How to Drain a Dometic Water Heater?

[Ajax Trueblood]

2019 Reflection 303 RLS, Dometic water heater. This'll be the first time I've drained it. If there's a thread or reference on this, please direct me there. This YouTube makes it seem easy, but its not my system. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PvtMxEAIEU. Questions:
- After flushing and draining it, should I leave it empty for winter? Or put does antifreeze go in there?

Here's a pic of my system...

[TucsonJim]

Here are some tips for draining it:

1. Make sure it's off and cool. I suggest you also turn off the water heater breaker in the circuit breaker panel.
2. Place a note in a visible location that reminds you to refill the tank before turning the breaker and water heater back on.
3. Slowly open the pressure relief valve to remove any residual pressure.
4. Remove the plastic drain plug and allow the water heater to drain. I'd suggest you use a six point socket to keep from rounding the drain plug. Place the drain plug where you'll be able to locate it when you refill in the spring.

You can leave it empty as long as you don't turn it back on before refilling it. Antifreeze will not hurt it, but it would take six gallons to fill it. So the vast majority leave it empty.

Jim
.

[Guest]

First by pass the water heater. If you use a 1/2" drive ratchet with a universal joint (swivel) and a shallow 7/8 or 15/16 socket, you can get under the gas line and pull the plug. I leave mine out for winter and will use Teflon tape to lightly snug it up in the spring. Opinions will vary but IMO, you should not need to flush the tank since pulling the plug will provide plenty of flow to do this when removed. There is no need to run RV Antifreeze through the hot water heater since it will be empty.
Some will also switch off the breaker to the tank as insurance since if turned on with electric (should not use gas as well) and no water in the tank, the heating element will burn up immediately.

Tucson and I must have been typing at the same time. I should also point out as Jim has stated to do this when completely cooled down.

Jim

[howson]

2019 Reflection 303 RLS, Dometic water heater. This'll be the first time I've drained it. If there's a thread or reference on this, please direct me there.

There is another way other than pulling the plug. I have yet to read feedback from someone with a 5th wheel that's tried it, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. Full details linked below.

Drain Hot Water Tank - Without Pulling the Plug: https://gdrvowners.com/forum/operati...lling-the-plug

[Schiefswret]

Here are some tips for draining it:

1. Make sure it's off and cool. I suggest you also turn off the water heater breaker in the circuit breaker panel.
2. Place a note in a visible location that reminds you to refill the tank before turning the breaker and water heater back on.
3. Slowly open the pressure relief valve to remove any residual pressure.
4. Remove the plastic drain plug and allow the water heater to drain. I'd suggest you use a six point socket to keep from rounding the drain plug. Place the drain plug where you'll be able to locate it when you refill in the spring.

You can leave it empty as long as you don't turn it back on before refilling it. Antifreeze will not hurt it, but it would take six gallons to fill it. So the vast majority leave it empty.

Jim
.

Jim, I’ve just arrived at my first one year point and I’m preparing do do the PM on the HWH, so this may be a “duh” question, but, after draining/cleaning the HWH, will hooking back up to city water and turning it on automatically refill the HWH, or is an additional procedure required? Thanks in advance.

[Ajax Trueblood]

Thanks guys!

[Ajax Trueblood]

OK, HW Heater is drained. Circuit breaker pulled, and note posted, as per Jim and Midwestcamper's recommendations. Today I'm getting one of those rinser wands, and will be trying to flush it out (never done it before). This guy seemed to have a good technique, using vinager. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKg0R9oiMP0&t=1s

Is this a good idea? Not my exact water heater. Anyone have any tips or tricks?

[TucsonJim]

Jim, I’ve just arrived at my first one year point and I’m preparing do do the PM on the HWH, so this may be a “duh” question, but, after draining/cleaning the HWH, will hooking back up to city water and turning it on automatically refill the HWH, or is an additional procedure required? Thanks in advance.

No, it won't typically fill the water heater. When you hook up to city water, open a hot water faucet handle and allow water to flow out of the tap until it stops spitting air. Once you've done that, then the water heater is full and you can turn it on.

Jim

[Schiefswret]

No, it won't typically fill the water heater. When you hook up to city water, open a hot water faucet handle and allow water to flow out of the tap until it stops spitting air. Once you've done that, then the water heater is full and you can turn it on.

Jim

Gotcha, makes sense, thanks again.

[Guest]

OK, HW Heater is drained. Circuit breaker pulled, and note posted, as per Jim and Midwestcamper's recommendations. Today I'm getting one of those rinser wands, and will be trying to flush it out (never done it before). This guy seemed to have a good technique, using vinager. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKg0R9oiMP0&t=1s

Is this a good idea? Not my exact water heater. Anyone have any tips or tricks?

The sanitizing method used in the video would not hurt but honestly it seems like overkill. One advantage of the Atwood tank is that its aluminum. This expansion and contraction of the tank through heating and cooling should loosen any scale accumulation which would eventually be drained through the drain plug at the end of each season. I've never sanitized a hot water tank in both my camper or in my home.
The rinse wand did seem to pull out some additional scale where this IMO is all I would do when prepping for the winter.

Jim

[BillinTexas]

I added a pet**** my water heater.

[Mr. Goodwrench]

I like many others have replaced the nylon drain plug with a nylon threaded short nipple and screwed on a short section of drain hose with a shut off valve on the end. Makes it so easy to drain the water heater now. I have found pictures on various RV forums of the finished project.

[mpking]

As someone who's unit is in storage during the winter months. I put the drain plug back in. Mainly to keep any spiders and other critters looking for a nice dry place out during the winter.