What if have never used the hot water

If your water heater tank is not in bypass - as said - there is water in it and all of the need for draining and flushing a hot water tank that is used, holds for one that is not used - though you are using the water in the tank since it is not in bypass. Every time you open a hot faucet and get cold water you are taking water out of the hot water tank and putting new water in. If you want to ignore the hot water system all together, drain the hot water tank, flush it out, dry it out as best you can (usually there is still water on the bottom (I put the end of the tube on a hand water pump into mine and pulled out the rest of the water on the bottom). Close the tank and put it in bypass. Also look to see if there is a small electrical connection that a wire from the hot water heater is going into - usually right near the tank inside - and pull that connection off so that you can't accidentally turn on the hot water heater switch on the wall and do damage. (Mine looks like a little circuit board on the end of a thin wire that plugs into a receptacle on the cabinet wall where the hot water tank is.) Now, in bypass no water will go into the hot water tank and you get cold water out of all of the hot water faucet handles when turned.

My hw tank stays full all season and only gets drained when it's put away for the winter. We go camping once per month for 8 months/year - we don't always use the hw heater but use the HW faucets so that water does circulate through the tank. The by-pass is a pain to get to, so I never use it.

Gerry

If you're not using it drain it. But as another said, better make sure it doesn't turn on with no water in it or you will burn up your heating element.

If you don't use the hot water tank and don't drain it often the water will start to smell after a few months. Especially if you filled it with well water. Don't ask me how I know.

If you have hooked up to city water then your hot water tank more than likely has water in it, unless you had your hot water bypass on. Draining the hot water tank is very simple.

if your not going to use it why open the bypass

Do you use it on electric or not at all? If you never use it at all, leave it in bypass and empty. Just be sure you shut the breaker off so it is not turned on by accident when empty.