We camping over Easter for the First trip of the season. Went to Arrowhead County Park in Neola Iowa and had a great weekend. When we got ready to leave and not knowing when we were going to go camping again, I blow out my water lines and drained my hot water heater, so the water wouldn't get stale or old setting in the lines.Was this over kill, or do several of you do the same thing. At the time, with baseball/softball season approaching, it may be at least Father's Day weekend before we'd be out again.Thanks for any inputs or other ideas.

I only blow mine out when there is freezing temperatures. There is no harm to leaving the lines pressurized. If you want to relieve some pressure just turn off the water pump (with city water not attached of course) then open each faucet for a second. If you're worried about contamination just let the water run for 10 seconds or so when you use the trailer after and extended period of sitting. IMO there's really no harm to letting it sit. The materials are basically the same stuff as in a house and people let that sit for years sometimes and it does fine.

Just make sure your water heater is off(or you refill water heater) before you plug into electric again. Empty tank means instant element burnout.

I will offer a different opinion. Do remember science class an the petri dish growing bacteria? Introduction of air (with bacteria) in a moist environment is not a good thing. I would sanitize the system before use if you drink the water.That said I always drain my water heater when I'm not going to use it for a while. Just make sure power is off or element is toast.

I drain in the fall, hit the bypass for the water heater, pull the plug. (Mine does not have an electric element). Then I blow out the lines and suck in a little antifreeze. Fill the traps too. When it's finally above freezing for a week here all week. (So far, no joy) I Sanitize and fill the system. I don't drain it again until fall. I keep it full of water in the yard, as a power outage or two have caught me in the past and at least I can still have water/shower. (On a well). I don't travel with that water typically. (Weight) I don't think you harmed anything... just a lot of extra work.

Blowing out water lines? | Good Sam Community

colliehauler
Explorer III
Apr 09, 2015
I will offer a different opinion. Do remember science class an the petri dish growing bacteria? Introduction of air (with bacteria) in a moist environment is not a good thing. I would sanitize the system before use if you drink the water.

That said I always drain my water heater when I'm not going to use it for a while. Just make sure power is off or element is toast.
bob213
Explorer
Apr 09, 2015
Just make sure your water heater is off(or you refill water heater) before you plug into electric again. Empty tank means instant element burnout.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Apr 09, 2015
No harm draining.
mtofell1
Explorer
Apr 09, 2015
I only blow mine out when there is freezing temperatures. There is no harm to leaving the lines pressurized. If you want to relieve some pressure just turn off the water pump (with city water not attached of course) then open each faucet for a second. If you're worried about contamination just let the water run for 10 seconds or so when you use the trailer after and extended period of sitting. IMO there's really no harm to letting it sit. The materials are basically the same stuff as in a house and people let that sit for years sometimes and it does fine.

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