I winterized my TH this week and was pretty surprised at the amount of sediment in the water heater. The drain is slightly above the bottom of the heater so the sediment tends to stay in the bottom after draining. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get most of the sediment out? Should I just keep rinsing it and hope most of it works its way out, or is there something I could put in it to help break it down?Thanks for any suggestions.

I use one of these once a year. It seems to 'blast' whatever is in the tank out.Water Heater Flushing Tool...HERE

I too use a flushing tool like the one pictured by downtheroad. I have also used a wire coathanger that I straightened out and then bent a little hook on the end. Insaert it through the drain hole and rake out the sediment. Probably using both of these techniques will do the best job.

The Water Heater Tank Rinser looks like a good idea. I should get one myself.

downtheroad wrote:I use one of these once a year. It seems to 'blast' whatever is in the tank out.Water Heater Flushing Tool...HEREAgree. I had a couple old hoses that came off a washing machine. Actually, it was a Y hose with 3 ends. Right where the Y starts, it was molded with a little bend, just like the one Camping world sells, ecept it's rubber. I cut one end off and can attach the other end to a garden hose. I use that. Works great! The Camping World example has a much smaller hole at the end, causing a tremendous of force which would help break up any sediment, and because the tube is smaller, will drain at the same time you're pumping water through. My rubber hose version fits a little tighter in the water heater hole, so I have to continue to push in and out and let the water escape. But it works very well, and didn't cost anything since I already had the old hose and wasn't using it for anything.

We also use the flushing tool. ordered mine from Amazon. Very ease to use.

Water Heater Sediment Question | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

Bmach
Explorer II
Nov 23, 2013
Do you use a water filter?
popeyemth
Explorer
Nov 23, 2013
My owners manual instructs to close hot output valve and flush with the cold water input with drain plug removed.
tenbear
Explorer
Nov 23, 2013
I have used a length of plastic tubing, about 3' long, to siphon the water in the bottom of the heater out. That takes most of the sediment out, especially if you can get the tubing right on the bottom of the tank. Works for me.
MFL
Nomad II
Nov 23, 2013
I also use the rinser tool. I follow up with a shop vac, to remove what ever water may be left in tank bottom, at storage time.

I just duct tape a small hose to the end of vac hose, so it easily goes into the tank.

Jerry
Erie_Tom
Explorer
Nov 23, 2013
Nice tool! I would drain the tank and then leave the city water hooked up and run it as if filling the tank. That would flush out the sediment.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Nov 23, 2013
I have 3 shutoff valves on my water heater so I close the cold inlet valve, open the bypass valve and back-feed WH thru hot outlet with drain open when doing a flush/rinse on WH . (Probably could do same thing by just closing hot outlet valve but I like coming in from top to flush down)

That way I don't have a wand stuck in the drain hole blocking the blast draining/flushing. Dang Atwoods only have a 1/2" drain.
Dick_B
Explorer
Nov 23, 2013
CW has one called a Tank Rinser for $5.99. Some inventive RVers have made their own.
Sorry for the duplicate info. CW's tool used to be called a Tank Saver.
TxTiger
Explorer
Nov 23, 2013
Thanks everyone.
outdoorlovers
Explorer
Nov 23, 2013
We also use the flushing tool. ordered mine from Amazon. Very ease to use.
wmoses
Explorer
Nov 23, 2013
The Water Heater Tank Rinser looks like a good idea. I should get one myself.

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Water Heater Sediment Question

23 Replies

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