|
|
09-26-2012, 04:46 AM
|
#21
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sparta, TN
Posts: 1,174
|
For those who are considering using a low point drain to empty your water heater you are missing a important maintenance element. Sediment forms in the tank and needs to be flushed out. This is done by removing the nylon plug and using a water jet wand to flush this sediment out. If you drain the tank and leave the sediment it can form a cake that can be very difficult to remove later.
Take short cuts now and pay for them later.
__________________
Chuck - Sparta, TN
2012 Jay Flight 22FB, 2 x Honda EU2000i
2013 GMC Yukon XL Denali AWD
EDUCATION is what you get when you read the fine print.....
EXPERIENCE is what you get when you don't.
|
|
|
09-26-2012, 09:50 AM
|
#22
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Eastern Virginia
Posts: 223
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcfarmall
Just remember brass and aluminum are not friendly to each other; throw heat into the mix and you're asking for trouble. That is why they put a nylon plug in there at the factory. I would recommend buying one or two plastic plugs and chuck 'em if the threads get buggered up and put a new one in.
|
This is an important point that is often overlooked. It helps to have a metallurgist amongest us. Thanks for the info.
__________________
Joe
2004 F150 SuperCrew Lariat, 5.4L, Max Towing, CIPA Towing Mirrows, Timbren
2006 Jay Flight, 31 BHDS
Reese Strait-Line Dual Cam
Prodigy P2
|
|
|
10-08-2012, 03:12 PM
|
#23
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 147
|
I just feel the water coming out, if its hot....well you know
__________________
2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3/ 3.73 Tekonsha Primus brake controller
2011 JayFeather Select 29L
Husky Centerline WDH
w/ active anti-sway
|
|
|
10-10-2012, 08:32 AM
|
#24
|
Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Carol Stream, IL
Posts: 38
|
How often does one drain the hot water tank? After every trip? End of the season? I pull my low point drains and let everything drain after every trip. At the end of this year it looks like a good investment in the hot water tank rinser from camping world for $6. I will probably pull the plug and rinse when I winterize.
__________________
Brian
2012 Jayco Jayflight 26 BH
2002 Ford Explorer 4.6L
|
|
|
10-10-2012, 08:38 AM
|
#25
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sparta, TN
Posts: 1,174
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by biester26
How often does one drain the hot water tank? After every trip? End of the season? I pull my low point drains and let everything drain after every trip. At the end of this year it looks like a good investment in the hot water tank rinser from camping world for $6. I will probably pull the plug and rinse when I winterize.
|
I only do this at the end of the season.
__________________
Chuck - Sparta, TN
2012 Jay Flight 22FB, 2 x Honda EU2000i
2013 GMC Yukon XL Denali AWD
EDUCATION is what you get when you read the fine print.....
EXPERIENCE is what you get when you don't.
|
|
|
07-27-2014, 04:54 PM
|
#26
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Tucson
Posts: 21
|
Remove drain plug
Before our last trip I went to drain the hot water tank on my Jayco. I unscrewed the nylon plug with a ratchet and the plug and socket shot into the block wall at a hundred miles an hour! Glad I wasn't standing in front of it! Obviously I needed to release the pressure inside first, can anyone tell me how?
__________________
2014 Jayco Swift SLX 184BH
2015 Ford F 150
2006 Four Wheel Camper (Hawk)
Tucson, AZ
|
|
|
07-27-2014, 05:29 PM
|
#27
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Fort Worth
Posts: 355
|
Open the fawcetts or if there is a pressure releif valve on water heater its self
__________________
KELLY & LINDY ( SEMI RETIRED)
FORT WORTH,TEXAS
2000 FORD F-150 V-6/4.2
2006 JAYCO JAY FEATHER 23B EXP
EQUILIZER HITCH
|
|
|
07-27-2014, 05:48 PM
|
#28
|
Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Carol Stream, IL
Posts: 38
|
Easiest way is to just open the faucets in the camper. I drain my hot water tank by opening the low point drains under my lower bunk. I don't mess with that drain plug anymore.
__________________
Brian
2012 Jayco Jayflight 26 BH
2002 Ford Explorer 4.6L
|
|
|
07-27-2014, 07:23 PM
|
#29
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Missoula, Montana
Posts: 704
|
my mod
I bought a nylon nipple (maybe censored) that would thread into tank and put a household flexible bathroom hose on it, about 18", then a quarter turn shutoff. Now I can just release the pressure and point the hose down and drain the tank. I'm always amazed at how brown it first is after a trip.
|
|
|
07-27-2014, 09:32 PM
|
#30
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,424
|
Keep in mind that the plastic drain plug in the aluminum tank are also designed to collect residue from the inside of the tank. When I reuse my plastic drain plug I first have to clean out the inside cavity of the plug before re-installing.
Bob
__________________
2016 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4.10
2018 Jay Flight 24RBS
2002 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4:10 (retired)
2005 Jayco Eagle 278FBS (retired)
1999 Jayco Eagle 246FB (retired)
Reese HP Dual Cam (Strait-Line)
|
|
|
07-28-2014, 06:57 AM
|
#31
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Vienna
Posts: 2,044
|
drain plug
Quote:
Originally Posted by JAMMFAM
Mine has a low point drain on the bottom of the camper for the hot water also, so luckily I don't have to mess with the plug.
|
Unless I am mistaken, most hot water heaters I have seen feed from the top of the tank. When you are using low point drains, you are draining water in the lines, not from the hot water tank. If you are using this method to drain water for winterizing, you could be setting yourself up for a problem. You may be leaving the hot water heater full of water. But I have been wrong once or maybe twice before!
