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06-29-2007, 02:35 PM
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#1
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Central FL
Posts: 166
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Does anyone drain their hot water tank between uses? After a month or so of storage we get a pretty strong sulfur smell during initial usage of hot water. It eventually goes away but I've considered draining the tank between uses. Do any of you do so? My 7/8 socket appears to fit the plastic drain plug. Do you concur with that size?
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2012 Phaeton 40 QBH, 2011 Ford Explorer & 2013 Jeep Wrangler Toads via BlueOx, TPMS by TTS, Delta Force toad brake system.
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06-29-2007, 02:35 PM
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#2
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Central FL
Posts: 166
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Does anyone drain their hot water tank between uses? After a month or so of storage we get a pretty strong sulfur smell during initial usage of hot water. It eventually goes away but I've considered draining the tank between uses. Do any of you do so? My 7/8 socket appears to fit the plastic drain plug. Do you concur with that size?
__________________
2012 Phaeton 40 QBH, 2011 Ford Explorer & 2013 Jeep Wrangler Toads via BlueOx, TPMS by TTS, Delta Force toad brake system.
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06-29-2007, 02:56 PM
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#3
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 6
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i drain my hot water tank every year prior to using it. my surban waterheater is drained by removing the anode rod. it is metal and takes a very large socket to remove. while the rod is out i turn on the water so i can flush out the crud that accumulates in the bottom of the tank. a baby bottle brush helps to remove the crud.
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tommy wilson
1996 kountrystar
spartan mountainmaster cummins 8.3L
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06-29-2007, 03:56 PM
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#4
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Grayson, GA
Posts: 344
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If I know I will not be using the rig for over a month, I will drain the hot water heater. While drained, I do flush it out and clean the crud out each time.
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Dave and Karen -- '02 Ultimate Advantage 36 C, 350 HP Cummins, Allison 3060 Tranny
'13 Ford Edge, InvisiBrake
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06-29-2007, 05:06 PM
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#5
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Centerville, OH
Posts: 36
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Hello, I do the same as Dave. If mine sits full over a month it starts to smell of sulfer too. I installed a valve in place of the plastic plug, so all I have to is open the valve and the pressure relief valve to drain most of the water after a trip easily.
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'04 Winnebago Adventurer 38G
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06-30-2007, 01:42 AM
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#6
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: North East Indiana
Posts: 762
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I drain my water heater after every trip out in the coach. It is so simple to do and the thought of the crap in most water sources laying in there incubating, motivates me. I also flush the tank.
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06-30-2007, 03:15 AM
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#7
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Trinidad Colorado
Posts: 50
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Paul,
Remove the pressure relief valve entirely. Pour an entire gallon of vinegar in there and let it sit as long as you like. Before your next trip, drain the tank, refill with water. One more flush of the tank and you're good to go. There is just enough acid in the vinegar to help disolve some of the calcified particulates and freshen the system. OK, so you get a bit of a vinegar smell for a short time but that smells a lot better than rotten eggs.
Best regards,
Larry
__________________
2004 Journey 36G
Cat C-7 DP -- 2 slides -- computer table dinet -- full body paint -- Satellite Dish: Winegard Movin' View Dome -- Toad: 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD -- Aux Brake: none -- Tow Bar: Sterling All Terrain -- GPS: Garmin Street Pi
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06-30-2007, 05:19 AM
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#8
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Central FL
Posts: 166
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Dmadzia -- Do you recall what size thread that valve of you are using has?
__________________
2012 Phaeton 40 QBH, 2011 Ford Explorer & 2013 Jeep Wrangler Toads via BlueOx, TPMS by TTS, Delta Force toad brake system.
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06-30-2007, 05:57 AM
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#9
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Centerville, OH
Posts: 36
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Paul, my Adventurer uses a 1/2" valve. Most water heaters are this size. Almost every RV parts place will have this in stock. Here is a picture of it on the bottom of the page from the link below.
http://www.go-rv.com/coast/do/catalo...56&pageNum=282
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'04 Winnebago Adventurer 38G
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06-30-2007, 07:51 AM
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#10
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Upper Bucks County PA
Posts: 24
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All the above solutions sound solid to me. The only other thought I have is if you have an anode rod it could be causing the smell. If you do, try removing it for a while and see if the smell goes away. When I lived in Wisconsin a plumer told me they removed the anode rods when installing a water heater due to reaction with the water. I never drain my tank til the end of the season and havn't had a problem yet (fingers crossed).
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John, Connie and our dog, Miles
Bucks County PA
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06-30-2007, 08:54 AM
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#11
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: south NJ
Posts: 423
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Yep, there ok valves to use, but you have the same problem of all the water draining on your water heater and going all over the place. I used a standard 1/2" ball valve with a short handle and drilled a hole in the bottom of the compartment floor and piped it through the floor so the water drains on the ground. I also drain it after every trip. No smell here.
__________________
2001 32-V Suncruiser,Ford V-10, 310 HP, 4 Koni FSD's, KVH Tracvision,trickle charge, awning travel lock, 1 dinning room slide; no roof leaks, 03malibu toad sometimes, Blackhawk all terrain towbar, Roadmaster brake Pro,1 wife,1 westy, life is good!
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07-01-2007, 04:58 PM
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#12
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Rockford, IL
Posts: 43
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We have that problem at home with our water heater. I guess that it could happen in the motorhome too. If you have been where the water is heavy with lime (hard water) then that can cause that to happen to.
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07-05-2007, 05:33 PM
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#13
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Spencer, Iowa
Posts: 5
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We've had our 97 Dutchstar four yrs. now and last year this smell started in and it's worse this year. I've rinsed it out, replaced the anode rod three times, and now I've gone to draining after each trip. Last week I drained and put in a half cup of bleach and filled it till we go again and then I'll drain it a couple times. I suctioned several bulbs of water below the 3/4 drain plug before putting the bleach/clorox. I've also placed a thin spout on the hose full blast and you won't believe what comes out of there. I plan to continue using the anode rod as it really seems to absorb/attach some crap that I simply wipe off now each time I drain. We'll see what happens.
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97 Dutchstar DP
03 VW Beetle TDI
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07-06-2007, 03:39 AM
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#14
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: North East Indiana
Posts: 762
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Tony: I generally, at least once a year, pour a couple of gallons of "White Vinegar", into my HWH. Let it set for a couple of days then flush it out. This freshens the tank and gets rid of a lot of calcium and iron build up. I take out the pop off valve to pour the vinegar in. No need to heat the water, just leave it set and rinse.
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