storage

[g4sbrg]

OK so I have spent the day checking it out, (my new to me 2004 sprinter) and oddly enough all seems to be working (except the central heat, it too hot to get it to turn on at the moment) anyways I read in the manual about sanitizing the fresh water tank and have done it. my question is should I leave the plug out of the bottom of the water heater until I go on my next (first) trip ?? what are your common practices with the fresh water systems

[CenTex]

OK, I see where you are coming from. I do drain it if I winterize, the winters are so mild here that I do not always winterize. If I get caught off guard and a colder than normal night sneaks up on me I will turn the furnace on and set it at 55. Also I do use it quite often throughout the entire year. Winter camping is not bad here with the milder temps.

[greende]

CenTex wrote:
I have just always left mine full of water. From what I am reading I am in the minority here. Is there something I should know that I don't know about this subject? I have an aluminum tank and thus no anode rod. I do flush my tank from time to time.

I leave mine full til I winterize as well. Never had a problem in 40 years.

[dpgllg]

CenTex wrote:
I have just always left mine full of water. From what I am reading I am in the minority here. Is there something I should know that I don't know about this subject? I have an aluminum tank and thus no anode rod. I do flush my tank from time to time.

I see you live in Texas and may not need to worry about freezing. Also if you use your rig often then no you wouldn't need to empty it. So freezing while stored and stale water are the two big reasons

[CenTex]

I have just always left mine full of water. From what I am reading I am in the minority here. Is there something I should know that I don't know about this subject? I have an aluminum tank and thus no anode rod. I do flush my tank from time to time.

[dpgllg]

Around my house the wasps / hornets seem to look for any place they can build and I bet they would love an empty hot water tank!

I also just hand tighten enough to keep it in

[Mile_High]

skipnchar wrote:
My opinion is "Absolutely not". Bugs etc. can crawl in and the threads are subject to rust if the plug is left out. Put it back in (but finger tight if you like). Any rust or corrosion on the threads of the plug will be cleaned out when you open it up again. The less air that gets in the tank when it's empty the less corrosion will occur.

Never even though about bugs and nests. I've always left the rod out buy may change my thinking.

[fj12ryder]

On mine there is usually a bit of standing water that will dry out given the opportunity. Seems like a good idea to let it all dry out. Air is going to get in there when you drain the tank and air and moisture left in there will cause corrosion. I just like the idea of letting it dry out.

"The less air that gets in the tank when it's empty the less corrosion will occur." Not sure I totally agree with that unless you're purged the air to begin with. Hey, JMO.

And I use a dab of anti-corrosion paste on the threads of the anode rod.

I usually use a piece of foam or something malleable that is breathable but keeps the bugs out.

[skipnchar]

My opinion is "Absolutely not". Bugs etc. can crawl in and the threads are subject to rust if the plug is left out. Put it back in (but finger tight if you like). Any rust or corrosion on the threads of the plug will be cleaned out when you open it up again. The less air that gets in the tank when it's empty the less corrosion will occur.

[g4sbrg]

I had thought about the bugs so I put it back in, did you mean a plug like and air tool has as a muffler/vent

[fj12ryder]

I leave the anode rod out of my water heater when I drain it, but put a breathable plug in there to keep the bugs out. But that's just me, other people may do it differently.