RV Water Heater Maintenance (and Anode Rod Replacement)
Вставка
- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- Want to maintain your RV's water heater in tip-top shape? It's super easy! WATCH to find out HOW!
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Click Show More ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
🅱 Full Blog Post: changinglanesr...
✅✅ PRODUCTS IN VIDEO!
✅ Wireless Endoscope: amzn.to/3iNkmt2
✅ Water Heater Tank Rinser: amzn.to/3h76c5S
✅ Suburban Water Heater Anode Rod: amzn.to/31XKOtc (look up your model)
✅ Valterra Water Pressure Regulator: amzn.to/2ultXDD
✅ Water Flow Meter: amzn.to/2udwzDl
✅ 50 AMP Locking Male/50 AMP Locking 90 Degree Female (for side of RV): amzn.to/39GFLAE
✅✅ RELATED VIDEOS!
🎥 RV Water System Sanitization: • 💧 RV Fresh Water Syste...
🎥 RV Water Management: • Full Time RV Water / W...
✅✅ ALSO SEE
👀 Our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): changinglanesr...
👀 Check out our personally curated Amazon store: changinglanesr...
👀 Road Life Project: changinglanesr...
👀 Check out our other blog posts: changinglanesr...
👀 Reach out and contact us: changinglanesr...
💙💙 Connect with us on Social Media 💙💙
➡️ Facebook: changinglanesr...
➡️ Instagram: changinglanesr...
➡️ Twitter: changinglanesr...
########## Notice ##########
Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you chose to make a purchase using our links, we will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you but helps us keep providing the content we love to share. We recommend these products because we have found them to be helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make. Every product we recommend, we use ourselves, so please use our links. 😊
🅱 Full Blog Post: changinglanesrv.com/rv-water-heater-maintenance
There was plenty of meat on that rod. just scrap down any scale and put it back in. No need to waste money and resources. 15$ a year well invested will mean a lot when you want to retire.
instaBlaster...
We used PVC pipe to fill the water heater through the anode port. Found a threaded adaptor that fit the anode port, glued a 12" pipe on to that, added an elbow pointing up and another piece of pipe that extends above the top level of the tank. Open the pressure relief valve, and pour the vinegar down the pipe (may need a funnel). Once you have all the vinegar in, finish filling the tank with water using a bucket or hose until liquid comes out the relief valve. Leave everything in place for overnight. Next day just unscrew the PVC and flush the tank just like you showed everybody. That's worked much easier than messing with the relief valve.
Salute.
Thanks for your reply to my question, it’s good to know that it only has the one job, My husband used to take care of most of the up keep ,but lost him after almost 50 years, he tried to teach new things as he also told me I would be alone someday and needed to know how to take care of it all, thank you very much.
mildred lackey bless you. Keep traveling!
So sorry to hear about your husband! 😞
from one CVMA member to another. Thanks for the video. Got a laugh on your tank drain!
♠️ 💀 🇺🇸 👊🏼
I picked up a pvc, threaded fitting, a 90⁰ elbow and 2 feet of pvc pipe. Total cost under $3
Screw fitting into tank, stick aprox 6" of pipe into the fitting and the 90⁰ elbow pointing up on the other end, with the rest of the pipe sticking up.
Pour in vinegar until it comes out the pop off valve and go to bed.
Works like a water level.
I didnt even glue the parts.
I was engineering that exact solution in my head! 👍🏽
Great method
I really need this process, I notice on the last trip little pieces of calcium clogging faucet screen. I am going to use this method to fill tank. Two thumbs up. I also drain water tank and blow out lines after each trip to keep water from getting really smelly in between trips.
Thanks Chad just got a new trailer with the suburban hot water heater with anode rod
It really depends on what you will do most. Off road or going to parks, beaches and such. Love ya bunches lelia and all your. 😊😊😊😊
Amazing how effective the vinegar is!
Take out the heating element and pour the vinegar in there with the anode rod in. When it's time to flush, water wand in the heating element opening, gunk out the anode rod opening. Love your videos!
Hey, great timing . . . one day after I did our Suburban water heater. 😂😂 I had to fit a 3-ft length of pipe over my ratchet handle to get my anode out. I did the vinegar thing, too, though there wasn’t much crud in the tank. The hardest thing was getting the new anode seated in the tank. I ended up just using the socket and sticking a screw driver through the socket to keep pressure on the anode while I turned the socket by hand. That did the trick. Good episode, as always. Fly Navy.
You did a great job. I had a similar concern with extracting the calcium scaling. I used a tube (that would go through the anode hole) and rigged it to attach to my wet vacuum and it was amazingly efficient!
Yes that works well. Done that for years.
My thoughts exactly
That’s what I was saying like cleaning an in ground pool to clean bottom….lol
You know the thing a ma gig for the which a ma call it thing….lol
Good video. You should wrap Teflon tape counterclockwise so that when you tighten it clockwise it stays put.
