buying used, please help

[gbaglo]

How does it occur to you that you have messed up? Where does the leak show up?
I'm fairly confident that it never got cold enough this winter, but I need to ask.

 

[PGDriver]

How does it occur to you that you have messed up? Where does the leak show up?
I'm fairly confident that it never got cold enough this winter, but I need to ask.

Mine showed up in the spring once I pressured up the system.:-[

 

[Jim Bennett]

Glenn

Word on the street is Jim or I could probably direct you to a good valve supplier.;D

Truth

How does it occur to you that you have messed up? Where does the leak show up?
I'm fairly confident that it never got cold enough this winter, but I need to ask.

Let's just say it is a good thing it is inside the waterproof bathroom walls.

 

[Lost Croz]

Hi Glenn

On the end of the plug is an anode that will be frozen into a block of ice, if you put a wrench on it and turn it will probably snap off the anode rod.

This is what I am most worried about. But I assume multiple freeze / thaw cycles won't be good for it either. I think I should wait for the first above zero day, and carefully try to get it out. What's worse, snapping the anode, or potentially having water freeze and thaw multiple times inside that water heater??

I think I have to accept this learning experience is going to cost me some money no matter what...

I'll be more prepared for next year

 

[Lost Croz]

I just tried to get that drain plug out, no luck. I didn't try that hard and based on the rust on it I would guess it has never been opened... It was kept in a heated garage so they didn't have to think about winterizing.

It's going to be a "steep" learning curve for this newbie

 

[thoer]

If you have a small electric heater you could put it so that it blew hot air onto the hot water heater for a day or so to thaw it out. I'd do that with the low point drain open and the kitchen faucets open. Then as the water heater thaws it should run out the low point drain as long as the shut off valve to the water heater is open. (The plug is always a bit hard to get started and if yours has never been out then it might take a bit of force to start.)

And don't feel bad, most all of us have stories about things we have done wrong to our trailers - and in many cases after we should have already known better!

 

[gbaglo]

I'm not sure that water from the heater would go out the low point drain. That's why you take out the anode and open the pressure relief valve when winterizing.
Agreed, it could take some force to remove that anode.

 

[gbaglo]

And, I'm not taking responsibility, but if you are using a 13/16 socket ( as required ) and the head on the anode hasn't been rounded by vice-grips, used in the past, you can add leverage to your socket wrench with a piece of pipe. Slip a couple feet of pipe over the socket handle and apply gentle pressure.

 

[thoer]

I'm not sure that water from the heater would go out the low point drain. That's why you take out the anode and open the pressure relief valve when winterizing.
Agreed, it could take some force to remove that anode.

Glenn I am trying to visualize the system, but I THINK that water should drain out of the water heater at the low point drain if a faucet is open to allow inlet air. Your mention of the pressure relief valve is good too, as opening that might help too. I usually think of taking out the anode as an access to flush out the water heater and check out the anode and to make sure the tank is completely empty, but maybe it is the only way to drain it.

 

[Jim Bennett]

I'm not sure that water from the heater would go out the low point drain. That's why you take out the anode and open the pressure relief valve when winterizing.
Agreed, it could take some force to remove that anode.

You are correct, it is not plumbed to accommodate draining out the low point, and the water heater is sloped to the exterior which helps it drain better there.

... using a 13/16 socket

1 1/16", I thought.

If you are absolutely certain there is water (ice) in the heater, I see no reason at all to not turn the element on to melt the ice. Don't run it without water though, or you might have to follow the tutorial I made to change it out when I accidentally did just that. :

 

[Lost Croz]

It is 1 1/16" and it took some effort but I got the drain plug out. The problem I had was all the sediment buildup from the plug never being removed. Once I carefully removed the sediment, the anode came right out with a mix of water and antifreeze. The anode was pretty eaten away and I hope that is all I will have to replace. I may have dodged a bullet on this one!! The proper socket with my torque wrench did the trick.

Thanks for all your tips on this one, it really helped me out...

 

[cpaharley2008]

When you re-install, put some teflon tape on threads, it will help removal next time. Also post a pic of the anode, several members have replaced theirs and can give an opinion.

 

[PGDriver]

As long as there is still some material left on the steel anode rod you don't have to replace it.
They always look bad after a couple of years of use.
Glad to hear that all is well so far.

 

[thoer]

Glad to hear it came out and yah - the anodes look ugly but still keep working for quite a while. Now is a good opportunity to use fresh water and a hose to flush out all the build up that is on the bottom of the water heater. Sounds like it has maybe never been cleaned out. With our hard water I get a lot of calcium out of ours every year.

 

[gbaglo]

when you flush it, open the pressure relief valve as well ( that lever above the anode ).

 

[Lost Croz]

It is supposed to be above freezing again this weekend, so I will get in there and flush it out. The previous owners were probably on a well, and there is a lot of build up in there. I will post a pic of the anode, there isn't much left of it, I just have to learn how to post pics... I am new to ALL of this stuff.

But we're still having fun even though we haven't gone anywhere, yet

 

[float5]

Don't sweat it. People goof up this kind of thing when they've been at it for years and years. Too many things to remember. Don't think I want to put sticky notes all over everything!

Ours is full of crud, too. That's the way they get. We have to flush ours out.