__________________
Joe Hinson
2010 Jayco Quest G2(SOLD)
2014 Jayco Eagle 33.5RETS
2007 Ram 2500 5.9L Cummins(SOLD)
2015 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins 4WD
:)
|
|
|
07-28-2014, 09:18 AM
|
#32
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,844
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by namusmc65
Unless I am mistaken, most hot water heaters I have seen feed from the top of the tank. When you are using low point drains, you are draining water in the lines, not from the hot water tank. If you are using this method to drain water for winterizing, you could be setting yourself up for a problem. You may be leaving the hot water heater full of water. But I have been wrong once or maybe twice before!
|
I suspect you are correct. I never heard of a rig having a low point drain on the water heater. On the hot water lines yes. Remove the plug and open a hw faucet to drain the heater.
__________________
Moderator
2011- 351RLTS Eagle, MorRyde suspension/pin box,
2017- F350 6.7 PSD Lariat FX4,SRW, SB,CC
Hughes PWD SP-50A, TST TPMS
Gator roll-up bed cover
B&W Turnover ball, Companion Std hitch
Can't find what you're looking on JOF? Try Jayco Owners Forum Custom Google Search
|
|
|
07-28-2014, 12:03 PM
|
#33
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Denver
Posts: 148
|
norty1
Have to say, my greyhawk has low point drains on both hot and cold. and yes i use them for winter prep. also use the by-pass for the water heater - no problems yet. Adn i release pressure by opening the kitchen faucet.
__________________
Gma-n-Gpa
2017 Precept 31 UL
2006 Ranger Reata 1850
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
|
|
|
05-01-2018, 05:23 AM
|
#34
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,844
|
Just for info, I winterized my buddy's rig by pulling the nylon plug. All was well. I told him when I un-winterized it that I would make one of those handy dandy flexible hoses with a valve on the end to make it easier next time.
I went over yesterday to do that and WHOA!, I found 2 low point drains right under the frame on his TT. I opened them and the water heater drained itself.
I think one was the bottom and the other was to vent the top. Not positive about that but it emptied itself.
His rig is a 2015 28RBDS.
Also, even though I drained and filled the system with antifreeze, the outside shower froze and cracked. I replaced it yesterday. $24. from Amazon.
15 minute job.
__________________
Moderator
2011- 351RLTS Eagle, MorRyde suspension/pin box,
2017- F350 6.7 PSD Lariat FX4,SRW, SB,CC
Hughes PWD SP-50A, TST TPMS
Gator roll-up bed cover
B&W Turnover ball, Companion Std hitch
Can't find what you're looking on JOF? Try Jayco Owners Forum Custom Google Search
|
|
|
05-01-2018, 06:09 AM
|
#35
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Middle, TN
Posts: 1,098
|
Our little TT has hot & cold low point drains on each side of the trailer (total of two hot and two cold).
As for the WH drain, I purchased a Nylon threaded nipple to avoid any galvanic corrosion. Used a S.S. braided hose and a full port ball valve, makes life a lot easier for me.
|
|
|
05-01-2018, 06:41 AM
|
#36
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,424
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 01tundra
Our little TT has hot & cold low point drains on each side of the trailer (total of two hot and two cold).....snip
|
I haven't run across that kind of a set-up before.
My 24RBS has two low point drains, one for the hot (red PEX) and the other for the cold (blue PEX)......, along with two additional low point drains one for each of the 40gal fresh water tanks.
Bob
__________________
2016 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4.10
2018 Jay Flight 24RBS
2002 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4:10 (retired)
2005 Jayco Eagle 278FBS (retired)
1999 Jayco Eagle 246FB (retired)
Reese HP Dual Cam (Strait-Line)
|
|
|
05-01-2018, 11:56 AM
|
#37
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Way down here........FL
Posts: 2,097
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 01tundra
Our little TT has hot & cold low point drains on each side of the trailer (total of two hot and two cold).
As for the WH drain, I purchased a Nylon threaded nipple to avoid any galvanic corrosion. Used a S.S. braided hose and a full port ball valve, makes life a lot easier for me.
|
Nice job there tundra....... Looks good!
|
|
|
05-01-2018, 12:09 PM
|
#38
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Surprise
Posts: 2,623
|
I use a basin wrench to pull the nylon plug, I like to not only drain the tank but to flush it out really well. Amazing all the gunk you get in there, hard water scale, calcium build up etc. Have used the original plug for last three years. Basin wrench makes it pretty easy to remove/replace.
Happy Camping time ! May 1st..
__________________
2011 Toyota Tundra double cab
2015 27RLS
|
|
|
05-01-2018, 02:06 PM
|
#39
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: kaml
Posts: 1,285
|
I blow out my lines and use a socket to remove the drain plug. Rather than have to remember what size it is I just leave one sitting inside the htr access panel.
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|