Empty Hot Water Tank

[TheGreatWaz00]

New to Rv-ing and loving it. It will be a month or so between our trips so would you recommend draining the hot water tank between trips? I do not keep it heated while the camper is at home.

[pianotuna]

If the OP really wants, a small valve can be used in place of the drain plug.

[abby323]

I empty my water heater when i leave to come home from camping, why carry an extra 50 lbs when you don't have to.

[GaryWT]

We camp 3-4 times a month so we do not drain it until winter. The trips are planned so we know we are going. If we were only camping every 4-5 weeks then I might but I hate it when there is air in the lines so I might just run water for 5-10 minutes upon arrival to a campground.

[69_Avion]

DutchmenSport wrote:
I drain mine after every trip.1

That is what I do since I don't know how long it is going to be when I use it again. I also drain the fresh water tanks at the same time.

[joshuajim]

Iraqvet05 wrote:

alcaracu wrote:
hav'nt drained ours in the 8 years we owned it.

Must be nice to not have a "true" winter 🙂

This is off topic, and I applolgize to the OP, but back in the 80's I was a Vice President for a developer who was building an office park in San Diego. We sold a parcel to Marriott to build a hotel. When the hotel was nearly complete, Marriot's architect came out to review progress. Their main office was in Washington DC.

It was the middle of winter and the architect commented "Why do you use so many deciduous trees in the park when your climate supports year round foliage?"

I looked him in the eye and said "That's how we know when it's winter". 😉

[Iraqvet05]

alcaracu wrote:
hav'nt drained ours in the 8 years we owned it.

Must be nice to not have a "true" winter 🙂

[FLGup]

alcaracu wrote:
hav'nt drained ours in the 8 years we owned it.

Then you're past due for a new anode rod if you have one. If not forget this. :-).

[Community Alumni]

Only drain our's when I winterize.

[alcaracu]

hav'nt drained ours in the 8 years we owned it.

[toedtoes]

I only put my own water in my clipper (always fill the fresh tank at home, don't hook up to RV park water). I don't drain mine. My kitchen faucet is a single handle, so I flip it in both directions when I'm home and the water heater isn't lit - I get cold water both ways, but it will pull from the hot water tank so the water doesn't stagnate.

[toedtoes]

I only put my own water in my clipper (always fill the fresh tank at home, don't hook up to RV park water). I don't drain mine. My kitchen faucet is a single handle, so I flip it in both directions when I'm home and the water heater isn't lit - I get cold water both ways, but it will pull from the hot water tank so the water doesn't stagnate.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I drained after every trip. Now I full time so I drain each time I dump my waste tanks.

[colliehauler]

Lantley wrote:
I never drain. If you are on city water it is not necessary. Well water maybe?
Would you drain your home tank if you left for a month?

No I don't drain my home water heater, at home I have a high end water treatment system.

In a campground you don't always know what is in the water unless you have a analysis run.

[colliehauler]

downtheroad wrote:
You said a month or so....I'd drain it. 5 minute job.

I would drain it as well. They can get a smell to the water if it sits a couple of weeks. If you drain make sure your electric heating element is off and don't turn it on until you fill the water heater again.