Check out my complete article at: www.rvhabit.com/single-post/2017/10/27/Cleaning-Flushing-and-Descaling-an-RV-Water-Heater---How-to-Clean-and-Maintain
Your video came into my orbit, perfect timing. I just purchased a 2005 tioga fleetwood class c about 3 weeks ago. I could not find anything in that bundle of rv info that came with my rv. I'm very happy to learn from your video that all I have is the plastic plug and no anode rod to mess with... I'm looking forward to using the flushing rod and vinegar trick to clean up my water heater and fresh water tank and lines. This video is a great help for me.. Thank you for sharing.. safe travels .
Hi Randy, Congrats on your purchase. I have lots of videos on maintaining and upgrading a class C. Everything seems hard until you do it once. Happy travels.
Hello Lou, thank you for responding. I plan on reviewing alot of videos to bone up on the ins and outs of my class c. From this day forward, your videos will be the first that I will review. Thank you again, safe travels. 🙏 Toledo 💙
Hi Lou.... Rick here in Alaska. We just purchased a used 2001 Coachman. I filled the system with water to test the function of the faucets. Everything works great, except the water coming out out the hot water side was SMELLY !!! So I looked up flushing the water tank, and came upon your video. I followed your instructions to the letter. I did get some mineral deposits flushed out, but not a lot. I'm pretty confident that this flushing will eliminate the SMELLY water !! Thanks for the great video !!
Hi Rick and congrats on your purchase. Water heater tanks can get quite smelly and can even smell like rotting eggs. Usually a quick flush of the tank with fresh water will cure the smell. You shouldn't have to do a complete vinegar flush more than once a year. Good luck and happy camping.
Thank you for keeping this video up as it helps me follow the procedure you use. Simple to follow and then also to use as a refresher for next year's cleaning.
I was vinegaring my atwood water heater once a year. It hasn't really needed it that often. I pour vinegar right into the pressure release valve hole then replace the pressure valve. Heat up the water, let it sit over night and it's nice and clean the next day when I dump it.
@@RVHabit i am definitely gonna try, again thank you so much and please don't stop making these videos, I'm not sure if you realize how valuable there vids are especially to newbie RVer's like myself
Hey Lou, This is a great step by step video, I'll have to look for that wrench from camco our plug is a bit of a pain to get to with the socket, maybe its just me lol. Thanks for showing the two different methods of cleaning out the tank, I only knew of using the wand and was surprised to see how much scale came out just by using the city water flush. Take care Lou and safe travels!
They sell the wrench, Teflon tape and two spare plugs as a kit on Amazon for under $10 bucks. There is a direct link in the video description if you can't find it. Happy Travels.
Thanks for the link Lou, that helps for sure. I asked the campground where we are staying if we could revive a delivery and they said they don't get mail delivered to this address it goes to a corporate office somewhere else. So well have to wait till we get somewhere else and try to strategically order the parts for delivery lol.
It’s Jane...ours looks just like yours...nice step by step👍🏻 Ken is rolling his eyes...another job😁 Actually, this looks so simple I could do it. I’ve added this video to my Phoenix Cruiser playlist for future reference. Thanks Lou
Thank you Lou for the detailed instructions, and hello from Alberta Canada. This will be the first time I descaled in three years, honestly wasn't even sure this was something RV'rs did. The RV dealers must not want the public to know about this hoping the tank will fail and $$$ for them? Well worth the time and effort to save the tank! Happy RVing 2020!
I do it just once a year. Will definitely keep your electric element in good shape and clean the tank. If you have a Suburban water heater that uses an anode rod it is best to use a separate plug while descaling. The vinegar solution will eat into an anode rod. Good luck.
Great video. Explanations and step by step perfectly done. Thank you. I had low water pressure problems and have that corrected now. But there's yellow water running from the hot water. Will this also resolve that issue?
Cleaning and descaling the water heater should clear out any issues that would turn water yellow. If you have a Suburban water heater also check the tank for rust.