As usual, an entertaining and informative video. Your videos have helped me add to my list of things/maintenance that I do myself. I love it! You wouldn’t believe the looks this 59 year old, single woman gets from other campers as I undertake maintenance myself. The men don’t think women can do it and the women don’t think THEY can do it. Well ladies, I’m here to tell you ……you CAN!! Get out there! Drive that rig! Back it in! Set EVERYTHING up yourself! We are NOT weak, inept, stupid, etc.
Quick disclaimer: Not ALL men or ALL women think that way. (But the majority do. Sadly)
Hell yea!!! 👊🏼
I dont even own a RV , but some day We will and I will keep all this info stored for reference! Thanks!!
Try a dryer vacuum hose and suck it out. Thanks guys for all the great information. We used my husbands Dad's camper one summer and he said the hot water heater didn't work. I boiled water and washed dishes outside for most of the week and Mike decided to take apart the heater and walla he came in and said turn on the hot water and it worked. Just needed it to be cleaned up and flushed. Who knew?????? Hugs from Minnesota
Tara, you did a great job loosening that top on the vinegar so Chad could be all strong and manly looking. Seriously, thank you both for this video. I recently purchased a used motorhome and who knows when or if they serviced the water heater?! Thanks to your video, I know what to do now and won’t put it off myself.
I love you two great and very informative information you ROCK.
Literally just finished doing this myself.
IDEA: open the air pressure relief valve for air to go IN (not Out) & hold a wet vac hose to where the anode was removed & suck out the loosened sediment. 🤷🏽♂️
I do it with the pressure relief valve out. And it’s easyer to use the top valve with the wand and doing the vinegar
Tim, you just took out the top pressure valve correct
Lol. I went to school to be a rocket surgeon. ;)
2nd year RV'er. Love you're videos!
I really enjoy your attention to detail. You make a non mechanical person like me feel like they can do this. 👍🏻
You can do this it’s very easy.
Excellent video! I never really thought of sanitizing with white vinegar. Thanks for the education!
It's mineral scale. Same concept as de-scaling a coffee maker. Awesome video - when I finally get a rig, between you and the other families I follow, I'll be an expert 😋
I use a wet vacuum with a small hose attached. Works great!
I just cleaned mined last weekend, it was amazing how much stuff was in there. I also change the pressure valve, now I am more confident my water heater will last a few more years. Thanks for the video.
Excellent video. It helps that you have an RV with a well designed wet bay.
Cool video, need to perform some water heater proctology myself...
You guy's are the greatest.
Aloha From Georgia:) Really enjoyed the preventative Maintenance video. You videos are always informative and understandable. Have a suggestion for everybody while the wand tube is great you might wanna figure out a way to insert a gutter cleaning nozzle in the end of it to wash things out faster.
Thank you for taking the extra step and use the camera probe! Shocking how much was still left behind. Great video guys.
When I first saw the title of this video I thought maybe you were talking about your old lady. Sarcasm aside, I do enjoy your videos 😎
We just did ours last week on our new to use 2018 Tiffin Red...the rod was down to almost nothing!! So mad at you for putting this video out a week to late! 😂... we thought the clear water meant we were good & so going to do the vinegar & re-flush. Thanks so much!
I just used an air compressor with a long one blowing heavy air the back of the tank. There’s no way out but the front porch. Give it a try give it a try I get very good results
To get the sediment out of the bottom, seems like you could take the water heater off of bypass and let the water from the main line in the back flush the sediment out the anode hole. Also using the lent brunch would help.
Thank you so much for your videos I have learned a lot of self service and enjoy all your content
What I tried was an air compressor with a long one to go inside to take and blow against the back wall at the bottom of the tank and the only way out is the front hall. I get a very good job of getting the settlement cleaned out of my hot water tank give it a try Jim
👍🏻 someone needs to invent a type suction like the ones used in hospitals & dental offices
Just did mine a couple weeks ago. Didn’t know you had to. Mine is about 5 years old and did not look bad.
I think he meant to say thank you my queen
Love your RM.... I have a 17 Icon
You guys make the coolest videos. Can't wait to take another ride on that Indian! Love the segments with little Daisy. Priceless! Stay safe!
Glad you used a magnesium anode rod, the work better than a aluminum anode rod. How do you tell the difference? The magnesium rod has a weld in the center of the male pipe plug.
Vinegar is what I use in our sticks and brick once a year. You should see the looks i get buying 50 gallons on vinegar at once. Also they make a dryer vent that hooks onto a vacuum that works pretty good too.
another great video, we just changed our anode rod without that cool tank rinsed you used. Just ordered that & the camera and will be going back in for a second look. Thanks for the links!
