hot water heater / low point drain

[jbagnall]

Hello-

I've been thinking about the idea of getting rid of the plastic plug in favor of something that is easier to manage.

I was reading through this thread, and someone mentioned that jay feathers hot water low point drains can drain the hot water heater.

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...lug-66145.html

Can anyone confirm that? Particularly for my 19h? I want to drain the hot water heater in between uses more regularly -- and that plastic plug is a pain in the butt! But, if the low point drains will do the trick - then this will be easy.

Thanks.

[Midnightmoon]

The water heater on my 22BHM drains completely with the low point drain. I can't comment for sure on the 19.

[jbagnall]

Just thinking about how I put the trailer away this weekend. I opened up the HW heater first and let it drain. Then went for the low point drains after that (so I didn't get soaked). I remember the hot water low point drain was basically empty, while the cold water drain ran for a bit.

So I feel like it has too. Gonna try it out when we head back out there. It will be great to not have to mess with the plug in the HW heater each time.

[CAG]

You don't need to take the plug out of the hot water heater to drain it along with the system. When you open the low points, open the flip valve on the water heater. I usually open a kitchen faucet to speed the draining process.

[jbagnall]

Awesome - thanks.

Reading that note in the other thread saved me a lot of time by not trying to assemble a "plastic plug replacement system".

Glad to know I can just drain it from the low point drains.

[norty1]

Some do some don't. Next trip I would recommend verifying yours does. I was helping a friend winterize his rig and found out that his did drain the wh. It was the first time I had seen that handy bit of knowledge.

[jbagnall]

Yup. I'll report back after I give it a shot.

[RogerR]

My heater on my 195RB drained with the low point drain. When I figured that out I added the electric water heater element in the opening that the plastic plug occupied.


I did add self closing hinges to the access panel to the pump and drains. The screws to open and shut it were annoying so I cut them off and glued them into the holes to cover the holes.

[Jagiven]

I hate that nylon plug. In reality you need to open a faucet and the TT's hot water low point drain, and the tank should empty.

I can tell you I have had a lot of issues with my TT's low point drain. It commonly drips/leaks onto the ground. It just has a simple O-ring to create the seal. I think what happens, but have no proof, some crude, gets caught at the O-ring when it seats, and allows a small amount of water to drip past. I notice it when my pump cycles.

I replaced the plug with a short brass nipple, added a 1 foot braided hose, and a 1/4 turn ball valve. Works great. It is a little slower to drain, but that is ok.

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

I replaced the plug with a short brass nipple, added a 1 foot braided hose, and a 1/4 turn ball valve. Works great. It is a little slower to drain, but that is ok.

I did the same thing, but used a nylon nipple instead of brass in the aluminum tank. Makes draining the tank really easy. Here's a pic:

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by RetiredOne

I did the same thing, but used a nylon nipple instead of copper in the aluminum tank. Makes draining the tank really easy. Here's a pic:

That looks like my setup

[Brownie]

I did what RetiredOne did with the white plastic pipe nipple. Both my summer and winter campgrounds have very hard water - lots of lime. So I boil my water heater out with white vinegar twice a year. Sure makes the process a whole lot easier! I have found that it takes a lot longer to drain through the 3/8" water hose & shut-off than it did through the 1/2" plug hole. But hey, I'm retired . . . I've got plenty of time!

[CAG]

Both my summer and winter campgrounds have very hard water

There are a number of different brand water softeners available for RV use. Soft water saves the water heater, lines, faucets and pump and your wife will be very happy with you.

[bankr63]

It is close.

On my X19H I get most of the water out of the HW tank with the low point drain (as mentioned, open a COLD faucet or pop the pressure relief to get some air behind the draining water. Pulling the plug will get another cup or so, but I only pull the plug at the end of the season. Reasoning for the extra water is that the hot water feed pipe is just a bit higher than the plug on the tank wall. Note that it is pretty much impossible to completely drain a HWT as neither of the fittings are completely flush with the tank floor.

This is not a problem for winterization as there is plenty of room for the remaining bit of water to expand at the bottom of the tank. For cleaning, I insert a spray wand through the plug hole and give it a good spray out once or twice a season.

[Scott]

Originally Posted by RetiredOne

I did the same thing, but used a nylon nipple instead of brass in the aluminum tank. Makes draining the tank really easy. Here's a pic:

Retired One,

I really like that. Can you tell me more about that nylon nipple you got. What is the part and where did you get it?

Thanks!

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by Scott

Retired One,

I really like that. Can you tell me more about that nylon nipple you got. What is the part and where did you get it?

Thanks!

This is the one I used, from Amazon. The rest of the parts came from Home Depot.

https://www.amazon.com/Agri-Fab-4504...815647&sr=8-10

[Scott]

Originally Posted by RetiredOne

This is the one I used, from Amazon. The rest of the parts came from Home Depot.

https://www.amazon.com/Agri-Fab-4504...815647&sr=8-10

Thank you, kind sir.

[Mike_az_mn]

Ever since I thought I had my HW tank drained, but found it popped out the next spring (it was a -30 Deg F winter). I now use a flexi straw to siphon out the last 1" of water. (I know the manual says don't worry about it, but again … I almost missed my vacation trying to get a new HWH.) It does get a lot of the lime chips out doing that though.

[jbagnall]

Just wanted to follow up that it does indeed appear that the low point drain accomplishes what I was looking for. No more messing with the nylon plug.

I must have cursed something by thinking about it, because now my hot water heater doesn't work at all. I think it's a circuit board. Service call coming soon!

[bankr63]

Yes, just got mine out of storage (even though we can't go camping) and can confirm that my low point drain got most of the water out. Pulled the plug after and only about a 1/4c more came out.