Do you leave your water heater full of water over the winter? If so don't you worry about freeze and damage? If not what do you do? Just open low drain plug and let it drain? Then go back to water heater and drain it again?
Never leave the water heater with water in it over the winter. Draining is very simple. You also put water heater on bypass. Check out my how to winterize video at ruclips.net/video/eU-ZwszRzHQ/видео.html
One thing to add: If you have a Suburban, do not put the anode in while doing this, the vinegar will eat up the anode rod. You need a simple plug, perhaps and old anode with the rod cut off.
Thank you for making this very detailed and extremely helpful video! Our hot water smells and hoping this method will help that. Thanks again. Have subscribed 👍
Hi Itseems I have a Suburban HW in my small RV. I do not have a pump specific to the heater, only an anode plug. Once flushed out, how do I fill my descaling solution into the HW tank without going into the whole water system?
The best way is to use a winterizing kit that is attached near the pump. If you do not have a winterizing kit you can easily install one for about $12 to $15. Here is one by Camco amzn.to/3NumqFV
Excellent video! I followed all the steps. The only struggle was learning how to siphon the vinegar in. I flushed the sinks and all was good. Now a week later vinegar is coming out of the bathroom sink. Why would it run clean for a week and now it's pouring vinegar out of the bathroom faucet?
No that doesn't make sense. However I've learned anything is possible with RVs. Just flush the system with fresh water again I'm sure it will clear up.
Can you explain to me why once we have the vinegar/water solution in the hot water tank and use only the cold water in the rig during the night while it's soaking, that we have the vinegar coming through the cold water lines?
Lou, thanks for the advice, and its good to see you around...btw your rig on the front looks just like ours, but ours is 28.5 ft long...phoenix cruiser
I used an air blow gun kinda like that wand - obviously isn't gonna seal up the mouth to create any pressure, it got everything out in a hurry, even some chunks that I don't think would come out all that easy... heh.
Please clarify vinegar soak time. In your video, I thought you said you started the water heater and turned it off before you went to bed for a total of 6-8 hours of soak time before you flushed. Your printed material says let it soak heated for 8 hours and then let it cool overnight. That sounds like a total of 16 hours. Soak 8 or 16 hours? How important is soak time? Thanks for the advice.
I always soak a minimum of 8 hours. I don't think you get much more benefit leaving it any longer. I have left it in overnight for 16+ hours but don't see any reason to wait that long.
Great video! We need to do this. This is an unrelated question to the descaling process itself. I was wondering what aerator mod you used for the bathroom faucet that has that blue light feature. Thanks!
I just realized I don't have that mod on my website. It is an LED faucet light. The specific one I have is currently unavailable. Check this one out it seems very similar amzn.to/2GNCB2X Thanks so much for watching, Lou
Hi Todd, I suppose you could add the vinegar solution to the fresh water tank to pull it into the water heater then rinse tank thoroughly however, a winterizing kit is only $14 and takes minutes to install. You will find it much easier to install a kit then to have to rinse your entire system. You can get a winterization kit here amzn.to/3smQuZS
Great job Lou! I use the wand. I guess that makes me rich. lol . I wonder if part-time rigs are worse for scale and calcium because we let them sit longer without use and typically I do not drain my take every-time I park it.
+RV Enthusiast Hi Bruce, the first time I did this i got a lot of scale come out. Now not to much. I have the wand and usually do use it so I guess I'm doing well on the social ladder lol. I fill my water heater up in the spring and it never gets emptied till I do this vinegar treatment before I winterize. Is this procedure neccesary? The jury is out but it definitely removes the scale and more importantly it gives me more time to play with my RV. I guess some would say I'm a little anal retentive when it comes to my RV but I can't help myself lol. Happy travels and stay safe, Lou
No that is the proper way to drain the WH. Water is drained to the exterior through the drain plug. Never drain the WH through RVs low point drains as some videos on YT show as you risk pulling calcium deposits and other debris into the RVs water lines. Thanks for watching.
