Accidentally winterized the water heater

[PartyOf_Five]

While pumping the pink stuff through the plumbing, I realized that we forgot to set the bypass. I know some antifreeze got into the water heater- will it be ok through the winter?
I usually remove the anode to drain completely, will that be enough to remove enough pink stuff, or should I flush it now as well? (& How?)

Our spring routine sends bleach through the whole system followed by a couple rinses. Thanks in advance! ??

[MFL]

rexlion wrote:
I accidentally got the pink stuff in my water heater one fall. The next summer, every time I used hot water... for dishwashing, showers, whatever... the water smelled of it. Imagine trying to rinse your hair and having it smell sweet like pink antifreeze. Yuck. That’s why I think you should get the wretched stuff out of there now.

Exactly, hate to admit, BEEN THERE! Who wants to have a foaming rinse after soaping up in the shower, or wash your dishes, brush your teeth with ethanol based pink (which I won't use). Flush it now, and again in the Spring.

Jerry

[rexlion]

I accidentally got the pink stuff in my water heater one fall. The next summer, every time I used hot water... for dishwashing, showers, whatever... the water smelled of it. Imagine trying to rinse your hair and having it smell sweet like pink antifreeze. Yuck. That’s why I think you should get the wretched stuff out of there now.

[DavidandDayle]

dup.

[DavidandDayle]

The bypass is so that you don't put 8 gallons of antifreeze into the tank when you dont have to.

[ajriding]

The by-pass valves are to keep antifreeze out of the tank so you do not need to flush it out come spring, just the lines.
Water freezing in the bottom of the rounded tank will not crack anything. As it becomes ice and expands it just expands up the roundness of the tank and folds back in. No risk, so there is no need to winterize the tank, just the pipes.
The pink antifreeze is meant to be used in the water system and to be later flushed out with clean water, tank and pipes.

[Bert_the_Welder]

If you can't get ur hose in there or it blocks the water coming out, you can get a reducer. Just fit a 1/2" length of hose and stick it in as far back as you can. Turn the water on and let it run for a while. Use a spring clamp or wire to hold the hose in place if needed. Leave the plug out when not in use. Doesn't hurt to be sure. Flushing isn't gonna hurt it and as a bonus, you might rinse out any sediment.

[Bert_the_Welder]

ajriding wrote:
This is what the pink antifreeze is made for. This is like asking -
I put gas in my gas tank, should I leave it in?

You just flush the tank out in the spring according the the antifreeze directions.

How is this a question even?

So all those HW tanks by-pass valves and winterizing instructions are just for show??

[Mark_Heisler]

I been winterizing my trailer for years and I always put antifreeze in my hot water heater never had a problem. just flush the line like you do every other spring. What is the pink stuff going to hurt. I have seen hot water heater crack in the corners where the water will lay A little pink wont hurt you

[Hondavalk]

ajriding wrote:
This is what the pink antifreeze is made for.

Agree it won't hurt anything but people normally don't put any in their hot water tank. Thats way most have a bi-pass valve for the tank

[ajriding]

This is what the pink antifreeze is made for. This is like asking -
I put gas in my gas tank, should I leave it in?

You just flush the tank out in the spring according the the antifreeze directions.

How is this a question even?

[PartyOf_Five]

Thanks for the quick response all. I did initiate the bypass and winterized the rest of the system when I remembered partway through the operation. I'll go ahead and drain it today, then plan to flush as suggested afterwards with a hose.

[JimK-NY]

I cannot imagine "some" antifreeze in the HW tank will hurt anything. You will still need to pull the plug to drain the tank. If you are worried just spray out the tank afterwards. I have a wand made for that purpose. Since you did not initially bypass the HW system, did you winterize the rest of the afterwards?

[smarty]

If it were me I would flush the hot water heater

[MFL]

It won't HURT anything, but the sooner you flush it out the better. I would use one of the cheap wand type sprayers that goes on end of garden hose. It will foam for a long time. I'd use a small shop vac to get as much remaining out. I attach a small hose to vac hose, that will fit in hole. A bit of duct tape makes a quick neck down.

Jerry