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08-12-2008, 09:31 AM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Old Hickory
Posts: 31
M.O.C. #8713
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Water Heater
I am a new Montanna owner and have never RV'd before. I have a 5th wheel Montanna and wonder if I should drain the water heater after camping each time? I wouldn't think so but like I said I am new.
Thanks
Mike
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08-12-2008, 10:04 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Cedar Rapids
Posts: 4,876
M.O.C. #1944
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by mstreeter
I am a new Montanna owner and have never RV'd before. I have a 5th wheel Montanna and wonder if I should drain the water heater after camping each time? I wouldn't think so but like I said I am new.
Thanks
Mike
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Welcome to the forum, Mike. Some people drain the water heater after each trip. It all depends on how long the rig is going to be setting in between trips. I've always felt that it wasn't necessary to drain it. We never did except for winterizing. Before we started full timing in 2000, our trips were usually once a year, maybe twice, and we didn't drain in between times.
Orv
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08-12-2008, 10:07 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lone Tree
Posts: 5,615
M.O.C. #6109
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Welcome to the forum Michael!
You should drain the water heater after each trip to avoid mold and mildew and guppies in the tank. Make sure you shut "OFF" the little black electric switch behind the outside heater panel and put the cotter pin in it (if you still have it) before you drain the tank. That switch should only be "ON" if the heater has water or the heater element will burn out within a few minutes.
What year/model do you have?
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08-12-2008, 10:25 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bakersfield
Posts: 5,316
M.O.C. #15
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Mstreeter,
I do not drain my water heater or fresh water tank. I suppose I should but I've never had a problem. We sometimes go as long as 3 months between trips.
Brad has some valid reasons to drain but like I said I've never had a problem with not draining.
Guess you'll have to decide what course of action would be best for your particular situation.
I think you'll find that is the pretty much normal with almost any RVing issue. You'll find folks all over the spectrum.
Good luck and welcome to the wonderful world of RVing.
HamRad
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08-12-2008, 10:46 AM
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#5
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Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Old Hickory
Posts: 31
M.O.C. #8713
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Thank you all for such a quick response. I will definitely take all suggestions and put them to good use.
Mike
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08-12-2008, 12:04 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Texas City
Posts: 5,736
M.O.C. #7673
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After washing my body while in a foreign country for a year with whatever water was available, and wondering about the mess hall washing utensils, I don't think a small build up of critters is going to hurt this old skin.
I don't drain mine until winter time.
Edited: But then, I let the dog lick me in the face also. I haven't started barking yet!!
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08-12-2008, 12:30 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lone Tree
Posts: 5,615
M.O.C. #6109
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Wow - guess I'm the odd man out and didn't expect these responses. I thought all part-timers drained when they got home. I always have, so I guess I don't know what would happen if I didn't. I just keep hearing about guys getting black and pink mucko junko in the stangnent wash machine lines or water softeners and figured anything past a week or so was going to go bad.
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08-12-2008, 01:20 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location:
Posts: 2,376
M.O.C. #6575
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I don't have the option, as we're full time in our unit. But, if I were parking the trailer for any length of time, I would have to agree with Brad. That water will get stagnant, and stuff will grow in there.
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08-12-2008, 01:20 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: anywhere
Posts: 912
M.O.C. #6260
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I'm with bsmeaton, always drained after a trip unless we were going back out in less than a week. Wayne, that old boby washing might go a long way in explaining a lot. Remember, we have met. Hee hee..
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08-12-2008, 01:52 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,750
M.O.C. #7560
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Mike--I'm with Brad on the draining of the hot H2O tank! Besides turning off the electrical switch behind the outside heater panel, I also turn off the breaker on the main panel. I do that before I even turn off the outside switch then I know I'm safe and won't burn out that element! I normally turn off the breaker and switch before heading for home on the last day of camping that way it gives the tank a chance to cool down before I drain it. By the way, welcome to the forum Mike and hope you jump in on any of the threads you like! There are always questions one has and don't feel bashful about asking anything!
Wayne-- I'm not going to ask about what else you do since you let the dog lick you in the face!
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08-12-2008, 03:23 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Texas City
Posts: 5,736
M.O.C. #7673
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Jim, Way back then it didn't take as much water as it does now. Wish they had a 20 gal tank instead of a 10!
Rondo,
I never kiss and tell!!!
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08-12-2008, 04:18 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,750
M.O.C. #7560
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08-12-2008, 04:45 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Wappingers Falls
Posts: 1,303
M.O.C. #6263
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Ok, my input, been doing this since 1988 and never, ever, drained the hot water tank until it was being winterized...so once a year. We use the hot water to clean the dishes for all these years...agree things do grow during down time but when water is returned to the "Hot" state during the numerous trips and RV's we have owned at best we get "dead" bacterial bodies during the initial "hot" purge. Did I always do a "hot" purge, well, no...so now I am contaminated...
Fresh water tank...different story, as we always come home and open drain port and typically leave open until next need to carry fresh water which is at best 2x a year. Past unit we tried to use the RV Safe Antifreeze in fresh water tank as an antiseptic but found it left a horrible "taste" in our water system...brushing teeth was disgusting.
As others have commented...all good stuff for improvements on how to manage water storage.
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08-13-2008, 04:34 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Fall Creek
Posts: 1,329
M.O.C. #3699
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We got into a habit of completely draining the water in the Monty between trips. On the average we go out now about every three weeks. I personally think that this helps keep the entire water system clean. I certainly would not like to go out and get sick from contaminated water. Just my 2cents.
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Bob and Nancy Kassl Fall Creek, Wisconsin
2015 Montana 3440RL Legacy Edition, G614's, Pressure Pro TPMS, Dish Tailgaters
2016 GMC Sierra Denali 3500 CC SRW, Iridium Metallic, Duramax Allison Transmission
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