Just finished flushing out tank and running vinegar through it, let it set heated for 3 hours, we had an issue with tank having a bad odor when we first started up on each time out, I hope this works.
We're about ready to descale our water heater. We have a 2016 Forester 2861DS. Pretty much the same setup for the winterizing. We have never used the winterizing kit since we live in California, so I was wondering if you had to turn any valves in order for the water pump to suction the vinegar from the bottles.
Yes.... You will see the winterizing hose in your water bay. It is the short hose that connects into the water line right before the pump and the other end has a cap on it. The hose connects into the water line with a 3-way tee fitting that has a valve on it. turn that valve and the pump will draw from the winterizing hose, not the fresh water tank. Don't forget to turn the valve back when you're done. Good luck and if you have any more questions let me know.
Hello, can I just pour the vinegar in the fresh water tank, so it can send over to the hot water tank ? I don’t have a winterizing kit. Thanks for the videos.
i would not recommend adding the vinegar to the fresh tank. If you do you will need to sanitize the tank to get rid of the vinegar from the fresh tank. It's much easier to install a winterizing kit for under $20 and you will make life easier to sanitize or winterize the trailer.
Hi Yvonne, it is very simple. Purchase a winterizing kit like this one amzn.to/3avU2k8 it installs in the water line that goes from the fresh water tank to the pump. just cut the hose and the valve that comes in the kit goes into the line you cut.
Terrific video! Very well made. I just don't understand how you are able to feed the vinegar directly into the HW tank? What's your plumbing setup look like?
Hi it is very easy. Use the winterizing kit. When the water heater is empty the vinegar solution will naturally fill the water heater. Thanks for watching.
@@RVHabit How does it go "directly" into the WH? The winterizing kit is typically just a bypass valve on the supply side of the water pump. That means you're filling ALL you water lines with the 50/50 vinegar solution and also the WH.
@@stormbytesgreat question, some mixture will get into your lines But since your water heater is empty the solution will continue to run into the water heater until it is full. Make sure your water heater is in normal operation position not bypass mode.
Hi Our recently used purchase of our travel trailer has a sulfur smell-- assuming it ius coming from the water heater. To winterize it we need to disconnect a hose and add a winterizing hose and then (after closing water heater valves) suck up the antifreeze. To clean the water heater would I do the same process but leave the water heater valves open until the water heater fills and then shut the valves and run the heater? Please respond anyone. We are knew at this
Hi Steve, Yes sulfer smell is not uncommon. Leave all the valves in normal position when cleaning and descaling the water heater. If you have a suburban that uses an anode rod use a plastic plug not the anode rod when cleaning with vinegar. Good luck.
Hi, new to your videos, I think you do a great job. I do have a couple of questions: 1. when I use the winterizing tube is sends water through my water filter. Should I remove the filter element? 2. I have a 40 gallon fresh water tank. What prevents the hot water tank from refilling from the fresh water? Thanks, Gene
Hi Gennaro, Yes absolutley remove the water filter. When using the winterizing tube it bypasses the fresh water holding tank. So after you introduce the vinegar with the winterizing tube it goes directly to the water heater. when you turn the valve off from the winterizing tube the fresh water tank will finish filling the water heater.
Got a question Have Suburban WH Propane only When it runs I get the smell of combustion gas or carbon monoxide. I just came from Dallas Tx to Red River NM. 500 feet ASL to 9000 feet ASL. Is the altitude difference the problem? I have never had a water heater in an RV do this. My TT is a 2018 Forest River. Thanks for any help you may have.
Not exactly sure what your smelling but as with any propane device If you smell gas or it does not operate as you expect you should cease its use and have it examined by a professional. Good luck.
Hello, Thank you for this video,, Don't you let the air out before boiling the vinegar to make sure the tank is full? The safety valve not being at the top of the hot water heater?
