Cleaning hot water tank necessary?

[Jinny]

When I purchased a new anode rod, the RV store sold me a wand device to clean out the hot water tank by blowing water into it.
Is this a good idea? Is it necessary?
What lining is there on the hot water tank on a 2020 17B?
Thanks in advance.

[tdf-texas]

The Suburban SW6DE hot water heater is porcelain lined but does collect debris from the anode as it ages and scale.

I would recommend using the wand to rinse out the hot water heater each time you pull the anode - you will be amazed at how much crud comes out of it.

[Jinny]

thanks

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

The Suburban SW6DE hot water heater is porcelain lined but does collect debris from the anode as it ages and scale.

I would recommend using the wand to rinse out the hot water heater each time you pull the anode - you will be amazed at how much crud comes out of it.

Yes I second Tom’s advice . Release the pressure first though by opening sink valves ! Pat

[huskersteffy]

One other random hot water heater water cleanliness issue....

Since we got our trailer in 2016 I have been draining the fresh water tank between outings during spring-summer-fall. Time between outings varied between 2-6 weeks. No problems up until this year.

Filled our freshwater tank and headed out in late July 2020 after several earlier outings. When we ran some hot water our first night at camp we noticed a horrible "rotten-egg" type smell. I drained the hot water tank and then let the pump refill the tank after drain. Smell was gone.

I now remove the anode and drain the hot water tank as well as the fresh water after every outing. Maybe overkill but I suppose water sitting in a tank for a few weeks can get pretty "funky" even if it isn't exposed to the atmosphere.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by huskersteffy

One other random hot water heater water cleanliness issue....

Since we got our trailer in 2016 I have been draining the fresh water tank between outings during spring-summer-fall. Time between outings varied between 2-6 weeks. No problems up until this year.

Filled our freshwater tank and headed out in late July 2020 after several earlier outings. When we ran some hot water our first night at camp we noticed a horrible "rotten-egg" type smell. I drained the hot water tank and then let the pump refill the tank after drain. Smell was gone.

I now remove the anode and drain the hot water tank as well as the fresh water after every outing. Maybe overkill but I suppose water sitting in a tank for a few weeks can get pretty "funky" even if it isn't exposed to the atmosphere.

Makes sense to me . Great idea ! Pat

[HABBERDABBER]

I drain ALL tanks after every outing, and leave ALL valves open for things to dry out. I stuff a strip of old towel into the water heater anode fitting to wick out residual water. I force open and leave the toilet ball valve open to dry things out in the black water tank.


So far, so good.


So long,

[Rossue]

Overkill to drain hot water tank after each trip unless you are filling the tank from artesian wells in a locale like Cocoa Beach, FLA- notoriously high in sulphur.

Once a year has worked fine so far after six years.

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by Rossue

Overkill to drain hot water tank after each trip unless you are filling the tank from artesian wells in a locale like Cocoa Beach, FLA- notoriously high in sulphur.

Once a year has worked fine so far after six years.

I suggest you take a bottle of water, set it outside for a year, then drink it.

If you do, be ready for a trip to the emergency room.

I drain my fresh water tank AND the hot water heater after every trip. Both of those contain "potable" water - not just for flushing toilets.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Rossue

Overkill to drain hot water tank after each trip unless you are filling the tank from artesian wells in a locale like Cocoa Beach, FLA- notoriously high in sulphur.



Once a year has worked fine so far after six years.

It depends though on the frequency of your trips. Once a year isn't a good idea if your trips are 6 or 8 months apart as ours often are. A better idea to me is to drain and rinse the tank if you don't intend to go out again within the next few weeks or so.

[Jinny]

I used the "wand" to clean the hot water tank. Was surprised that the water from the tank started out very milky. Also still some chunks. It was an easy process.

Also used the wand to clean out the toilet a bit. Now nice and clean
SO: think I will fill up the tanks and head back out for more adventures.
Using the air compressor to winterize was much easier than I expected.
I do NOT drink the water from the tanks....carry jugs of water for cooking.
Thanks for all the discussion.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by huskersteffy

I now remove the anode and drain the hot water tank as well as the fresh water after every outing. Maybe overkill but I suppose water sitting in a tank for a few weeks can get pretty "funky" even if it isn't exposed to the atmosphere.

Any water in a tank will get funky after awhile but your rotten egg smell was most likely from anaerobic bacteria in the water reacting with the magnesium anode rod and producing hydrogen sulfide. One solution is to use an aluminum anode rod but they supposedly do not protect the tank as well. Best is to just drain all the tanks regularly between trips.

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

One solution is to use an aluminum anode rod but they supposedly do not protect the tank as well.

Sorry Dave, but please don't use aluminum anodes in potable water. Studies of aluminum in water has shown to be possibly linked to Alzheimer's disease.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2215380/

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

Sorry Dave, but please don't use aluminum anodes in potable water. Studies of aluminum in water has shown to be possibly linked to Alzheimer's disease.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2215380/

Thanks Tom. No plans to deviate from the standard magnesium. I knew there was another reason I was told not to use aluminum besides decreased tank protection but couldn't think of it. Surprised they even sell them if this risk has been substantiated.

[padlin]

Originally Posted by Jinny

I used the "wand" to clean the hot water tank. Was surprised that the water from the tank started out very milky. Also still some chunks. It was an easy process.

Also used the wand to clean out the toilet a bit. Now nice and clean
SO: think I will fill up the tanks and head back out for more adventures.
Using the air compressor to winterize was much easier than I expected.
I do NOT drink the water from the tanks....carry jugs of water for cooking.
Thanks for all the discussion.

Think I'd get a 2nd wand.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by padlin

Think I'd get a 2nd wand.

+++++


and re drinking, you should never drink anything out of your hot water heater, anyways.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by padlin

Think I'd get a 2nd wand.

ditto.
There is a wand designed for the black tank. It is much longer so it can be inserted deeper into the tank. Reace plugged a couple holes on mine and drilled new ones at an angle to shoot water back up to the top of the tank walls.

[John in Santa Cruz]

the camco toilet wand that just has a single nozzle at the bottom at right angles sucks. what gbaglo shows above works much better

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

the camco toilet wand that just has a single nozzle at the bottom at right angles sucks. what gbaglo shows above works much better

Requires some care in handling. I've taken to covering the bowl with Saran and poking a small hole for the wand to go through.

[Hollybee]

I cleaned the WN on my Casita by blasting cold water into the AR hole after removing the AR and draining the tank..lots of grit comes out at first. I use a small "driveway nozzle" to get water in and stand back
After a bit, the water is clean. I let it drain and drag out the last remnants with a dry sponge or rolled up paper towel..then put in the anode rod and tighten her up.
Same process this last month for the WH on the E21.
Oh..be sure to turn the 2 inflow valves to the bypass position first