Water Heater Vinegar Soak

[DCamp84]

Hey guys. I want to flush out the water heater tank before I start the season. Just got our first camper in march and our maiden voyage will be next week. Detwinterizing everything I noticed a bunch of sediment in the bottom of the water heater tank (suburban) and the annode rod was pretty deteriorated. Got a new annode rod and I'd like to flush the tank and try to clean it out as best I can as it looks like it's never been done (camper is a 2011). I've seen good results with the vinegar soak but everyone I saw was done with a winterizing kit which my camper doesn't have. So my question is how do I fill my tank with the vinegar. Can I hook up a hose to the intake side of my water pump and suck it up that way? Is it safe to run vinegar through the water pump with out hurting it? Sorry for the long winded question just wanted to be as clear as possible. TIA!!

[mileshuff]

guidry wrote:
I use bleach but you can use vinegar too.

Bleach will sanitize but does little to remove hard calcium deposits that vinegar will.

[larry_barnhart]

We had a leaking relief valve in our water heater. Not an air chamber issue. At home I removed it and soaked it in vinegar for maybe 3 days. it never leaked aging for several years. I replaced it 2 summers ago just because it was dirty again. I will look into the citric acid. Always like another great idea.

chevman

[Charlie_D_]

Not a fan of vinegar and you might try citric acid. Saw a commercial on TV about Hurriclean. Designed to clean the rust in a toilet tank. Tried it and also used a homemade brew. Both worked well.

I bought powered Citric acid from Amazon and mixed it with baking soda. Creates a lot of foam to clean the toilet tank and where deposits form around the water inlet to a toilet. Citric acid is what Keurig sells to clean their coffee pot.

Also used it to clean the stainless on our dishwasher.

[md_procouple]

If want check out the free video at... www.RVGEEKS.com On how to use the wand and vinegar as well as replacing the element. Good Luck and Happy Camping !!!

[mt1729]

Drain your hot water heater. Then use the hose near the water pump that is normally used to winterize your rv & put it in the bottle of vinegar. Turn on the pump and it will go into the water heater.

[lakeside013104]

DCamp84 wrote:

lakeside013104 wrote:
Forget the vinegar.

Use this: Tool


Lakeside

got the wand that's what I'm going to use to wash all the sediment out, but I actually have a bore-scope and the heating element looks like a piece of coral lol. So that's what I want the vinegar to dissolve and clean out

If it was me, I would replace the heating element rather than attempt to clean it. Very simple to replace.

Good luck.

Lakeside

[larry_barnhart]

I have owned this tool for many years. what does it do to the pipes inside the RV. To me it only works on the water heater but I agree it is nice to have.

chevman

[DCamp84]

lakeside013104 wrote:
Forget the vinegar.

Use this: Tool


Lakeside

got the wand that's what I'm going to use to wash all the sediment out, but I actually have a bore-scope and the heating element looks like a piece of coral lol. So that's what I want the vinegar to dissolve and clean out

[missourijan]

Agree with lakeside013104, you need to rinse out all that calcium from the hole where the anode rod goes. We've used it for years, does a great job

[lakeside013104]

Forget the vinegar.

Use this: Tool


Lakeside

[larry_barnhart]

I have use vinegar for years each time we come back from 6 months in Az. I drain everything including the low point drain and water heater. I buy vinegar at Costco and 8 gallons. Pour one in the fresh tank and fill that bottle with water, Keep doing the same and have 16 gallons in the fresh tank. Turn on the pump and when the water tank is full open a hot water faucet until you know vinegar is coming out and do the same to the others. I zip lock a one gallon bag over the shower head . 3 days later drain and flush.

chevman

[rockhillmanor]

Throw a gallon of vinegar in the fresh water tank just partially filled with water so its not so diluted and then turn on all the hot faucets and let your fresh water pump pump it in until you smell the vinegar at the faucet then shut them off and let it sit overnight.

Since you drained the water tank to repair I'm assuming you haven't run water and it is still empty.

So Just make sure NOT to turn your hot water heater on because the tank is empty and you'll burn it up. How water heater does not need to be on to run vinegar cleanse thru.

I use one of these when I want to put antifreeze and/or vinegar into my fresh tank. Has a screen in it and hose extends to what ever length you need to get it into your fresh water inlet.



I do a vinegar cleanse often to keep all the water lines clean and help remove the minerals I pick up from CG well waters.

[BobKrogstie]

Try this: The RV Geeks

[md_procouple]

You also may want to get a Hot Water Tank flush wand, to get the loose stuff out. You can get them at Camping World, or most RV dealerships. I use ours every year before I close it up for the winter. Good Luck and Happy Camping !!