Antifreeze in the water heater?

Milemaker13 · 10-16-2022, 09:06 AM

The water heater seems to have some water left that I can't get out. Just some below the drain plug.

Should I run a little antifreeze in to prevent freezing?
Is anyone concerned about this?

skids · 10-16-2022, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milemaker13

The water heater seems to have some water left that I can't get out. Just some below the drain plug.

Should I run a little antifreeze in to prevent freezing?
Is anyone concerned about this?

Make sure you drain all that you can. Then bypass it to antifreeze the other "downstream" lines. Don't put antifreeze in it. You can leave the plug out of it to evaporate water if you worry.

Milemaker13 · 10-16-2022, 10:57 AM

Ok.

RogerR · 10-16-2022, 07:59 PM

A few times I used a little plastic hose and siphoned it out but now just ignore it. Bottom appears to be rounded so I just swells up a little with no harm done.

JB13502 · 10-17-2022, 07:48 AM

As others have stated, just let it drain, I keep the plug out until spring (just keep it in the housing so it doesn't get lost). I doubt that the small amount of water left would cause any issues when it freezes, but keeping the plug out and allowing for expansion gives me peace of mind.

Madanna67 · 10-17-2022, 10:53 AM

I just drain and bypass then winterize. I am going to put the plug a few turns back in to keep mice from building a nest in it.

Jagiven · 10-17-2022, 11:38 AM

Your fine with draining and leaving a little residue in the bottom of the tank. There is so little water, it does not have the required force to damage the tank. Same with the waste tanks.

LuckyDuck · 10-17-2022, 01:45 PM

For what it’s worth, I use one of these to suck as much of the residual water at the bottom as possible. (I’ve even done the reverse first, pushing clean water in there to stir up any bit of sediment before sucking it back out.) There always is some left but if it doesn’t evaporate by winter, it won’t be enough to damage anything as the others said.

Harbor Freight, 7 bucks…

skids · 10-17-2022, 02:23 PM

You could probably use that to force any air out of the city water and the black water from those inputs.

LuckyDuck · 10-17-2022, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skids

You could probably use that to force any air out of the city water and the black water from those inputs.

Good thought, it’s fairly powerful. Never considered it as the compressor and blowout plug works well.

skids · 10-17-2022, 04:46 PM

Well, not a blowout device, but it could push a column of water into the line so that the antifreeze from the pump outlet can move it along...and get the water out of the black tank washer line.

saarf · 10-22-2022, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerR

A few times I used a little plastic hose and siphoned it out but now just ignore it. Bottom appears to be rounded so I just swells up a little with no harm done.

I also have used a small hose but dont think its necessary

jpino57 · 10-22-2022, 02:06 PM

I have, without consequences, by-passed the HW tank while flushing the system with antifreeze and then drained the holding tank replacing the plug loosely when flow stops. I’ll add, but if it bothers you, I would get a shop vac set up for water vacuuming and tape a drinking straw with a flex tip on the end. The straw could remove most if not all residual water remaining in the tank. Allow an air bleed if the suction is too strong for the straw. I don’t find these extra steps to be necessary, but peace of mind has value if important to you.

Edutron · 10-22-2022, 08:55 PM

2020 Pinnacle
1) Remove drain plug on water heater
2) Connect air pressure (50-60 psi regulated is good) to water tank inlet
(I use a portable air compressor in storage bay)
3) Have a cut off valve at water inlet to tank fitting
4) Put finger which ever one can seal water heater tank drain better and pressurize by opening cut off valve then release finger
5) Water will blow out under pressure.
6) Keep repeating process until very little water is being blown out of drain.
WORKS ALL DAY FOR ME and yes, it is PIA because it takes many repeated processes.
7) Leave drain plug off or install very very loose.

Hollander Mutthaulers · 10-23-2022, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagiven

Your fine with draining and leaving a little residue in the bottom of the tank. There is so little water, it does not have the required force to damage the tank. Same with the waste tanks.

X2

I put about half a gallon antifreeze in black and grey tanks to hopefully keep ice out of the gate valves. So far it's worked in five of our Michigan winters.

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