After 4 years of RVing, and just when I think I am getting the hang of it, another lesson is learned the hard way.I am in the process of putting the TT away for the winter. So I am pulling the anode rod to drain the water heater. I disconnect the city water hose to releive pressure and proceed to unscrew the anode. Suddenly, the anode rod launches out of the WH under pressure and a sustained blast of water crashes into my face. If my sons had seen it, I would be the deserving recepient of a lifetime of ridicule. Lucky I did not have the water heater turned on. Or the embarrasment could have turned more serious.So removing the city water hose DOES NOT releive pressure. You have to open the faucets inside the rig. But I guess all of you already knew that. I guess I did too. But it is so easy to forget even important steps on these rigs. This is one step I will not forget again. File under "stupid"

Or, maybe you could try releasing the pressure relief valve by flipping the little lever.Glad you were not hurt. Seems like everyone does this once. Don't let it get to you.Oh...And if you think now that you've done that....Now you know it all. You probably don't.

Awwww, what's 40 psi between friends?I haven't done that (yet) but I have removed the anode rod when the water was still a little hotter than it should've been.

On our Arctic Fox, there is a small relief valve about a foot above the anode. I lift up on the relief valve when I am ready to empty the water heater and water comes out. It releases the pressure. I also use the relief valve to release the air so the water heater can fill all the way up.

I also empty the hot water lines first with the valve open so there is no water in the hot water heater. I always thought that even just having water in there could cause it to push the rod out.

Oh yeah. The relief valve thats right in front of my face. I knew that.

I'll never do that again | Good Sam Community

old_guy
Explorer
Aug 14, 2014
What? you've only done it once. some of us have done it several times. stupid is stupid does. oops, told on my self
PortWentworthSa
Explorer
Aug 14, 2014
That's nuttin. Wait till ya plug your motorhome into a 220V outlet and watch your A/C unit pour smoke. Then enter your coach after you rip the power cord out of the plug and see that you fried every appliance, TV's, Fridge, sound system, inverter and the list went on. Total damage over $8,000.00. I sure could have used that blast of water from the water heater to cool my temper that day. Oh, the water heater fried as well.

We all screw up. That's what makes RV'ing so much fun.
mikestock
Explorer
Aug 14, 2014
PortWentworthSam wrote:
That's nuttin. Wait till ya plug your motorhome into a 220V outlet and watch your A/C unit pour smoke. Then enter your coach after you rip the power cord out of the plug and see that you fried every appliance, TV's, Fridge, sound system, inverter and the list went on. Total damage over $8,000.00. I sure could have used that blast of water from the water heater to cool my temper that day. Oh, the water heater fried as well.

We all screw up. That's what makes RV'ing so much fun.

Finally. Somebody who really admits his worst mistake.

I've made some mistakes, such as leaving the tv antenna up, but too embarrassed to admit the worst.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Aug 14, 2014
monkey44 wrote:
This thread sounds odd to me, I've had two campers, both had pressure releases at top on tank, and both had WH drain plugs at the bottom of the tank, and it drains out empty in about two or three minutes. Open HW faucet when draining.

When I fill it, I open the hot faucet in the sink until water flows out without popping or hissing ... then we know it's full and no air pocket.

Due to design of WH tank....

PRV is 'near' top of tank and when filling an 'air pocket' is established. Without the 'air pocket' the heated water will over pressurize and cause PRV to weep. (Water swells when heated..air pocket allows for that expansion)

OP.....
Reason system doesn't de-pressurize when you disconnected city water hose is due to check valves in system.
One inside that city water connection (so water doesn't flow out connection when using pump) and one inside pump (so water doesn't flow backwards thru pump when on city water)
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Aug 15, 2014
js6343js6343 wrote:
After 4 years of RVing, and just when I think I am getting the hang of it, another lesson is learned the hard way.

I am in the process of putting the TT away for the winter. So I am pulling the anode rod to drain the water heater. I disconnect the city water hose to releive pressure and proceed to unscrew the anode. Suddenly, the anode rod launches out of the WH under pressure and a sustained blast of water crashes into my face. If my sons had seen it, I would be the deserving recepient of a lifetime of ridicule. Lucky I did not have the water heater turned on. Or the embarrasment could have turned more serious.

So removing the city water hose DOES NOT releive pressure. You have to open the faucets inside the rig. But I guess all of you already knew that. I guess I did too. But it is so easy to forget even important steps on these rigs. This is one step I will not forget again. File under "stupid"

Well it took 5 years but I finally got to read about someone else that did the same thing I did!

I waited until the last minute to winterize my MH. Sitting watching TV one night and news of a blizzard and freezing temps had me running out side to winterize the MH! The sleet had already started.

In my haste I too forgot to relieve the pressure in the lines and when I went to take the HWH plug out after a couple of turns it shot out at my head like a rocket! Blew my glasses clean off my face. I was lucky I didn't loose an eye. :R

Whew! It sure is nice to know that I am not the only one that could allow that to happen!!:B:B
Carb_Cleaner
Explorer
Aug 15, 2014
When I did it, the anode rod only went a few feet. I remember thinking that it was a good thing my face wasn't there to catch it.
I relieve pressure in the lines with the low-point drain before I disconnect the city hose and to purge air so the water heater (I don't need a hot water heater) can fill. My LPD is easily accessible and I don't get wet or have to climb in the camper to turn faucets on and off.
opnspaces
Navigator II
Aug 15, 2014
Apparently I'm a slow learner because I can remember doing the same at least twice, maybe three times over the years. :B
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Aug 15, 2014
opnspaces wrote:
Apparently I'm a slow learner because I can remember doing the same at least twice, maybe three times over the years.
:B

We always do these mistakes at least twice to make sure we got it right. :B

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