Did I dodge a bullet?

Hi Americal. Had propane on so kids could use furnace. Dave

Boxerslave wrote:
Hey Dutchmen No switch outside. Drained tank by pulling nylon plug, blew lines and reinstalled plug. Clear hoses at heater so when I found the tank was hot I could see air bubbles rising from tank so I assume some water in it but not a lot. Any way to stop it from lighting on propane if switched on accidently?

Close the valves on the propane tanks

Hey Dutchmen No switch outside. Drained tank by pulling nylon plug, blew lines and reinstalled plug. Clear hoses at heater so when I found the tank was hot I could see air bubbles rising from tank so I assume some water in it but not a lot. Any way to stop it from lighting on propane if switched on accidently?

Does your water heater have a rocker switch at the water heater? If so, start making sure it's flipped off too whenever you drain the water heater. And make sure the switch is off inside the camper too.

If the water heater was warm, are you sure you drained the water? It's possible there was still water in the tank and the heating element was still under water. I think you dodged the bullet, but you really won't know for sure until spring.

I put a secondary switch on my on-board water pump too. The switches for lights, slides, water heater, and water pump are all in the same spot. Over the last couple years I have found the water pump running when the fresh water tank was empty. I don't know how that happened, but it did (several times).

I ran a second automotive type toggle switch, so both switches have to be "on" for the pump to run now. When I drain the water tank I always flip the switch at that time. Now I flip them both. The second switch is NOT any near close to the factory installed switch. It's actually on the wall under our bed. Since I did this, the pump has never been left running with empty tanks again.

As inexpensive as most elements are it wouldnt hurt to just replace it since it is winterized

Some hot water heaters never fully drain when removing the sacrifical rod. It is designed for the situation you described. Refill with water and try the element. If it heats you should be good.

Boxerslave wrote:
Kids slept in tt over Xmas. Winterized of course. Turned on water heater instead of lights by accident and I caught it today when I got the bedding. Removed access cover to check the element and the tank was hot, no water in it. Do I consider myself extremely lucky or do I change element anyway?

If the tank was hot it proves the heating element is not burned out so yes, you dodged the bullet.

wannavolunteerFT wrote:
So now, they get the house and I go out and have some privacy from all the visitors and sleep through the night even if the baby doesn't.

:C :C

Boxerslave wrote:
Excellent point OB. Propane was on for furnace and I cannot remember if one or both switches were on ( one for AC other for gas and both side by side) Heater is an atwood and going by my track record I would bet the element fried and the gas warmed the tank.

New electric element and you should be good to go.

I agree with nineoaks.