Draining Hot Water Tank

[Flippin 416]

First year winterizing our X18D and I have question about draining the hot water tank. The manual says that due to the design of the tank that about 2 quarts of water will remain in the tank after the plug is removed and all of the water runs out. Do I need to worry about the remaining 2 quarts of water left in the tank freezing? How do I get the remaining water out of there....leave drain plug out and tow it around town for a few hours ??? LOL Seriously...any thoughts or help is appreciated. Thanks!!!

[RogerR]

I was intrigued by your comment so I went out and re-read my manual.

It says 2 quarts of water will remain in the bottom. This should be flushed out with fresh water to remove any debris or contaminants before winterizing. It also says that freezing of this amount will not cause harm to the water heater.
I would think you could siphon off most of the last two quarts with a plastic hose stuck into the drain. Could taste nasty when you suck on it to start it. LOL

I have a freeze plug electric heating element which I had not intended to remove for the winterizing process. Does anyone else who has this heater take it out annually? I don't remember any instructions to do so.

[mleger11]

I would do everything in the book and then take a small hose and hold it to the end of a wet/dry shop vac and suck out as much as possible. Also leave the drain plug off all winter.
Do NOT put anti freeze in the hot water tank.

[Flippin 416]

Good ideas. I had intended to leave the plug out all winter as mentioned.
I will flush the tank then get a small flexible hose and try to remove the rest with either the shop vac or a siphon.

[GrumpyDad]

It won't hurt anything. But if you take the plug out and drive around more will slosh out.

[sirrealone]

I always left the plug out. In the spring when I brought it back home there was always some water the came out. I think the little bit that remains will not do any harm.

[bankr63]

A little bit of water sitting in an open pan (the bottom of the heater) has plenty of expansion space upward and won't cause any damage. I do leave the plug out of mine after bypassing and winterizing the rest of the system, mostly just because the first thing I would do in the spring is to pull the plug for flushing the system.
I guess a little more water might slosh out on the final drive over to the storage lot, but I don't worry about the bit of water left in the tank, and doubt any of it will come back out the drainage hole due to freezing expansion.

[LuckyDuck]

Originally Posted by Flippin 416

First year winterizing our X18D and I have question about draining the hot water tank. The manual says that due to the design of the tank that about 2 quarts of water will remain in the tank after the plug is removed and all of the water runs out. Do I need to worry about the remaining 2 quarts of water left in the tank freezing? How do I get the remaining water out of there....leave drain plug out and tow it around town for a few hours ??? LOL Seriously...any thoughts or help is appreciated. Thanks!!!

I just drained mine yesterday to get ready for winter. I first unscrewed the drain plug (and opened all the faucets and released pressure valve on water heater). Then I used a $7 Harbor Freight hand-pump to suck most all of what was left in the bottom. Pump hose fits perfectly down inside the tank. Worked like a charm.
Replaced the nylon plug with a new one (bought 4 spares on Amazon) and Teflon tape. Good til spring!

[Midnightmoon]

I've noticed on mine that I actually get more out of my water heater by opening my low point drain and the hot side of my kitchen faucet for a few hours than if I just opened the water heater drain itself. Every unit is different of course, but the siphon effect of that method on this particular unit works extremely well.

[hboy]

Originally Posted by Flippin 416

How do I get the remaining water out of there....leave drain plug out and tow it around town for a few hours ???

YES! My normal habit is to take out the drain plug at home. When towing back to storage there is more water that drains out with the force of turning, etc. I leave the plug out when all winter.

[Jagiven]

I modified my drain, so it has hose. I open the valve, and drain it. That is it. There is a large surface area, and very little water to cause damaging hydralic pressures.