Another great video. I’m coming up on my 1st year and now I know step by step how to do it. Thanks🙏🏾
You guys are really helping me gather all the tools to take care of my new Sandpiper C-class 3330BH. This is my third camper but becasue I didn't know how to stay on top of maintenance, my last one deteriorated rapidly. My new unit does have a Suburban Airxcel water heater and I do have the Nautilus system, so your video here was extremely relevant, informative, and helpful. Thanks!
Great video Chad!
I for one do not open the pressure/temp. relief valve. I learned the hard way by flooding a customers basement after changing the heating element. It didn't leak initially when tank was full, but after heating up it opened and we had a big OOOPPPSS during the night.
Next time to get all the crap out of the bottom I would recommend a shopvac with a little adapter like u used on ur hose will save you lots of water and time :)
So question I played alot with chemistry when I was younger and I have a theory that food grade citric acid dissolved in water might completely dissolve the calcium build up in that water heater because i use it to clean shower heads and faucets around my house and it works like a charm. The biggest thing that i don't know is if it would be harmful to the water system. But basically it is the same stuff used in bath bombs and the powder coating on extremely sour candies. Just an idea that I figured I would suggest! Also I love all your videos keep them up! Stay safe on the road!
I was thinking the same thing. I know citric acid will dissolve the calcium. I just don't know how it would react to the steel wall of the tank.
@@georei The steal tank has a porcelain liner.
I use this to get the remainder of sediment out of the water heater. I use it in the bricks and mortar one also. It's on Amazon. I use a small shop vac with it.
Hello There Yes something i would have to Learn.. Looks like a lot of stuff to do & to remember .. You Are a Life Line !! Thank You so much for Everything that You Both Do to Help Everyone Out There !! Be - Safe !!
Thank you for your very informative videos. Your level of video, audio, content and editing is very professional, and we love Daisy.
Thanks! 😊
You CVMA? Wife and I both are FM in SD 30-1. Leaving here in Feb 2022 to start RV living full-time. Thanks for the info!
Yes... FL 20-10 (Tampa) 👊🏼 💀 ♠️
“Did you just call me sir?” 😂 Thanks for sharing. My rig has a Atwood propane heater and I’ll be servicing it soon, also found a magnesium anode rod designed to use with the aluminum tank. Has anyone used the aftermarket electric heating rods, i.e. lighting rod?
How about your water wand with a wet n dry vacuum. Smaller 3/8 hose taped to the vacuum. A coat hanger attached to the vinyl hose will give you some control angling it around.
Love your vids.
super easy, but time consuming. Hi, when I did mine last Oct?? (I think) I removed the pressure relief valve and flushed from the top down. (I did some repairs at the same time) it's all in my video. just my opinion because I did not use my inspection camera (great idea by the way) to actually check the results. I love watching everyone's maintenance videos, you never know how much more info and great ideas people come up with. great job by the way, even the camera / monitor holder....
lol I’m on
Oops
Water and electrical ⚡️🔥
Everything that got wet in this video gets wet every time it rains...
I'm so happy that we are buying the same rig because you all are awesome at putting these together.
Great tutorial! Chad...you got me thinking about exactly what each of the levers do on the Nautilus system. We've got a 2023 Reflection 320MKS, and it's only a 3 control valve system (white, blue, and green). Have you figured out what each valve's position does?! Fortunately (or unfortunately as I've read sometimes) is we've got the tankless WH, so I'm guessing now that's why we don't have a red valve.
I hate to admit it, but we had a 2006 Weekend Warrior 40FT TH for 18 years, and I'm surprised that I never replaced the anode rod on our 10 gallon WH. And we're in hard water territory here in SoCal. Hopefully the new buyers found that out. :-) Surprisingly after those 18 years, I NEVER had any electrical or appliance issues with that coach.
Nice video. You are certainly correct on how often this should be done depends a lot on the water you use. We spend a bunch of time down south and our first rod was shot within a year.
Great video! AND just ordered that wand from Amazon...been looking for one of those for a while thanks!
cool vid. i wondered about this but my atwood does not need one (anode) as it aluminum water tank.
When I think about it suburban made this an intentional design to destroy water heaters it obviously makes no sense to use a steel tank regardless of the anode rod most people don't know that I didn't when I first purchased my RV thankfully I learned within the year so my tank had no damage I call this planned obsolescence
If you could get a small enough hose on a wet/dry shop vac that might help with the sediment.
Very informative video. Thank you so much for making this. Now we can service our water heater too!
Oh, one more tip from an old oilfield production guy that did more steel plumbing than I ever wanted. IF you use the steel plug based anode (Suburban magnesium), consider putting a coating of nickel-based anti-seize on the plug BEFORE the teflon tape. Then coat the external parts of the plug and tank port with HILCO Lube or other quality lube (NOT WD40.... ever).
This will 99% eliminate thread corrosion, stuck plugs, and rust stripes from the plug.
