Antifreeze in Atwood water heater

[MJD202]

I accidentally pumped antifreeze into my hot water heater. Can I wait until spring to completely flush it out?

[AJR]

Getting the antifreeze out of the tank is going to be a pain at any time. Don’t ask how I know. I would say the sooner the better. As there is stuff in the bottom of the tank that could absorb the antifreeze I think. What a pain…..

[Oklahoma_Dan]

wolfe10 wrote:
Only real question-- was the water heater full (of potable water) when you started adding potable antifreeze? If so, it could be too diluted to properly protect your system.

Said another way 6-10 gallons of water added to the potable antifreeze changes the freeze point substantially.

This guy is right. If you have by-pass valves for winterization then you should go ahead and pull your anode rod or plug out of the water heater to drain. Otherwise water heater would eventually freeze up because there isn't enough anti=freeze content in that water heater to protect it.

[wolfe10]

Only real question-- was the water heater full (of potable water) when you started adding potable antifreeze? If so, it could be too diluted to properly protect your system.

Said another way 6-10 gallons of water added to the potable antifreeze changes the freeze point substantially.

[TucsonJim]

I did the same thing last year. No problem at all if you leave it in. Most folks just drain the water heater instead of pumping all that antifreeze into it.

[midnightsadie]

won,t hurt a thing.

[MJD202]

ok, thanks.

[Hemi_RT]

Yes

[KID2TEXAS]

If you already have the bypass on then I would go ahead and drain it out and spray some water back up in there and flush out a couple times and then just leave the rod out or cap off or wait till spring.