Forum Discussion

Explorer

Nov 11, 2015

Pulled my WH plug, is this calcium?

I winterized my camper and pulled the water heater plug last night to drain it. When I pulled it out, this rod came with it and it was covered in this white ****. I can only assume it's calcium? As the water drained out, chunks of this stuff flowed out with it.

This is a new camper and my first time pulling any WH plug. Is this normal? I have city water, but this looks like havoc from well water. I dropped it off to the dealer last night for some warranty work before storage. Is this a concern I should bring up with them? I can't imagine this stuff floating around in a water heater can be good for it? How would you even clean it out?

2015-11-11_07-31-37 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

34 Replies

RoyBell
Explorer
Nov 11, 2015
I assume I am to replace the whole rod each season? Being "sacrificial"
RoyBell
Explorer
Nov 11, 2015
Wow, thanks for the quick reply guys. We have good water here and never needed a water softener so this surprised me. I will put that on my list of things to do in spring time. Had I known I would had flushed it prior so it would be ready to rock in spring.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Nov 11, 2015
RoyBell wrote:
This is a new camper and my first time pulling any WH plug. Is this normal?

Your camper has a Suburban water heater with a porcelain lined steel tank that requires the use of a sacraficial anode rod ... yours has performed exactly as it should to protect the interior lining of the tank. You'll find a white gooey sort of mess left behind inside the tank ... best way to get rid of it is to use a tank rinser designed specifically for the purpose.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Nov 11, 2015
It is normal. You should flush out the tank before replacing it.

Now check the one in your house. Very few people do.