Keep your water heater heating
Fri Jun 11, 2010
Author: Joe McNamara
Keep your water heater water heating
Don't overlook your water heater. Most people think it is an appliance that works until it doesn't. But like everything else there is an aha moment when maintenance is required. The life and performance can be greatly improved by a few simple maintenance items, that's right there is maintenance to do to your RV water heater. Here are a few helpful hints to get the best out of your water heater.
1. Burner - For some reason the critters like the burner chamber and burner tube of your water heater. In Florida they are critters and not just insects like they have up north. On a quarterly or pre-trip basis the burner tube and corresponding burner chamber of your water heater should be cleaned out. These can be cleaned out using some dis-assembly and a wire brush, or most of the time blown out with compressed air. What we are trying to remove is: Excess soot or carbon buildup, Spider webs, Mud Dauber nests, Bee's nests, Lizards, and other assortments of "critters". If you do not have compressed air consult your owners manual for proper cleaning (as some dis-assembly is required) or see your local service center (like how I threw that one in there?). Remember if cleaning it with compressed air whatever is in there will come out much angrier and more motivated than before you blasted it with compressed air; so beware.
2. The water tank - It is important to drain and refill your water
heater to remove any calcium deposits or general "gunk" that can accumulate in your tank. This will benefit the taste of the water and keep your sink strainers from becoming clogged with debris from the water heater tank. On every model water heater there will be a drain plug located on the exterior of the water heater towards the bottom of the tank. Simply remove the plug and drain the tank (** remember if the water heater has been on recently, the water will be HOT. It will be best to run a faucet until the hot water is out of the tank with the heater turned off), Once the tank is empty, Flush it out with a water heater flush tube, Reinstall the plug, and refill the heater. When refilling the heater just run water from a faucet until all the air comes out and you get a steady stream of water. Do not open the high pressure "pop off" valve as this will not allow for the little pocket of air that should be in your tank.
3. Anode Rod - Due to the tank being built of aluminum some
water heaters have an "Anode Rod" that is made onto the drain plug. These water heaters will be built by Suburban or American Appliance. The anode rods job is to get eaten up by the little enzymes and deposits in the water. The anode rod gets eaten up rather than the aluminum in the tank. An Atwood water heater does not require an anode rod as the tanks although aluminum are plastic lined. They have installed a very thin plastic liner to prevent the tank from being exposed to the water and related critters. If your anode rod appears to be pretty well eaten up, just replace it. They are available in any of our parts stores (There he goes again). There will be a long one for 10 gallon heaters and a short one for 6 gallon water heaters.
If you do these things as recommended you will enjoy many more hot showers. Remember if momma gets a cold shower, you're going to hear about it, and if your house is like mine "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"
Additional Information: http://www.grwrv.com/pages/rveducationandtraining.htm
