How often do you drain your hotwater tank? I was draining mine after every trip due to the water being so hard but it does become a pain. My trailer is parked for 6 weeks until my next trip and I am not draining it this time. I will check to see whats left of the anode rod prior to leaving for my trip.

If you are talking about the water heater, once or twice a year. If I have to winterize and when I sanitize the fresh water tank.

We do not need to winterize so we drain and flush the hot water heater once per year. We look at the anode rod to see if it needs to be replaced. We flush with a narrow flexible nozzle that goes on the end of the hose and is made for that purpose.

I don't leave water in mine for more than a few weeks.You'll end up with the stinky water.-- From experienceJack L

Depends on the quality of the water and use. If it will be more then a couple of weeks before I use it I drain the water. Water heaters are know to develop a smell if they sit stagnant for a long period of time. If in use I don't worry about it.

Since I full time.. When it needs it. If I am dry camping or running off my on-board for other reasons I listen to the action of the water pump when the Ice Maker Cycles.. Or rather I used to when I had an ice maker.... 3 cycles of the pump ok, 4 or 5 = drain the tank and re-establish air cushion.

how often do you drain | Good Sam Community

Halibut214
Explorer
Aug 10, 2015
PackerBacker wrote:
chrizg wrote:
cbshoestring wrote:
I open both hot and cold drains as I am packing up. Doesn't completely drain the tank (I am not pulling the drain plug) but it takes most of the water out of the system. I frequently forget to close them, then I leave a trail on the way out of the CG.

Opening the hot/cold drains doesn't take any water out of your water heater..

Yes it does. That's how I drained mine for years with both the Suburban and Atwood units that I have owned.

For anyone reading this don't get the idea that opening your hot and cold water drains will drain your tank. If may work for one but unless you have water than runs uphill it does NOT work. Hot water comes out of the top of the tank, not the bottom.
Community Alumni
Aug 10, 2015
chrizg wrote:
cbshoestring wrote:
I open both hot and cold drains as I am packing up. Doesn't completely drain the tank (I am not pulling the drain plug) but it takes most of the water out of the system. I frequently forget to close them, then I leave a trail on the way out of the CG.

Opening the hot/cold drains doesn't take any water out of your water heater..

Yes it does. That's how I drained mine for years with both the Suburban and Atwood units that I have owned.
Community Alumni
Aug 10, 2015
Oops, double post
sullivanclan
Explorer
Aug 10, 2015
Any suggestions on dealing with that water heater smell, almost acidic smell after we just purchased a used class C motorhome? Any help appreciated, I did a search and didn't find anything other than this post. My thought was to remove the drain plug, use of those thin tools attached to a garden house and hose out, and then bleach....
chrizg
Explorer
May 11, 2015
cbshoestring wrote:
I open both hot and cold drains as I am packing up. Doesn't completely drain the tank (I am not pulling the drain plug) but it takes most of the water out of the system. I frequently forget to close them, then I leave a trail on the way out of the CG.

Opening the hot/cold drains doesn't take any water out of your water heater..
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
May 11, 2015
I only do it when I winterize. But, I do go camping almost every weekend. Plus, mine is difficult to drain. I do have purdy good water here though.
wing_zealot
Explorer
May 11, 2015
Goostoff wrote:
We camp every other weekend so we dont bother. I we happen to skip for some odd reason and it will be 3 weeksI will drain the water heater. I have been through the rotten water heater smell before and I will not have it happen again. Then it just gets drained in the winter.
The first time you get that rotten water smell you'll also believe in draining after every trip
Goostoff
Explorer
May 11, 2015
We camp every other weekend so we dont bother. I we happen to skip for some odd reason and it will be 3 weeksI will drain the water heater. I have been through the rotten water heater smell before and I will not have it happen again. Then it just gets drained in the winter.
brirene
Explorer
May 11, 2015
rockhillmanor wrote:
Trackrig wrote:
When I winterize.

Bill

I don't have rhm's little avatar, but if I did it would say "what they said'...aka x3
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
May 11, 2015
Trackrig wrote:
When I winterize.

Bill