. . . . when not using the trailer? The Shop Foreman at the dealership suggested that I drain the water heater whenever the trailer was going to set unused for more than a couple of days. His reasoning was that the "crud" build up from hard water deposits would be flushed out more often and could extend the life of the heater. I've not done that before, usually waiting 'til I winterized in the Fall, with any of the other units we've had. I replace the anode rod every 2 or 3 years but other than that have not had any issues with any of them. What are your thoughts?

Like you, I only drain the heater when winterizing in the fall. My unit is a 2008 fiver, purchased new in 2008, and I have never had to replace the anode. The heater works just fine. (I have no idea what is lurking inside the heater tank.)

Every couple of days is extreme overkill. Once a year, perhaps.Drain water heater post

I tend to drain and flush 3-4 times a year or whenever the relief valve starts dripping to replenish the air pocket.

I have learned that I need to drain the water heater more often than the rest of the fresh water system or stinky crud will invade. Thanks for the reminder.

Does anyone drain the HOT water heater . . . . | Good Sam Community

54 Replies

4x4van
Explorer III
Aug 15, 2017
ppine wrote:
There is a bacterium that lives in hot water that creates H2S, hydrogen sulfide. Drainging the tank will take care of it.
How did it get in there to begin with?;)

Does anybody drain the water heater in their stick & brick house when they go on a 3-4 day trip? How about a week long vacation? Shop foreman at the OP's dealership sounds like a fruit loop to me.
ppine
Explorer II
Aug 15, 2017
There is a bacterium that lives in hot water that creates H2S, hydrogen sulfide. Drainging the tank will take care of it.
mr__ed
Explorer
Aug 13, 2017
I had to drain mine while parked at an RV park in Hendersonville, NC due to the advance of winter, and My RV was going to be unused during that season. I'm glad I did it because it was a bitterly cold winter.
Hammerboy
Explorer
Aug 13, 2017
I'll drain if I'm not using it for a few weeks, too often when I don't I end up sanatizing it because it ends up smelling like rotten eggs.

Dan
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Aug 13, 2017
I didn't read this whole thread. I never drain mine until it's time to put it away for the winter. I am just a weekend camper and draining it every week would be too much work.
ppine
Explorer II
Aug 09, 2017
I installed a hot water heater bypass and rarely ever use it. If we need some hot water to wash dishes, we just heat it on the stove, rather than heating 5 gallons at a time.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jun 27, 2017
Hey, talk to George Carlin, he was the one who started the whole "Hot water doesn't need heating" thing. :)
TurnThePage
Explorer
Jun 27, 2017
Jayco-noslide wrote:
All these clever remarks about hot/cold water heater, etc. so enrich my RV experience. How could we be so stupid to refer to it as a "hot water heater".
Yes, I'll have to sip a soda/pop/coke and ponder that. :)

As it turns out, I just checked the water heater as it's been about 5 weeks since our last use of the trailer, and it reeked of rotten eggs, totally over powering.

Under the right conditions it's a REAL phenomenon. Would love for some of the snarky doubters to come on over and enjoy a wiff.
Jayco-noslide
Explorer
Jun 26, 2017
All these clever remarks about hot/cold water heater, etc. so enrich my RV experience. How could we be so stupid to refer to it as a "hot water heater".
2oldman
Explorer II
Jun 23, 2017
I drained mine today and glad I did. Anode rod with lots of pits and some white gunk on the socket it goes in. Flushed 'er out good.