Water Heater flushing - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Me | General Topics > General Escape
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 02-07-2015, 06:23 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Water Heater flushing

The recent water heater thread has me wondering. I know you can buy a wand that you insert where the anode goes to flush debris from the tank. But I'm wondering if you couldn't simply take the anode out and connect to city water and let it rip.
Wouldn't that accomplish the same thing?
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2015, 07:10 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
LeonW's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 -- The Skylark. Towed by a 2014 Highlander
Posts: 1,159
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
The recent water heater thread has me wondering. I know you can buy a wand that you insert where the anode goes to flush debris from the tank. But I'm wondering if you couldn't simply take the anode out and connect to city water and let it rip.
Wouldn't that accomplish the same thing?
Glen, I think the wand lets you direct a stream of kind of high pressure water to the back corners of the tank, which in turn flushes out a lot of crud. I know that is what happened when I last cleaned my water heater. I don't know if simply letting water flow into the tank would accomplish the same thing.
LeonW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2015, 07:11 PM   #3
Site Team
 
rbryan4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
The recent water heater thread has me wondering. I know you can buy a wand that you insert where the anode goes to flush debris from the tank. But I'm wondering if you couldn't simply take the anode out and connect to city water and let it rip.
Wouldn't that accomplish the same thing?
I don't think it would work as well at removing scale Glenn. There is no jet of higher pressure water to "scrub" the tank walls like with the wand - as in this video:

__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
rbryan4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 12:33 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Delta, British Columbia
Trailer: 2015 5.0TA
Posts: 271
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
The recent water heater thread has me wondering. I know you can buy a wand that you insert where the anode goes to flush debris from the tank. But I'm wondering if you couldn't simply take the anode out and connect to city water and let it rip.
Wouldn't that accomplish the same thing?
Glen you can just remove the anode plug then using one of those pistol grip type garden nozzles on the jet setting shoot a half dozen or so shots into the tank, pausing to let the water run out each time. Stop when no more grey goop comes out.
Mark
GerriJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 12:53 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Sounds reasonable if I'm on target.
My outdoor faucet at the front of the house is installed before the pressure reduction valve, so I get the full force.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 12:56 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Haven't watched the wand video yet.
I'm going to get around it it, just to see how anybody could make a 14 minute, 13 second video on inserting a wand and turning on the water.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 04:07 PM   #7
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
According to the video, it's much more than just shooting water in and letting it drain. The wand allows you to reach all areas of the tank to scour the scale off the container. About half of the video was how to "sterlize" the water system using white vinegar. The wands are cheap enough, I'm getting one. YMMV
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 08:16 PM   #8
Site Team
 
rbryan4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
Water Heater flushing

The wands are a great way to get the tank clean. I think the guy in the video only descales with vinegar once a year. He also has some good info on the anodes. I didn't know that they have different anodes depending on the chemistry of your water. Apparently if you notice the anode deteriorating too rapidly, you should change it for an Aluminum and Zinc one that lasts longer. I also like the idea of having a spare.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
rbryan4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 08:22 PM   #9
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
I have Amazon Prime, just bought the wand. $8.57 and as the guy in the video says, last years. I like the thumb shut off valve. A regular hose attachment may work, but cool.. I get to decide when the water comes on and cleans the hot water tank. YMMV
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 08:40 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Quote:
Originally Posted by rbryan4 View Post
Apparently if you notice the anode deteriorating too rapidly, you should change it for an Aluminum and Zinc one that lasts longer. I also like the idea of having a spare.
I'm still using the original anode that came with the trailer and at the rate it's going, I don't expect to have to replace it any time soon. But, we have soft water here.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 09:27 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
skiman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Jeromesville, Ohio
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21' pulled with 2014 Silverado Crewcab
Posts: 853
Quote:
Originally Posted by rbryan4 View Post
The wands are a great way to get the tank clean. I think the guy in the video only descales with vinegar once a year. He also has some good info on the anodes. I didn't know that they have different anodes depending on the chemistry of your water. Apparently if you notice the anode deteriorating too rapidly, you should change it for an Aluminum and Zinc one that lasts longer. I also like the idea of having a spare.
To me if the anode rod is deteriorating quickly it means the water is very aggressive. Switching to aluminum just gives it a chance to attack the tank instead of the rod.
__________________
Carl,

"Isn't it amazing how much stuff we get done the day before vacation?"
Zig Ziglar
skiman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 10:15 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
That's why it's called a sacrificial metal. It's supposed to corrode, instead of the tank.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 10:16 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D. View Post
About half of the video was how to "sterlize" the water system using white vinegar.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rbryan4 View Post
I think the guy in the video only descales with vinegar once a year.
I refuse to sit through seemingly endless videos with the same information that would fit in a well-written page that can be read in a minute or two, so I don't know what he really said he was using vinegar for (sterilize, descale, both?). You're not sterilizing anything with vinegar, and I doubt it can even effectively sanitize anything; descaling makes more sense. You might want to just use CLR or a similar consumer descaling product - and rinse thoroughly afterward, of course.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 10:20 PM   #14
Site Team
 
rbryan4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
It was for removing scale. Sanitizing is just cleaning and running the water till its clear.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
rbryan4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 10:21 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SLO County, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21C 2019 Expedition
Posts: 5,210
My tankless water heater manual says use white vinegar for annual flushing.
Rossue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 10:25 PM   #16
Site Team
 
rbryan4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
That's why it's called a sacrificial metal. It's supposed to corrode, instead of the tank.
Exactly Glenn. Its supposed to last about a year. Apparently the Magnesium anodes work for most water, but the Aluminum/Zinc ones work in situations where the Magnesium doesn't last the year. I guess you don't really know which is best until you've run the unit with your local water for awhile.

I also like the idea that the zinc in the alloy anode helps remove sulfur smell from the water if you live in an area prone to it.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
rbryan4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 10:37 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Here's mine after 6+ years. I don't know what it is made of. Came with.
Attached Thumbnails
Anode after 6 years.jpg  
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 10:44 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by rbryan4 View Post
It was for removing scale. Sanitizing is just cleaning and running the water till its clear.
Thanks. "Sanitizing" usually means killing pathogens, not just washing them out, but I suppose if washing is thorough enough then it is making the tank sanitary.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 10:50 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
I looked this up some time ago. Comes from a home brew site.

Seems to be some confusion between the 2 terms. So, in an effort to
clear it up, here are a couple of definitions to keep in mind:

Sanitize - to render sanitary, or free from elements, such as filth or
pathogens, that endanger health. This does not mean ALL possible
microorganisms, etc, but MOST. Sanitizing does not remove ALL bacteria,
microorganisms, etc.

Sterilize - to render sterile, or to make free from ALL live bacteria or
other microorganisms. Kind of a "total kill" of everything.

Something that is sterilized can also be considered sanitary, but
something that is sanitized is not sterile.

You know. Like a kayak is a canoe, but a canoe may not be a kayak.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2015, 10:50 PM   #20
Site Team
 
rbryan4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
Here's mine after 6+ years. I don't know what it is made of. Came with.
You can rest safe in the knowledge that Vancouver has GOOD water then Glenn. The stock anodes are the magnesium type -- which aren't supposed to last as long. Something tells me our high mineral water isn't going to give the same results.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
rbryan4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:42 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.