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Topic: FYI: Draining water heater for winterizing (Read 778 times) previous topic - next topic

FYI: Draining water heater for winterizing

When I drained the water tank using the valve in the lower bay it seemed to drain well.  Not so.  Upon removing the drain plug on the heater tank quite a bit of water drained out.  Something to remember when winterizing.

Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159

Re: FYI: Draining water heater for winterizing

Reply #1 –
 Turn on all of the faucets.

Re: FYI: Draining water heater for winterizing

Reply #2 –
Water heater is drained via it's own drain. Flip the over temp valve open, it will drain faster.leave the W/H plug out.
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: FYI: Draining water heater for winterizing

Reply #3 –
Best way to winterize is to get in the coach and head south for the winter.                  ^.^d
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: FYI: Draining water heater for winterizing

Reply #4 –
I agree with the last post.  ;)

A few questions, if you will:

Should Foretravel owners also fill their pipes with RV antifreeze? And should the hot water tank have a little RV antifreeze in it to keep the drain pipes and valves from freezing?

Even blowing compressed air through the pipes will not remove all the water.

I keep the rig warm with a quartz heater, have four fans blowing into the water bays and Freeze King thermostatic strips in the water bays. This allows me to camp in comfort in the cold Mid Atlantic winters. This will cost several hundred dollars, but the pipes won't freeze and no RV antifreeze is required.
1997 U270 34FT Build 5140 Cummins 8.3 Allison 3060R
Solar 1920Watts, 14KWH lithium. Orion BMS.

Re: FYI: Draining water heater for winterizing

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Tim –
I agree with the last post.  ;)

A few questions, if you will:

Should Foretravel owners also fill their pipes with RV antifreeze? And should the hot water tank have a little RV antifreeze in it to keep the drain pipes and valves from freezing.

If done properly opening all the faucets and drains one at a time till no more water comes out, while system is pressurized, I see no problems. I take time doing mine, not rushing, and letting all set 15 minutes and re do.

Of course proper winterizing of dish washers, ice making appliances, washing machines, Aqua Hot, etc. must also be properly winterized following mfgs directions along with filling all p traps with RV anti freeze.

The dealer I worked for in Oregon only winterized this way.  I sold many rvs in winter, un winterizing and never had an issue with a in stock rv with a broken pipe or appliance.
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: FYI: Draining water heater for winterizing

Reply #6 –
Keith, the cold-water-in and hot-water-out hose connections on the back of the hot water tank are high up on backside. As you learned the lowest level is the front drain plug, preferable a plastic plug.  Quite a bit of water is still below this level and the only way to get most but not all out is with a siphon or pump with an angled down hose that touches the bottom of the tank.

We have not needed to winterize in 20 years but do drain and flush our propane Atwood aluminum hot water tank several times a year to get out white stuff and other contaminants that accumulate. And we try to get out the water below the drain plug level with a curved angled down copper pipe and start a siphon.

We always crack open the temperature & pressure relief valve to let air in, preventing a vacuum slowing down drain. Our T & P valve is plumbed down to the bottom of the compartment, draining to the ground alongside the freshwater water tank and manifold's hot & cold drain lines. We have also routed the fresh water tank top overflow hose from flowing over the bulkhead down through the compartment floor further forward from bulkhead.

Re: FYI: Draining water heater for winterizing

Reply #7 –
You still need anti freeze in the drains (P traps). Personally, I don't trust blow outs. But that is your call, people do it.Just seen a few bad deals with blow outs
Chris
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: FYI: Draining water heater for winterizing

Reply #8 –
Shouldn't any low-lying pipe that could trap water be flushed with antifreeze? Or, can our PEX pipe tolerate some freezing?
1997 U270 34FT Build 5140 Cummins 8.3 Allison 3060R
Solar 1920Watts, 14KWH lithium. Orion BMS.

Re: FYI: Draining water heater for winterizing

Reply #9 –
PEX pipe can tolerate some feezing, the fittings not so much, you don't have to get every drop out, so high velocity air works nicely to blow it out. Trouble starts when the ice can't move to expand. I have a glass dog water bowl, freezes solid a few dozen times each winter for the last 5 years. P trap bust because the ice can't move around opposite corners, and rise at the same time.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: FYI: Draining water heater for winterizing

Reply #10 –
This is a question and answer routine every year.  If your coach will be where below freezing temps are possible and you won't be living in it then you should do everything possible to protect it.  Whether you just blow out the water lines or fill all of them with RV antifreeze you must put RV antifreeze in all of the traps.  If you want to protect your coach from freeze damage figure out how to get rid of the water and replace it with RV antifreeze in every possible place water can be.  6 gallon of RV antifreeze costs less than 20 bucks and it takes us an hour to completely do our coach.  When we get south where it is warm or warm returns in the spring another hour or two to flush, sanitize and refill and we are good to go.  How far do you think $20 is going to get your replacing frozen water lines or a water pump or a hot water heater.  Rudy tells me freezing is the most common cause of major Aquahot problems.  Something $20 and some time would have prevented.

Like everything you can choose to do or not do on your coach it is up to you.  I live in MN and have had an RV since 1974 and this is just a late fall thing that gets done every year.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: FYI: Draining water heater for winterizing

Reply #11 –
Agreed. The cost to fix Aquahot leak could be astronomical. The cost to fix even one leaking PEX fitting in the nether regions could also be astronomiocal. I am a fan of RV antifreeze, even in the hot water lines. It takes a while to flush it out in the spring, but well worth the peace of mind in the winter.
1997 U270 34FT Build 5140 Cummins 8.3 Allison 3060R
Solar 1920Watts, 14KWH lithium. Orion BMS.

Re: FYI: Draining water heater for winterizing

Reply #12 –
we have had a rough winter this time :))  Hit 65 or 68 degrees yesterday.. it was terrible!!.. It was almost catastrophic as I almost forgot lotion...The dry winters can take its toll on my skin..

On a side note.. We get cold temps ( cold for us ) a couple times in winter.. still we have 50 degree plus days and nights can drop to or above freezing for a few nights.. just enough to freeze my windshield.

1 reason I do not live in any colder region.. I think I am cold in the low 50's and I am totally froze in the 40's... Ahhh the desert life..

Re: FYI: Draining water heater for winterizing

Reply #13 –
1 gal of RV antifreeze will fill 80 feet of 1/2" pex. 12 oz will fill an 1 1/2 p trap.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake