Flush Hot Water Tank

[campersam9]

I decided to flush our hot water tank. Went to the hardware store and purchased some pvc pipe and connections so I could fill the hot warmer tank with vinegar. It took 4 1/2 gallons.
It sat overnight and in the morning I drained it. It did have some dirty vinegar come out at first. It worked just fine. I flushed it and everything was wonderful.
I problem is I drained it in the back yard. It killed everything that the vinegar hit. Bush and grass. I just found the perfect weed killer! Do not detain the tank in your yard!

[GumbyN28]

yep, vinegar is prime product in home made weed/grass killers. even diluted... can't imagine what full strength vinegar would do.

[16WhiteColly]

Will vinegar cause problems with the tank metal?

[CAG]

I just found the perfect weed killer! Do not detain the tank in your yard!

Nope, it does not kill the roots unless you flooded the area but is a good topical.

[Marcm157]

Vinegar, Dawn Dish Soap and Epsom Salt is a great weed treatment but as CAG said it's only topical...

[campersam9]

I think I will try the weed killer. We have everything now to mix. The spot that I drained the tank is dead! The spot is 6’ x 12’ and nothing is trying to grow. The burning bush is dead. 2 weeks nothing growing.

[16WhiteColly]

I put epson salt in an oak tree stump and did not do much good, other than killing half of my wife’s azaleas.

[campersam9]

I put Eason salt on a stump from a pine tree I removed about 39 years ago. Drilled holes in the stump to help it work with the rotting. It is still there! I treated it about 6 times. Never worked for me. I guess it has to be mixed to work.

[JFlightRisk]

Originally Posted by 16WhiteColly

Will vinegar cause problems with the tank metal?

It won't cause harm if used diluted in water, not ever heated or left in for a long time, and flushed out thoroughly with plain water. Vinegar is acidic, and will even dissolve aluminum foil.

[16WhiteColly]

Any need to neutralize with baking soda and water after the flush?

[Bob K]

Originally Posted by 16WhiteColly

Any need to neutralize with baking soda and water after the flush?

I don't. A couple rinses removes enough such that I don't taste it.

[campersam9]

We were all over the east coast and we spent a month and a half if Florida. The water in Florida was not good to drink. We used bottled water. You can not make coffee with Florida water. After using the trailer to escape winter I decided to flush the water heater. I am glad I did. When we shower it smells better. Well worth the time to flush the tank.

[16WhiteColly]

Originally Posted by Bob K

I don't. A couple rinses removes enough such that I don't taste it.

I would worry about eating away at the tank if not neutralized. I have put metal in vinegar and the next day it was ate up.

[campersam9]

Atwood water heaters have aluminum tanks. They don’t need rods. Let the vinegar work for 24 hrs. I had a scope that I use looking down cylinders and the tank was very nice. I will do this every spring for now on.

[Bob K]

Originally Posted by campersam9

Atwood water heaters have aluminum tanks. They don’t need rods. Let the vinegar work for 24 hrs. I had a scope that I use looking down cylinders and the tank was very nice. I will do this every spring for now on.

Yet manufacturers make magnesium anode rods specifically for use with aluminum tanks.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0024ECD2I

The aluminum is going to corrode, though at a different rate than a steel tank.

[Bob K]

Originally Posted by 16WhiteColly

I would worry about eating away at the tank if not neutralized. I have put metal in vinegar and the next day it was ate up.

Agree. That's why I rinse it 2 or 3 times. That's more than enough to dilute the acid without having to add baking soda and then rise out the baking soda. YMMV.

[campersam9]

Mine has no need for the rod. MFG. told me they don’t have one. Keep the plastic plug it will blow out if too much pressure is in the tank.

[thenne1713]

Originally Posted by campersam9

Atwood water heaters have aluminum tanks. They don’t need rods. Let the vinegar work for 24 hrs. I had a scope that I use looking down cylinders and the tank was very nice. I will do this every spring for now on.

I once slipped (say slipped, as I knew better, but..) put a brand new aluminum cookie sheet into the dishwasher and it came out with pencil-sized holes x2. YES< I would worry about Atwood also. Vinegar is recommended in big restaurant commercial dishwashers for removing calcium, but they are stainless w/ brass pipe/ fittings

[tpastorini]

I purchased my 2013 Seneca in August 2020 from a pretty reputable RV dealer in Spokane. I did a pretty thorough pre-delivery inspection. Everything I opened or turned on or tested...worked and was in serviced condition. I walked around the RV with the technician that prepared it in tow. The one thing I did not pull out was the Anode. It looked fresh on the outside and I figured that since everything that I saw so far was good, I would skip that. The previous owner replaced the water heater with a Suburban product. I was told to service the anode at one year. It went a little longer and I just pulled it out. Not only was there just a wire left dangling from the plug, but the tank was encrusted with calcification. I spend about 30 minutes with a coat hangar acting like a dentist and scratching out the plaque. I would estimate that about 3 cups of calcium came out. I have only run soft water through the system for the past year, so I know I inherited that mess. Anyway, it is clean now, maybe I will consider a vinegar or some other flush.

On an interesting note, the Chassis batteries were showing signs of age. I pulled them out and took them in for testing... the date code on the battery was 2013 which meant they came with the RV new. Can't believe they lasted until 2022. Hope I get that service life out of this set.