Water Heater

[Bat102]

When not using the trailer for a few months, I always drain the fresh water, grey and black tanks. I also drian the hot water heater and change the anode if needed. Is it recommended to store the water heater full or empty? Don't know if one way is better then the other. Any ideas?

[jimcol]

I don't know what is best but I always store mine empty. Emptying the tank allows me to wash any crud out of the bottom of the tank. I would think empty would prevent scale build up on the tank as well as the electric heat element. I also pour a couple of gallons of fresh water in all three holding tanks. Someone told me it prevents drying and cracking of the seals at the dump valves. Jim

[racerjoe]

we store it empty,the water gets kind of "stinky" when it sets for a while.

[kdeiss]

Empty I would no way store full! Just my opinion

[kylec2]

If I was going to not use the rv for several weeks I would drain the tank and blow-out the water lines with air. Once I was ready to use it again I would sterilize the system with a little bleach.

[bncinwv]

The only time I empty the water heater is during the winterization process. Rig will sit for a few weeks without use. Have never had a problem to date. With that said, we do not use water from the rig plumbing for cooking or drinking unless it goes through our Zero Water filter pitcher.
Bingo

[Rondo]

Empty from our perspective on the water heater! If you leave it full of water you do get some really nasty smelling water when you start it up again and it also can cause a slime to form inside the tank which you would not appreciate when you turned it back on and wanted to use it. I wash the heater out with one of the wands for cleaning the bottom of the tank out both when I empty it and also again before heading back out and filling it again before a trip. Kylec2 has the right idea as to blowing the lines out and make sure you empty them at the low point drain also. I also leave a little water in each holding tank to prevent the seals from drying out. I also sterilize the lines and the fresh water tank before heading out each season. If we don't use the fresh water tank I make sure it gets sterilized at least twice a year. I do keep some water in that tank when on the road just for use when we don't have a rest area along the way.

[mail2us]

We have a Surburban water heater. Reading through the owner's manual they recommend no water in the water heater when unused for extended periods of time.
It further recommends replacing the anode yearly due to various water elements that contribute to early deterioration.

[DQDick]

Before we went full time we did exactly what Dennis says. Having been in the restaurant business I don't let water set for extended periods anywhere. That includes draining our fresh water tank regularly now that we are full time.

[ols1932]

As anyone can see there are a multitude of opinions. So, I'll add mine. If storing the rig, drain everything. I'm talking about long-term storage like over the winter season. If just from week to week, no need to drain.

Orv

[BB_TX]

Mine is always empty over the winter months. Full thru the travel season.

[TLightning]

We store it empty and empty it after each trip.

[Bat102]

Thanks for all of the great info. Empty it is.

[grampachet]

Empty when storing for more than a week or two. I do believe there is a difference in water from different parts of country.
Here in the NW (Portland) I hear our water is filled with less undesirables than other parts of US.

[Art-n-Marge]

Empty, flush and store the water heater when not in use. Don't forget the flush part - I purchased a wand to flush and I also use my cheapie blue water filter inline, so that it's flushed with some filtration. I found the anode lasts longer under these conditions and no more "sulphur water" issues either.

[bobsals]

All good responses here. One additional advantage to emptying the tank is anode conservation. As long as the anode is submerged in water (hot or cold) in the tank it is working.(sacrificing itself to protect the tank). As long as the tank is empty, the tank will not corrode due to galvanic corrosion.

[PowellsMonty]

Water won't go bad in a couple of weeks. If I were going to store it for a couple of months, I would drain it. For 2 - 3 wekks, no. Don't forget to turn the heater's off when draining.