Water heater

mezza56 · Senior Member

Water heater

Radar · Guru

mezza56 wrote:
Hi all ,
A query for those that are not in their vans full time and park it up for mths at a time .When we get back I always drain the tanks and sterilise before we go again.I have never drained the ho****er system or the lines themselves . My question is do others drain their ho****er system as well , and or lines for that matter. When we go each time I run a sterilising agent and run it thru all the lines prior to draining the sterilising water out and refilling .

Hi Mezza

Its going to be interesting reading what people thoughts on this subject of water drain or not.

Previously I have been a complete filler upper my main argument was from my days as a fuel tanker driver delivering fuel to farmers who had some real bad habits with their tanks and then complaining about contaminated fuel. A full tank of liquid will not allow nasties to breed.

Then before using caravan on the next trip I would drain them on to the garden and refil with fresh water, so far so good.

On our way home the other day from our last tour, we were talking about this should we drain or not drain as the caravan is going to be parked up for 4 months, 3 tanks equals 200kgs just sitting there.

We read in a mag where the technical guru said yes to drain but no real reason only his believe.

We did google and did get a mix of answers but nothing substantial.

So far I think I will leave mine, undecided.

I no b-------- help.

Radar · Guru

Mezza

Just had a read of our Truma B14 water heater instructions.

Maybe its time to read yours as I don't know brand, We were luck the previous owner left me some paper work.

A managing director decision was reached over coffee this morning, we are going to fill all the tanks with water, we don't live in a area where we get frost and that appears tobe with a Truma the only reason you would leave it empty.

If you don't have operating instructions google and down load a copy for future reference, very handy. We keep a copy in the van for most items frig, stove, water heater and list goes on.

Santa · Guru

We have a 9 year old gas/electric Truma, have never drained it, runs well, no problems.

All I do is crack the pressure relief valve every few months.

We do live in an area that isn't subject to sustained freezing temps. smile

mezza56 · Senior Member

Hi Radar

I checked it out and its not necessary unless in freezing conditions and or you want to extend the life of the anode .

So I guess I'll leave it full each time .

Stl · Senior Member

A bit off track but, Santa, I have just replaced my truma and there was no manual pressure relief valve on the old one nor on the new one, there is a pressure relief drain hose only that runs from the unit through the floor, but there is a "safety"drain valve on the inlet side hose.

Don't know about other makes

Santa · Guru

Stl wrote:
A bit off track but, Santa, I have just replaced my truma and there was no manual pressure relief valve on the old one nor on the new one, there is a pressure relief drain hose only that runs from the unit through the floor, but there is a "safety"drain valve on the inlet side hose.
Don't know about other makes

Morning Stl, check operating instructions here. smile

http://www.dometicrvcentre.com.au/documentmanager/item/140

Stl · Senior Member

Hi Santa,

sorry to take so long to get back, I think I understand the dometic link which is what I was saying, no manual pressure relief valve, the hose (20) is a pressure relief drain, no manual relief valve and the other on the inlet is a safety drain valve. Which one do you use?

Len

Santa · Guru

Morning STL, my heater has a spring loaded safety/drain valve (yellow plastic lever) located on the inlet, this is the one I use.

On top of the unit is a printed warning to activate the lever regularly (I think every six months) smile

JayDee · Guru

We have a suburban hot water system, and this system has an ANODE which should be replaced possibly every 12 months. Of course depends on how many months a year one travels.

So in that case the system is drained as per above comment.

Warning, before replacing the ANODE make sure you open the release pressure valve, or else you will get a free cold shower,andbecovered with this white stuff.

We have never drained either the cold water tanks. Maybe we should.

Jay&Dee

Santa · Guru

JayDee wrote:
We have a suburban hot water system, and this system has an ANODE which should be replaced possibly every 12 months. Of course depends on how many months a year one travels.
So in that case the system is drained as per above comment.
Warning, before replacing the ANODE make sure you open the release pressure valve, or else you will get a free cold shower,andbecovered with this white stuff.
We have never drained either the cold water tanks. Maybe we should.
Jay&Dee

Morning Jay/Dee? the Truma systems have a stainless steel tank, they have no anode that needs replacing, the only maintenance needed is to actuate the pressure relief valve every few months. smile