I used to drain my water heater but then it would make the valve leak so now I jsut run AF through it but people on here always say they drain it to save on AF. The question I have is wouldn't the WH tank need to fill up to get the AF through the lines that are past the WH for the shower and such?
Posted 2010-10-28 6:48 PM (#126383 - in reply to #126373) Subject: RE: winterizing question
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 447 Location: cedar rapids iowa
I got on an RV site and got it winterized with just 1 gal of AF, YEAH
but when I popped the valve not much water came out on the heater. I would say maybe a gal. Could that be from loosing prime or have I possibly not drained it correctly?
It's dark out so hard to see what all is there but can double check in the am
Posted 2010-10-28 11:29 PM (#126389 - in reply to #126383) Subject: RE: winterizing question
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
My RV has a plug where the anode rod goes near the bottom of the tank. The pressure relief valve on that tank is above the other plug. It looks like a large bolt. If you have one pull it out (check the condition of the rod) and the rest of the tank should drain. Or it does in our camper.
In our camper manual it says to use the bypass valves and not to put anitfreeze in the h/w heater. It isn't good for it.
Posted 2010-10-29 4:47 AM (#126394 - in reply to #126373) Subject: RE: winterizing question
Veteran
Posts: 233 Location: Pataskala, Ohio
I drain my hot water tank by taking the anode rod out, that allows all the water to drain.
Getting anti-freeze through all the hot lines is done by the water heater by pass valve. On my trailer it is inside the trailer right in front of the water heater. A by pass consists of 2 valves, one directs water either into the tank or toward the other valve. The second valve is either open to the tank or is open to the other valve. When the system is in “by-pass” mode the anti-freeze is sent into the hot water system without going through the tank.
I hope this makes sense. www.rv.net is very helpful.