Water heater plug

Loot at the ling range forecast for the area your traveling through. If its below about 30 overnights, then do not fill your water system. I assume your talking about 2 nights maximum? Fill the system your second morning and you should be OK. BTW leaving the plug in or out has no bearing on anything.

When in storage I always turn the plug in a couple threads, it keeps the small creatures out.
If traveling with an empty water heater I would install and tighten the plug so it doesn't get lost.

I drain the tank and put the plug back in.
Why leave it out and let the bugs crawl in?

I was wondering with motor aid heating the empty tank cause damage to the water heater.

Motor aid should not get hot enough to do any damage.
While winterizing, I drain the water heater and then re-install the plug. I replace the plug if corners are rounded out.
I would not be concerned about temperatures just below freezing while traveling south. Not sure if your rig has heated water compartment. Mine has that feature and have traveled well below freezing with no problems.

I doubt it as the water is what? 180F? Even if the coils were hanging in the empty tank for days with hot water in them, doubt they would fail. Just not hot enough.

BTW, most Class A RV's I'm familiar with the water system can withstand 20F weather for many days before you need worry. You didn't tell us the year or brand of RV you have but newer RVs, say from 2000 on, also have PEX plumbing that is much more tolerant of freezing then the older grey stuff.

So partially fill the onboard water tank at the first overnight stop you stay at, than fill your water heater tank...your system will be fine. Just do the regular...before bed, turn off the shore water, or turn off the pump if you're boondocking.

When freezing temperatures are expected, fill tank with enough water for overnight use, then disconnect, drain and store water hose.

ct78barnes wrote:
I was wondering with motor aid heating the empty tank cause damage to the water heater.

RVs are delivered w/o water so all water heaters with motoraid have been w/o water.

engine coolant will only heat 'water' to 130*F
w/o water in water heater the tank dissipates the temp very quickly due to size/mass of WH Tank and limited heating from that 1/2" tubing that coolant flows thru


Non-issue

Jim@HiTek wrote:
I doubt it as the water is what? 180F? Even if the coils were hanging in the empty tank for days with hot water in them, doubt they would fail. Just not hot enough.

FYI........
IF water heater was filled and turned on (electric or propane) the temps would only be 130*F or 140*F (Suburban/Atwood).
Would only reach 180*F IF 'normal' temp t-stat failed then overheating could occur

Motoraid is not a heating coil etc
It is just a 1/2" 'U' Tube welded to back of WH Tank wall that hot coolant from MH Engine that flows thru it heating water in water heater while driving MH

We've traveled on several occasions with a full water tank and water heater in temps down to 0℉ or so with no freeze ups. We've arrived at too many parks for an overnight to find their water system is shut down to not travel without a good supply on board.

Thank you I will put the plug back in.