To Drain Hot Water tank or not ...

[mrffrank440]

The time between our long weekend trips could be 4-6 weeks apart. Should I drain the hot water tank between trips?

[dryfly]

Good question. I've been pulling a trailer for many years and only drained the HW tank when winterizing. I've never had an issue. With that said, I have started draining the tank if my trips are going to be several months apart.

For those that do, since folks usually don't drink from the HW supply, what is the benefit from frequent draining?

[Hoopy Frood]

I fill our water heater in the spring, and empty it in the fall when we winterize. As was said, we don't drink the hot water, and have had no problems. And it can be months between usages.

[Kevin2282]

For that short of time I would not bother with draining the water heater if the water is from a clean and trusted source. I use a 0.5 micron filter so the water in my system is pretty clean. If you have any concerns about the water after six week, just flush it out before the next trip. I use the parts below to create a drain valve system to quickly flush my water heater.

I put this into the water heater to avoid any corrosion issues with my aluminum tank
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A 12" 1/2" NPT stainless steel braded protected water supply line in the middle

And this ball valve at the end
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That way I do not have to keep removing the nylon plug every time I want to flush the water heater.

Kevin

[Grandesigner]

I drain mine between trips after having had very smelly hot water years ago. It takes about a minute to remove or replace the plug with new teflon tape. We usually have about a month between trips...

[mrffrank440]

... since folks usually don't drink from the HW supply, what is the benefit from frequent draining?

On our last trip, the rig was sitting for 6 weeks. Like you (dryfly) I only drain the hot water tank when winterizing. However, on our most recent trip, when I used the hot water for the first time (on this trip), it had a foul smell to it. The smell went away after a while. I am guessing once the water from the previous trip was used up. This has never happened before, so I am guessing the campground water from the last trip was nasty.

I store the rig in a covered RV and boat storage facility, but it has been really hot here in northern GA and I am wondering if having 9 gallons of water just sitting in the tank, combined with the heat had something to do with the foul smell.

I had the "cheap" blue water filter installed. Either that may not be enough ???

[WhittleBurner]

We leave water in the heater between trips but we also don't drink the water.
That said...
It's good practice to periodically use a cleaning water wand to remove sediment from the tank. A double or triple fillter helps. Also hard water leaves plenty of deposits that need to be rinsed out of the water heater.

there is also a process to clean sediment for those with tankless heaters..google will find what needs to be done there

[ajg617]

Timely question as I was just about to ask the same. We returned from trip mid June. Next one is late August. I just drained the fresh water tank today. Was planning on sanitizing (maybe) or just filling it up, running through the lines, then draining and refill to the level we want. We also don't drink the water from the tap. Likely just rinse and re-fill purging the lines along the way since I sanitized before last trip.

[MJMCCAND]

I always drain it as I'm packing up. I turn off the water heater, open the water heater tank drain and let it run until the water is cool. Then I shut off the water supply to the camper and let the tank gravity drain. Don't know why, I just do it that way...

[Dakota]

We had 4 weeks between trips and the water out of the hot water tank had an odor to it. Didn’t have a problem last year. I drained it this time when we got home. Hopefully no more odor on our next trip, or I’ll flush with vinegar solution or bleach.