To drain or not to drain

I never drain mine, except for winter

During the camping season we are out every chance we get so it stays full. Only have had to change anode rod once in seven years and current one still has plenty of life last time I checked. Don't know if it's good or bad, but that's the way we do it and don't have any plans on changing our routine. Of course we drain it when winterizing.

Keep mine full till winterization.

Stays full until final trip before winter usually October/november

The only reason I drain my water tank is that I find the taste a bit "off" if it has sat for too long. But for the water heater, that is not important. I only drain it when winterizing.

Only drain ours for the winter.

The reason we drain ours is that it is keep at a campground site until used it to travel and the water there is from a well. Well water does not have the bacteria killing chemicals that city water has for long term storage, plus left in that hot aluminum tank for some times weeks on end. I had installed a brass ball cock valve into the nylon plug from instructions on one of the poster idea here, years ago, and it just a matter of turning that valve to drain or close to fill. Making it no big deal at all.

depends on the water you are using. some times the water has a lot of sulfur in it and it will start to stink. so you need to turn off the electric switch for the heater rod and drain it then refill just before leaving for camping

Only drain when winterizing. Plus you won't accidentally burn out your water heater if you turn it on and there is no water in the tank.

It would depend on where you live. Out in the western US, no need to drain the water tank