The pressure relief valve will let the air out. Also a small pocket of air in the top of the tank is normal. When water begins to come out of the pressure relief valve the water heater is full. Thank you for the question and watching.
If your using a winterizing kit to pull from bottle it will flow to your plumbing. Make sure the water heater is not on bypass and you have relief valve open. Good luck.
I would install a winterizing kit for under $10. it's just a valve and a hose that goes before the pump. It is easier to install the kit than trying other methods. here is an amazon link to one that works well. amzn.to/2EP2Obw
Maybe I am just crazy, but it is not a hot water heater....It is merely a water heater...Hot water doesn`t need heated. If anything, it should be called a cold water heater, or, just a water heater....Good video nonetheless....I use all the info I can get.
Check out my complete article at: www.rvhabit.com/single-post/2017/10/27/Cleaning-Flushing-and-Descaling-an-RV-Water-Heater---How-to-Clean-and-Maintain
Your video came into my orbit, perfect timing. I just purchased a 2005 tioga fleetwood class c about 3 weeks ago. I could not find anything in that bundle of rv info that came with my rv. I'm very happy to learn from your video that all I have is the plastic plug and no anode rod to mess with... I'm looking forward to using the flushing rod and vinegar trick to clean up my water heater and fresh water tank and lines. This video is a great help for me.. Thank you for sharing.. safe travels .
Hi Randy, Congrats on your purchase. I have lots of videos on maintaining and upgrading a class C. Everything seems hard until you do it once. Happy travels.
Hello Lou, thank you for responding. I plan on reviewing alot of videos to bone up on the ins and outs of my class c. From this day forward, your videos will be the first that I will review. Thank you again, safe travels. 🙏 Toledo 💙
I'm new to the RV scene but also a lic plumber you did an outstanding job nothing I would change in your procedure well done
Hi Wayne, I appreciate that. Happy camping.
Hi Lou.... Rick here in Alaska. We just purchased a used 2001 Coachman. I filled the system with water to test the function of the faucets. Everything works great, except the water coming out out the hot water side was SMELLY !!! So I looked up flushing the water tank, and came upon your video. I followed your instructions to the letter. I did get some mineral deposits flushed out, but not a lot. I'm pretty confident that this flushing will eliminate the SMELLY water !! Thanks for the great video !!
Hi Rick and congrats on your purchase. Water heater tanks can get quite smelly and can even smell like rotting eggs. Usually a quick flush of the tank with fresh water will cure the smell. You shouldn't have to do a complete vinegar flush more than once a year. Good luck and happy camping.
Thank you for keeping this video up as it helps me follow the procedure you use. Simple to follow and then also to use as a refresher for next year's cleaning.
You're very welcome! Thanks for taking time to comment.
Great complete instructional program. Thank you for not skipping any steps. Love this!
Hi, thank you for watching and taking time to comment. I hope it helped you out.
Thank you so much for the easy to follow video. We have an Atwood, so we are well schooled on how to maintain it now. Very helpful !!
Hi Karen, Great to hear!
Thanks for your COMPLETE PROCESS on this important maintenance of my RV.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video - thanks for explaining this so clearly and simply - you’re a legend
Hi Peter, Wow, thanks!
Clear, concise, simple. Many thanks.
Glad you liked it!
I was vinegaring my atwood water heater once a year. It hasn't really needed it that often. I pour vinegar right into the pressure release valve hole then replace the pressure valve. Heat up the water, let it sit over night and it's nice and clean the next day when I dump it.
Thanks for sharing
I've watched this video alot, because i want to make certain that i do this correctly 🙂, i feel like i have to make you proud of me brother
LOL, I am sure you will be fine. Good luck.
@@RVHabit i am definitely gonna try, again thank you so much and please don't stop making these videos, I'm not sure if you realize how valuable there vids are especially to newbie RVer's like myself
Awesome Job Lou, an intuitive explanation on flushing/cleaning out the Atwood. Vinegar is an amazing product. Fantastic Episode!
