Do you drain Hot Water heater after every trip?

[MN-Mark]

Saddest day of the year today. Winterized the camper and got it ready for winter storage. My neighbor was doing the same and we got to comparing notes about our processes.

Our winterizing processes were pretty much the same but I found we treat our hot water heaters differently through the season. When I get the camper ready for summer and sanitize the water system, the hot water heater stays full all season long. My neighbor drains his hot water heater after every trip.

In 11 seasons with our previous camper and 2 seasons with the 303RLS, I only drained the water heater at the end of the season. I never noticed that the water smelled bad or anything like that.

Is it better to drain after every use?

Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

Mark

[geotex1]

I do not drain after every trip. Water coming in is filtered, and I have a multi-stage filtration setup so I can change out elements as needed. Even when I didn't have this extreme, I didn't drain. However, I have full hookups at the house and if we were camping with sketchy water I'd just flush the system through when we arrived home.

[Redapple63]

Absolutely not. After 14 years of ownership of my previous mh, flushed it out maybe every 5 years. Drained it once for a repair. If you winterize, you have to drain it.

Your mileage may vary.

Sold.my.mh in Aug, WH going strong, no smells or corrosion.

[traveldawg]

I only drain it about twice a year when I flush it out and check the anode.

[Redapple63]

I only drain it about twice a year when I flush it out and check the anode.

Very good point, I only have experience with atwood, so yes when replacing the Anode, yes.

It's also a function of how often you use it too.

[MN-Mark]

Very good point, I only have experience with atwood, so yes when replacing the Anode, yes.

It's also a function of how often you use it too.

I should clarify....We use the camper once to twice per month from May through October. We do use a water filter and don’t drink the campground water. Mostly the hot water is used to wash dishes and take showers. No anode either.

Mark

[Gstepp22]

Drain it every time. Otherwise for me if water sits in it for about two weeks it smells like rotten eggs. Maybe it's because of the new plastic heater tanks with no anode. Older heaters may do better with sitting water.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[livinthelife]

Saddest day of the year today. Winterized the camper and got it ready for winter storage. My neighbor was doing the same and we got to comparing notes about our processes.

Our winterizing processes were pretty much the same but I found we treat our hot water heaters differently through the season. When I get the camper ready for summer and sanitize the water system, the hot water heater stays full all season long. My neighbor drains his hot water heater after every trip.

In 11 seasons with our previous camper and 2 seasons with the 303RLS, I only drained the water heater at the end of the season. I never noticed that the water smelled bad or anything like that.

Is it better to drain after every use?

Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

Mark

We've only drained ours twice in 3 years. Once when we had the water heater serviced, and one other time.

We've never had a rotten egg smell. In looking up "why does my RV smell like rotten eggs?" the answer was "it's bacteria reacting with magnesium or aluminum anode rods" The article says to use an aluminum-zinc anode. From an article in Truck Camper magazine.

We travel (well, we used to) about once a month. Sometimes for long trips (over 2 weeks up to 2 months).

[Houndbb]

I should clarify....We use the camper once to twice per month from May through October. We do use a water filter and don’t drink the campground water. Mostly the hot water is used to wash dishes and take showers. No anode either.

Mark

Same for us, no anode, use the trailer May-October. We’re on a well at home, too so we have a particulate filter at the water source that we rinse out after each trip (change when necessary). We’ve only drained and flushed each season. We also do not leave it on for long periods of time. We’ll probably do the white vinegar flush when we get her out of storage next year.

[tfgd21bhe]

I drain after every trip to minimize galvanic corrosion.

Fred