the way to holding tank.
For flush use — four parts vinegar mixed to two parts water. If you elect to use air pressure, it may be applied either through the inlet or outlet on the rear of the tank or applied through the pressure-temperature relief valve part. Remove the pressure-temperature relief valve and insert your air pressure
through the pressure-temperature relief valve coupling. In either case, with the drain valve open, the air pressure will force the remaining water out of the unit.
If air pressure is unavailable, your unit can be flushed with fresh water. Fresh water should be pumped into the tank either with the onboard pump or external water pressure. External pressure may be hosed into the unit either through the inlet or outlet found on the rear of the tank or the pressure-temperature relief valve coupling located on the front of the unit. Continue this flushing process for approximately five minutes allowing ample time for the fresh water to agitate the stagnant water on the bottom of the tank and forcing the deposits through the drain opening.
4. Upon completion of the steps above, replace the drain plug and the pressure-temperature relief valve.
The Atwood water heater is designed for use in a Recreation Vehicle. If you use your vehicle frequently or for long periods of
time, flushing the water heater several times a year will prolong the life of the storage tank.
The sulfer smell is not from bacteria, but from the result of the cladding doing its job.
I clipped this from the Atwood manual:
FLUSHING YOUR WATER HEATER TO REMOVE THE ROTTEN EGG ODOR
Hydrogen sulfide can result when the protective cladding on the interior of the tank is doing its’ job by preventing corrosion and therefore premature tank failure. The electro galvanic action of the cladding material releases hydrogen from the water. If sulfur or any of its’ combinations are present in the water the two will combine and produce hydrogen sulfide. This compound produces the “rotten egg odor”. Hydrogen sulfide can also be present in your fresh water supply. It is the product of the decay of animal matter and as little as one mg/liter can cause a perceptible odor. Smell the water before starting the flushing procedure. If your fresh water has the rotten egg odor, you will need to find another source of fresh water before flushing and refilling the entire water storage system.
1. Turn off your main water supply - your pump or your water hook up source.
2. Drain your water heater tank. Due to the location of the drain plug, approximately two quarts of water will remain in the bottom of the tank. If while draining the unit you note that it is flowing sporadically or trickling, instead of flowing steadily, we recommend one of two things. First open your pressure-temperature relief valve to allow air into the tank and secondly, take a small gauge wire or coat hanger device and prod through the drain opening to eliminate any obstructions.
3. After thoroughly draining the tank, to remove the smell flush the entire system from water inlet all the way to holding tank.
For flush use — four parts vinegar mixed to two parts water. If you elect to use air pressure, it may be applied either through the inlet or outlet on the rear of the tank or applied through the pressure-temperature relief valve part. Remove the pressure-temperature relief valve and insert your air pressure
through the pressure-temperature relief valve coupling. In either case, with the drain valve open, the air pressure will force the remaining water out of the unit.
If air pressure is unavailable, your unit can be flushed with fresh water. Fresh water should be pumped into the tank either with the onboard pump or external water pressure. External pressure may be hosed into the unit either through the inlet or outlet found on the rear of the tank or the pressure-temperature relief valve coupling located on the front of the unit. Continue this flushing process for approximately five minutes allowing ample time for the fresh water to agitate the stagnant water on the bottom of the tank and forcing the deposits through the drain opening.
4. Upon completion of the steps above, replace the drain plug and the pressure-temperature relief valve.
The Atwood water heater is designed for use in a Recreation Vehicle. If you use your vehicle frequently or for long periods of
time, flushing the water heater several times a year will prolong the life of the storage tank.