+Tim Rover Thanks Tim I was afraid the video was getting too long I talk to much lol. Thanks for watching stay safe.
Just finished revisiting your very helpful video to refresh my memory, thanks again, hope you have an awesome camping season in 2021!
Thanks, you too!
Another great video, Easy to follow and a couple of great hints. Thanks and happy rv’ing.
Hi Ken, thanks so much.
Hey Lou, This is a great step by step video, I'll have to look for that wrench from camco our plug is a bit of a pain to get to with the socket, maybe its just me lol. Thanks for showing the two different methods of cleaning out the tank, I only knew of using the wand and was surprised to see how much scale came out just by using the city water flush. Take care Lou and safe travels!
Thanks Kenny, I recommend this vinegar flush since you full-time. You would be surprised how much lime and calcium scale builds up in there.
I'm scared to see what comes out lol
They sell the wrench, Teflon tape and two spare plugs as a kit on Amazon for under $10 bucks. There is a direct link in the video description if you can't find it. Happy Travels.
Thanks for the link Lou, that helps for sure. I asked the campground where we are staying if we could revive a delivery and they said they don't get mail delivered to this address it goes to a corporate office somewhere else. So well have to wait till we get somewhere else and try to strategically order the parts for delivery lol.
@@RVHabit 😊0
It’s Jane...ours looks just like yours...nice step by step👍🏻
Ken is rolling his eyes...another job😁
Actually, this looks so simple I could do it. I’ve added this video to my Phoenix Cruiser playlist for future reference.
Thanks Lou
Thank you Lou for the detailed instructions, and hello from Alberta Canada. This will be the first time I descaled in three years, honestly wasn't even sure this was something RV'rs did. The RV dealers must not want the public to know about this hoping the tank will fail and $$$ for them? Well worth the time and effort to save the tank! Happy RVing 2020!
I do it just once a year. Will definitely keep your electric element in good shape and clean the tank. If you have a Suburban water heater that uses an anode rod it is best to use a separate plug while descaling. The vinegar solution will eat into an anode rod. Good luck.
Thanks mate, great video and well edited. I went on Amazon and ordered spare plugs as well.
Thanks Matthew.
Great video. Explanations and step by step perfectly done. Thank you.
I had low water pressure problems and have that corrected now. But there's yellow water running from the hot water. Will this also resolve that issue?
Cleaning and descaling the water heater should clear out any issues that would turn water yellow. If you have a Suburban water heater also check the tank for rust.
I noticed you didn't take the screen off the shower is this not necessary?
Awesome video. I'll be trying this very soon and I have stinky hot water!
Good luck.
those swivel rat box ratchets really help get those plugs out. Faster than the camco offset wrench.
Love you video. Do you have one for sanitizing the fresh water tank and water lines on a class A also?
Most Class A's will have the same type of system.
Thanks for the video regarding the water heater purge! 😎
Thank you for watching and commenting. This process really works great.
Do you leave your water heater full of water over the winter? If so don't you worry about freeze and damage? If not what do you do? Just open low drain plug and let it drain? Then go back to water heater and drain it again?
Never leave the water heater with water in it over the winter. Draining is very simple. You also put water heater on bypass. Check out my how to winterize video at ruclips.net/video/eU-ZwszRzHQ/видео.html
Can you use CLR instead of vinegar for a bit better job?
Thank you, great video. I have an 09 Fleetwood Pioneer Trvl Trl, same heater.
Very thorough video. Thanks for posting.
Thanks so much for watching
One thing to add: If you have a Suburban, do not put the anode in while doing this, the vinegar will eat up the anode rod. You need a simple plug, perhaps and old anode with the rod cut off.
You are absolutely correct. I would suggest purchasing a plastic plug to use when doing this process with a Suburban water heater.
Thank you for making this very detailed and extremely helpful video!
