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03-06-2014, 04:29 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Aurora CO
Posts: 2,334
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To drain or not to drain?
Somewhere along the way, I got into the habit of draining the fresh water tank and hot water heater tank whenever we came back from a trip and parked the RV for a while ( week or so )
Anyone else do that, or not do that?
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Jim & Kim from Colorado
2014 Eagle 30.5 RLS
2015 Dodge 3500HD SRW 6.7L
Click on my profile for Mods and notes
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03-06-2014, 04:33 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: King George
Posts: 2,761
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I do the freshwater tank but very seldom do the hot water tank. It gets drained maybe once a year when I inspect the sacrifice anode...
Roy Ken
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Roy and Carolyn
I claim Horse Creek Country in Southern Ill - Momabear is from North Texas
We live in King George VA
RETIRED DOD DOAF DON CONTRACTOR Electronics Tech 42YRS
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K9PHT (since 1957) 146.52Mhz
"We always have a PLAN B"
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03-06-2014, 04:34 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Where ever the boss says we're going.
Posts: 16,078
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I always drain the fresh water tank, but haven't drained the water heater in 37 years, never had a problem.
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 DISNEY LOVERS
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03-06-2014, 04:47 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Virginia`s Eastern Shore
Posts: 17,092
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Only a week, probably not. But once I forgot to drain the hot water tank and did not use the trailer for two months. When we did use it again the hot water smelled awful. This was with well water, which is not chlorinated. Had to drain the tank and bleach the system.
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2017 Coachmen Catalina 283RKS
2018 Ford F250 Super Duty 6.2l CCSB
2010 Jayflight 28BHS (sold)
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03-06-2014, 05:00 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 6,818
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crabman
This was with well water, which is not chlorinated. Had to drain the tank and bleach the system.
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X2.....iron water can bloom with bacteria in the right feeding ground....iron sulfide aint a pretty smell.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron(II)_sulfide
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03-06-2014, 05:17 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
Posts: 1,261
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If we park our TT for more than a few weeks I drain the HW tank. Good idea to flush it with one of those wand thingies and sanitize the FW tank and lines each year.
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03-06-2014, 06:36 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,851
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We use our rig year round but often are home for 3 weeks or more. When that happens, I drain and bypass the wh. Fill it up when arrive at the next CG.
Another benefit is the anode seems to last much longer.
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 Moderator
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03-06-2014, 06:56 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,769
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I always drain the FW tank. The HW tank, gets drained if we are not planning to go out for a few weeks, typically three weeks is my threshold.
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03-06-2014, 07:11 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Kalamazoo, West Michigan
Posts: 1,817
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I drain my fresh water on the ground while I travel home from the CG so that the bikers think I'm dumping poo on them and I drain the water heater at the end of the season. I fill the tanks at the campground using "city" water which is chlorinated so I've not yet had any issues with stinky hot water due to leaving it sit.
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2006 23B Hybrid with 10k round bar WDH
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03-06-2014, 08:05 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Renton
Posts: 517
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We use our RV year round and also as a disaster preparedness plan. I keep the water full at all times. I drain it only to sanitize the system. I use only chlorinated water in the tank.
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Michael
Old setup:
2004 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 LT with a 2004 Jayco JayFlight 29BHS
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03-06-2014, 08:13 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Near St Louis
Posts: 474
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Never use our FW tank, and only drain HW when I'm winterizing.
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03-07-2014, 07:32 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Aurora CO
Posts: 2,334
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Interesting. I hadn't thought about the impact of the type/ source of the water I on board to the tanks. Even with an inline filter, water from some camp grounds is still not "city" and therefore no chlorine.
I do follow the FDA bleach process 2x a year in the main Fresh Water tank.
I'm not reading anything against draining the hot water tank, so I will continue.
Thanks all.
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Jim & Kim from Colorado
2014 Eagle 30.5 RLS
2015 Dodge 3500HD SRW 6.7L
Click on my profile for Mods and notes
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03-07-2014, 08:36 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 455
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I drain both FW and HW tank every time I get home. Usually the camper sits for several weeks between trips during the summer and I feel much better draining them.
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1998 Jayco Eagle 302FK (Honda EU3000is)
2016 GMC Sierra Denali 3500HD 4x4 Duramax/Allison
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03-07-2014, 08:45 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Aurora CO
Posts: 2,334
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New FW came with plastic plug on water heater drain. I could see that becoming a problem over time so I Replaced with brass drain valve like this one:
http://www.rv-mall.com/index.php/wat...FckWMgodNRwAYg
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Jim & Kim from Colorado
2014 Eagle 30.5 RLS
2015 Dodge 3500HD SRW 6.7L
Click on my profile for Mods and notes
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03-07-2014, 09:55 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Renton
Posts: 517
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crabman
Only a week, probably not. But once I forgot to drain the hot water tank and did not use the trailer for two months. When we did use it again the hot water smelled awful. This was with well water, which is not chlorinated. Had to drain the tank and bleach the system.
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Yep if you have the water heater off with non chlorinated water this can happen depending on what's in the water.
__________________
Michael
Old setup:
2004 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 LT with a 2004 Jayco JayFlight 29BHS
2014 Greyhawk 31FS with a 2007 Tahoe toad
New setup:
2014 Thor Palazzo 33.3 with a 2017 Ford Explorer toad
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03-07-2014, 10:52 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Missouri City, The Republic of Texas
Posts: 5,063
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jmooney
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I've read that one shouldn't introduce dissimilar metals to an aluminum water heater because of corrosion, I think that's why the plug is plastic. Both of my Jaycos have had Atwood water heaters which I believe are aluminum. Of course there are folks that put brass drains in and have no problems. JMHO
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T_
2013 F-350 CC SB 2WD 6.7PS
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03-07-2014, 06:34 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sparta, TN
Posts: 1,174
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I drain both only once a year. Do a bleach sensitization at the beginning of each season.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcfarmall
I drain my fresh water on the ground while I travel home from the CG so that the bikers think I'm dumping poo on them .....
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Are you really that inconsiderate? If so I hope you and I never cross paths. 
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Chuck - Sparta, TN
2012 Jay Flight 22FB, 2 x Honda EU2000i
2013 GMC Yukon XL Denali AWD
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03-07-2014, 07:28 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 6,818
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tnchuck100
Are you really that inconsiderate? If so I hope you and I never cross paths. |
He's trolling you tnchuck100.....
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03-07-2014, 07:47 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Kalamazoo, West Michigan
Posts: 1,817
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Threebutchers
He's trolling you tnchuck100.....
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Guilty as charged!!!
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2006 23B Hybrid with 10k round bar WDH
2011 F150 4x4 SCREW Ecoboost, Max Tow, Integrated TBC, 3.73 LS axle, Firestone Ride Rite airbags.
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03-07-2014, 08:36 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 3,208
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dmax_83
I drain both FW and HW tank every time I get home. Usually the camper sits for several weeks between trips during the summer and I feel much better draining them.
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We do the same and no odors so far.
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2012 Eagle 320 RLDS
2017 Ford F-250 FX4 Crew STX 6.2l
3.73 E-locker
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