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03-22-2024, 08:26 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: Onaga, KS
Posts: 466
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Winterizing HW Heater
Does anybody else do this? When winterizing the hot water heater, after draining and hosing out the tank, I don't screw the plug and anode back into the tank. Instead, I shove a piece of plastic screening in the opening to keep out debris and bugs, allowing the tank to breathe. Then store the plug / anode inside the trailer.
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2021 Cougar 25RDS
2019 RAM 3500 Longhorn, Mega Cab, DRW,
Cummins 6.7 HO, Aisin 6 Spd HD, 4x4
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03-22-2024, 09:06 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Indiana
Posts: 2,720
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Nope, I do not, never have (except once ... learned the hard way).
After draining, I always re-insert the anode rod. But, I do not tighten it. I just make it loose-finger tight. Why?
I learned the hard way, that if I do not keep the anode rod plug inside the hole, the threads on the water heater AND the threads on the anode rod plug will rust up ... really, really bad, making it almost impossible to re-insert the anode rod when it's time.
So, inserting the anode rod keeps the threads from rusting up. And NOT making the anode tight, makes it easy to remove when setting up the water heater again.
Basically, the reason I re-insert the rod is so the threads do not rust up. The one time I thought I could skip this was the last. It was a nightmare cleaning the threads and then getting the rust garbage out from inside the tank because of all the flaking with a wire brush. Nope, never again!
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2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Duramax HD 6.6 - 3500 Diesel Dully Long bed Crew Cab
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03-22-2024, 09:09 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,357
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We leave the anode rod in the water heater compartment and then use a 3/4” NPT tap to clean the threads. Tap is $12.00 on Amazon.
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2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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03-22-2024, 09:56 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Henniker
Posts: 2,183
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I don't have a hot water heater, but on my water heater (no anode rod), I turn the bypass, remove the plastic drain plug and leave it in the water heater compartment so I know where it is in the spring. There are no chances of bugs from when I winterize until I de-winterize, so I am not worried about bugs or debris finding their way up inside the unit.
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Rob & Amy
2019 Passport 240BH SL (for sale)
2024 Cougar 29BHL (Taking delivery 5/11/24)
2022 Ford F250 7.3L Godzilla Crew Cab FX4
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03-22-2024, 10:07 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: Onaga, KS
Posts: 466
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog
There are no chances of bugs from when I winterize until I de-winterize, so I am not worried about bugs or debris finding their way up inside the unit.
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Not the case here in Kansas, we can be down in the neggies, frozen over with ice and a week later have a warm up into the upper 60s. Nothing like Southerly flow from the Gulf, down flow from the Rockies to the West and Alberta Clipper action from the North. Gee, I wonder why we are one of the starting points for nasty supercells and tornadic activity....
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2021 Cougar 25RDS
2019 RAM 3500 Longhorn, Mega Cab, DRW,
Cummins 6.7 HO, Aisin 6 Spd HD, 4x4
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