Our hot water smells and hoping this method will help that. Thanks again. Have subscribed 👍
Hi, Yes this should help. The odor typically found in water heaters is from high sulfur content that begin to smell like rotten eggs. Good luck.
Hi Itseems I have a Suburban HW in my small RV. I do not have a pump specific to the heater, only an anode plug. Once flushed out, how do I fill my descaling solution into the HW tank without going into the whole water system?
The best way is to use a winterizing kit that is attached near the pump. If you do not have a winterizing kit you can easily install one for about $12 to $15. Here is one by Camco amzn.to/3NumqFV
Excellent video! I followed all the steps. The only struggle was learning how to siphon the vinegar in. I flushed the sinks and all was good. Now a week later vinegar is coming out of the bathroom sink. Why would it run clean for a week and now it's pouring vinegar out of the bathroom faucet?
No that doesn't make sense. However I've learned anything is possible with RVs. Just flush the system with fresh water again I'm sure it will clear up.
Thanks for the video. Very easy to follow!!
You're welcome!
Can you explain to me why once we have the vinegar/water solution in the hot water tank and use only the cold water in the rig during the night while it's soaking, that we have the vinegar coming through the cold water lines?
In order to not get any residual while soaking you would need to bypass the water heater
@@RVHabit I guess that's flipping the red lever on our Nautilus system.
Lou, thanks for the advice, and its good to see you around...btw your rig on the front looks just like ours, but ours is 28.5 ft long...phoenix cruiser
Life with Ken and Jane
Yes our rigs are similar. I love the Phoenix Cruiser
Lou, Great job! I will be sending people to watch this one!!
Thanks so much!
I used an air blow gun kinda like that wand - obviously isn't gonna seal up the mouth to create any pressure, it got everything out in a hurry, even some chunks that I don't think would come out all that easy... heh.
Yes air works too. Thanks for watching.
I noticed you shut the relief valve when you turned on the city water to flush it out. Why do you shut the relief valve for that?
You want the water to exit the drain plug. The relief valve is not a drain.
@@RVHabit thanks!
Please clarify vinegar soak time. In your video, I thought you said you started the water heater and turned it off before you went to bed for a total of 6-8 hours of soak time before you flushed. Your printed material says let it soak heated for 8 hours and then let it cool overnight. That sounds like a total of 16 hours. Soak 8 or 16 hours? How important is soak time? Thanks for the advice.
I always soak a minimum of 8 hours. I don't think you get much more benefit leaving it any longer. I have left it in overnight for 16+ hours but don't see any reason to wait that long.
Great Video well explained love it thanks
I have a Jayco Flight, is the winterizing kit universal or do I need to purchase a particular one for my RV?
Winterizing kits are universal to most standard RVs Here is one under $15 amzn.to/2S38I5P
Great video! We need to do this. This is an unrelated question to the descaling process itself. I was wondering what aerator mod you used for the bathroom faucet that has that blue light feature. Thanks!
I just realized I don't have that mod on my website. It is an LED faucet light. The specific one I have is currently unavailable. Check this one out it seems very similar amzn.to/2GNCB2X
Thanks so much for watching, Lou
I have a pump which I can hook up to the city water connection. Would pumping vinegar this way leed to any problems?
Probably ok that way since your city fresh water connection feeds the plumbing directly.
Can you do the vinegar step without a winterization set-up on the unit?
Hi Todd, I suppose you could add the vinegar solution to the fresh water tank to pull it into the water heater then rinse tank thoroughly however, a winterizing kit is only $14 and takes minutes to install. You will find it much easier to install a kit then to have to rinse your entire system. You can get a winterization kit here amzn.to/3smQuZS
Great job Lou! I use the wand. I guess that makes me rich. lol . I wonder if part-time rigs are worse for scale and calcium because we let them sit longer without use and typically I do not drain my take every-time I park it.
