Water Heater when draining leaks into trailer

From the factory they use silicone and lots of it.
It's a good location for silicone. It doesn't see UV and it can stand up to being under water.

One of these and a short piece of hose.

Dry out the water heater compartment completely, then get some caulking and reseal that seam where the water heater compartment joins the inside wall of the camper. If you can reach it, caulk from the inside of that same seam.

When I drain mine, there is always a little water puddling at the bottom of the water heater compartment, on that aluminum edge. I watch for leaks there also, because I have an outside, flip down stove and sink right next to it, and it does leak onto the floor of the camper, inside the bottom cabinet when I splash water over and into that compartment. Careful examination, and I found the silicon type caulking they used to seal that compartment water tight was wiggling loose. I recaulked it early this spring and it's been good ever since.

Water runs down-hill. If you have a lip, that last bit of water will never go over it. But, you can keep it from running through the seam and onto the floor of your camper.

ScottG wrote:
From the factory they use silicone and lots of it.
It's a good location for silicone. It doesn't see UV and it can stand up to being under water.

That's a good idea.

They must have used 2 full sized tubes of silicone on mine....it's ugly, but it doesn't leak when I drain it.

Our previous fiver leaked inside while draining the water heater. I sealed with silicone. Also after I unscrew the drain plug I then screw a 8" long nipple in to allow the water to drain totally outside.

Before pulling the anode, just take a piece of aluminum foil and make a "chute" to direct water outboard.

It will slip up under the boss into which the anode is screwed.

Use a folded aluminum pie pan to make a shield to divert the water. And when you drain, lift the lever on the pop-off valve, but be sure and stand back. Most of the water will shoot out about a foot. and lots of silicone is good also.

Mine may be silicone, but is white, and I was guessing dicor, since it is quite thick. Good thing it does not leak, as a rain from the right direction, fills it to run over and out. I later use a sponge to remove the fair amount left about plug hole deep. Makes me wonder about the fridge and furnace vent, but never been a problem that I know of.

OP...you need something better than that tape to seal.

Jerry

I use the hose adaptor.