Hot water tank draining

PackerBacker wrote:

camperforlife wrote:

Cecilt wrote:
Why pull the rod at all if you are just draining to winterize. Easiest is to open low point drains, open taps and flip pressure valve. All the water will drain out of the HWH negating the need to remove the anode.

My experience is that the low point drain will not completely drain the water heater. Also if you use antifreeze, you would have to fill the water heater completely with antifreeze to pressurize the hot water system to get it through all the hot water pipes. Much easier to pull the rod and bypass the water heater with the antifreeze.

I just open the low point drain then set the bypass off and pump anti-freeze thru the system without filling the hw tank. I winterize and dewinterize several times a winter since we use our trailer about 10 months a year. Using the low point drain speeds things up because I don't have to remove the anode rod. There's never enough water left in the hw tank to cause any issues due to ice expansion.

You don't get the sediment out of the tank by doing this. Removing the rod not only allows you to clean the sediment out but also allows you to check the rod for need of replacement.

I agree to a point but my experience had been that once you've sacrificed one rod through electrochemical reaction in a tank, you can go many years without 'using'up' another one. I've actually gone 6 years on the same rod with very little deterioration.

As far as sediment is concerned, I'll flush the tank every 3-4 years; not much ever comes out. I guess it depends upon the water quality wherever you are most of the time.

... Eric

Yep I've had a few baths. Just not thinking. I usually flip up the pressure relief valve 1st, then take the rod out. If you are normal you will probably get a bath now and then.

joesann wrote:
Just got our KZ Spree Travel Trailer ready for winter :( Forgot how to relieve the pressure on the hot water tank. Unscrewed the rod to drain the tank, and the extra pressure in the tank, I got a bath. How do you make it so there is less presure in the tank to prevent water from blasting out of the tank ?

Don't feel bad. I'm good for a water heater soaking about every 3 winterizing...