+RV Enthusiast Hi Bruce, the first time I did this i got a lot of scale come out. Now not to much. I have the wand and usually do use it so I guess I'm doing well on the social ladder lol. I fill my water heater up in the spring and it never gets emptied till I do this vinegar treatment before I winterize. Is this procedure neccesary? The jury is out but it definitely removes the scale and more importantly it gives me more time to play with my RV. I guess some would say I'm a little anal retentive when it comes to my RV but I can't help myself lol. Happy travels and stay safe, Lou
Thats what I do too. I empty it mid summer if i'm bored.
Another great well explained video.
Hi Jimmy, it may be a little overboard in maintenance but I think its worth while. Thank you for watching.
Learning the RV tricks. Question, draining the WH like that, doesn't that risk water getting down into the wood floor of the RV and rotting it?
No that is the proper way to drain the WH. Water is drained to the exterior through the drain plug. Never drain the WH through RVs low point drains as some videos on YT show as you risk pulling calcium deposits and other debris into the RVs water lines. Thanks for watching.
Just finished flushing out tank and running vinegar through it, let it set heated for 3 hours, we had an issue with tank having a bad odor when we first started up on each time out, I hope this works.
It is not uncommon to get a sour smell from the water heater. Generally a quick flush will get rid of the odor. Good luck.
We're about ready to descale our water heater. We have a 2016 Forester 2861DS. Pretty much the same setup for the winterizing. We have never used the winterizing kit since we live in California, so I was wondering if you had to turn any valves in order for the water pump to suction the vinegar from the bottles.
Yes.... You will see the winterizing hose in your water bay. It is the short hose that connects into the water line right before the pump and the other end has a cap on it. The hose connects into the water line with a 3-way tee fitting that has a valve on it. turn that valve and the pump will draw from the winterizing hose, not the fresh water tank. Don't forget to turn the valve back when you're done. Good luck and if you have any more questions let me know.
This is great for me to see,, i am going to have to watch again, just before i do this....btw we watch the whole video.. no short time
Life with Ken and Jane
It's a long video. I have not mastered how to edit a video down to five minutes lol. Thanks for watching.
RV Habit it’s a long job! Thanks seriously I am going to have to come back a couple times . I really have to do this
Haha, just saw ken’s comment, now I have it in writing...hehehe. 😁
I took a lawn sprinkler flexible extension and screwed it into the pressure relief valve so any water expelled does not flow across any electronics.
good idea and mod
Hello, can I just pour the vinegar in the fresh water tank, so it can send over to the hot water tank ? I don’t have a winterizing kit. Thanks for the videos.
i would not recommend adding the vinegar to the fresh tank. If you do you will need to sanitize the tank to get rid of the vinegar from the fresh tank. It's much easier to install a winterizing kit for under $20 and you will make life easier to sanitize or winterize the trailer.
RV Habit thank you !
@@RVHabit May I ask how you install a winterizing kit? I've got a 2001 Jayco Eagle 21' Class C.
Hi Yvonne, it is very simple. Purchase a winterizing kit like this one amzn.to/3avU2k8
it installs in the water line that goes from the fresh water tank to the pump. just cut the hose and the valve that comes in the kit goes into the line you cut.
When I put a new drain plug on my Atwood 6 gallon hot water heater does it make a difference on which way I should put the thread tape on?
Hi Danny, always wrap the tape in the direction of the way the plug will be screwed in.
Terrific video! Very well made. I just don't understand how you are able to feed the vinegar directly into the HW tank? What's your plumbing setup look like?
Hi it is very easy. Use the winterizing kit. When the water heater is empty the vinegar solution will naturally fill the water heater. Thanks for watching.
@@RVHabit How does it go "directly" into the WH? The winterizing kit is typically just a bypass valve on the supply side of the water pump. That means you're filling ALL you water lines with the 50/50 vinegar solution and also the WH.
@@stormbytesgreat question, some mixture will get into your lines But since your water heater is empty the solution will continue to run into the water heater until it is full. Make sure your water heater is in normal operation position not bypass mode.
Hi Our recently used purchase of our travel trailer has a sulfur smell-- assuming it ius coming from the water heater. To winterize it we need to disconnect a hose and add a winterizing hose and then (after closing water heater valves) suck up the antifreeze. To clean the water heater would I do the same process but leave the water heater valves open until the water heater fills and then shut the valves and run the heater? Please respond anyone. We are knew at this
sorry spell check *new
Hi Steve, Yes sulfer smell is not uncommon. Leave all the valves in normal position when cleaning and descaling the water heater. If you have a suburban that uses an anode rod use a plastic plug not the anode rod when cleaning with vinegar. Good luck.
I’m new to travel trailers but also have a 95 and not a new camper. Would you do this will all trailers regardless of model or age?
Typically I would say yes but be careful with something 25 years old. Being to aggressive with something that old may damage it.
Hi, new to your videos, I think you do a great job. I do have a couple of questions:
1. when I use the winterizing tube is sends water through my water filter. Should I remove the filter element?
2. I have a 40 gallon fresh water tank. What prevents the hot water tank from refilling from the fresh water?
Thanks, Gene
Hi Gennaro, Yes absolutley remove the water filter. When using the winterizing tube it bypasses the fresh water holding tank. So after you introduce the vinegar with the winterizing tube it goes directly to the water heater. when you turn the valve off from the winterizing tube the fresh water tank will finish filling the water heater.
Got a question Have Suburban WH Propane only When it runs I get the smell of combustion gas or carbon monoxide. I just came from Dallas Tx to Red River NM. 500 feet ASL to 9000 feet ASL. Is the altitude difference the problem? I have never had a water heater in an RV do this. My TT is a 2018 Forest River. Thanks for any help you may have.
Not exactly sure what your smelling but as with any propane device If you smell gas or it does not operate as you expect you should cease its use and have it examined by a professional. Good luck.
Hello, Thank you for this video,, Don't you let the air out before boiling the vinegar to make sure the tank is full? The safety valve not being at the top of the hot water heater?
The pressure relief valve will let the air out. Also a small pocket of air in the top of the tank is normal. When water begins to come out of the pressure relief valve the water heater is full. Thank you for the question and watching.
Great video! Thanks so much for your help!
Hi Yvonne, Glad it helped!
Excellent job sir!
Hi Billy, Thank you kindly!
Didn't work for me on the pulling from bottle.
If your using a winterizing kit to pull from bottle it will flow to your plumbing. Make sure the water heater is not on bypass and you have relief valve open. Good luck.
If you don't have a winterizing kit then how do you get vinegar into the water Hester?
I would install a winterizing kit for under $10. it's just a valve and a hose that goes before the pump. It is easier to install the kit than trying other methods. here is an amazon link to one that works well. amzn.to/2EP2Obw
Can you use a pressure washer?
Hi Kayla, A pressure or power washer is not necessary nor would I recommend using one.
Thank you so much for this video i so appreciate it as a newbie RVer
Hi Khadijah, You are so welcome!
good video is ok to leave the vinegar in the tank for a week
Vinegar is an acid. I would be hesitant to leave it in longer than 48 hours. Great question.
@@RVHabit ok thank you
You shouldn’t used pressure relief valve. But stress on the spring on the valve and brake just turn on your hot water with your pump off
Nicely done. Thanks. Subscribing.
Thanks for the sub!
Maybe i will have to watch it three times lol
Thank you.
Thanks for watching Michael.
Maybe I am just crazy, but it is not a hot water heater....It is merely a water heater...Hot water doesn`t need heated. If anything, it should be called a cold water heater, or, just a water heater....Good video nonetheless....I use all the info I can get.
Yes its a habit. Correctly it is a water heater. Many say hot water heater. I use both depending how fast my brain works that day.
It is not a HOT water heater. It is a water heater. Turn cold water into hot water