Be careful with the torque on the plug with anti-seize. You have steel threads on steel threads. The potential is there to damage the threads on the WH port. IDEALLY, they would sell BRASS plug anode rods with replaceable (threaded) anode rods that screw into the internally threaded plug. Just like they do on engine anodes on boats.
9:12 You wrapped the tape backwards. 😁Going the other way the tape won’t want to unwrap itself when you thread it in.
It’s not a game changer but can make a difference depending on the application.
... Love you Chad... LOL
Awwe... I saw at 17:50 you wrapped it correctly. I was actually surprised earlier as your attention to detail is so great! 👌✌️ #Kudos Love you guys!
I noticed the same and was wondering if anyone would comment..lol...Chad is the best and so much fun to watch, let's hope he keeps those screw ups to a minimum..😂😂😂
I did this last year as well. So maybe I used too much vinegar or let it sit much longer than you did, but when I pulled out the brand new anode rod, it had been eaten away by about 50%. 😳🤣 Note for next time...leave the old rod in while doing a vinegar soak, then swap in the new one.
Thank you very much for a great video
Great video. We have the same Nautilus panel, so that makes it so easy. Word of caution: I bought the same wand to flush our water heater in May, and the plastic tube came off inside the tank. Luckily it washed back out with the water that was draining out, but it gave me a scare wondering how I was going to get it out! Thank you for all the how-to and maintenance videos. Safe travels!
😳
Enjoyed this video, I am like you. I will fix anything or break it. Love you guys.
Great Job! 👍. Sherri Weber
Chad, can I borrow your scope/camera/viewer? I want to check out my black tanks... Come on, Chad... you know you've thought about it!!!
🤣🤣
Another in a long line of entertaining and informative videos. Thanks for all that you do and... Come onnnn Sunday evening (for the next installment!)😁
🤣🤣
@@ChangingLanes Lort!
When I do mine I fill with the vinegar and turn the heater element on and leave it over night and i flush it the next day with city water after I shut the element off it seems to do a better job
I asked our RVIA Master Tech about that and he said definitely do not heat the vinegar solution.
@@ChangingLanes did he say why because it works really well but if there's a good reason I will stop doing it thanks I love your
Videos well done
Thanks for your reply so I did a little more research and I found that when vinegar is heated up it becomes more ascetic and could damage my hot water tank thank you so much you may have saved me thank you
Thanks for getting back.. I knew it was something like that.. 😀 👍🏼
Your videos are incredibly helpful, thank you so much for doing this!
Now that you have it all cleaned out this would be a good time to add an external water softner.
We're looking into that! 👍🏼
Love camper vids
Great news. Thanks Chad for the update. Go Navy
Omg such a great video an explanation new to the Rving life and this helped alot guys thank you 😊
👍
Smash the end of the water tube to make it a fan spray it might help.
Thanks for the information, enjoyed as always.🇺🇸👍
Great video! I was wondering if there was an easier way to bypass the hot water heater. Presto, you hit the nail on the head. Appreciate the information. You guys are the #1 tubers. Question for ya. We have a 376 THS and on our way back from South Dakota last week, one of the windows worked its way open until the plastic disks on the window operator wore to nothing, then the window came open and flapped in the wind until we pull off and tapped it closed. Ever had trouble with with that. We have the frame less windows. Thanks again Chad & Tara.
Never had an issue with the windows.. We have frameless also... Gotta make sure they are snug before travel.. 👍🏼
Do you guys have a list of what maintenance should be done each year? This is all new to me.
No... but that's something we want to put together or find an app. When we do, we'll have it in a video or on our website: ChangingLanesRV.com
Chad - just a tip from my experience: You could use CLR (or similar product) prior to your sanitation. CLR will dissolve the deposits and you won't have to fool with the bottle brush.
Interesting idea...
@@ChangingLanes Jarheads do have good ideas ever so often...lol
I have been brewing beer and making wine for quite a while. Sanitization is key. I never use bleach because any residual will either kill the yeast or leave a taste. I commonly use Metabisulfite and am wondering if this is a good alternative to bleach since you would not need to worry about residual taste, impact on the water heater, or corrosion to components.
Alot of good info 👌
Thanks ya bunches we learn a lot from you both 👍
If you guys get a chance go to Harpers Ferry Maryland one of the Civil War places that that was in the war. There's a KOA campground on the West Virginia side connected Harpers Ferry you don't like it
Thanks for the great information. My 2021 Solitude Nautilus system has the red and green on opposite sides then your Nautilus system, so hoping that turning right is off and up in on - just did the tank sanitizing yesterday and doing the water
I heard if you turn on your water heater, with the vinegar and water mix, it will eat that crap up better idk just a thought thanks for the video!
You could take a hose that will fit in the Anode rod hole and attach it to a shop-vac and try to suck out the sediment
Try using an air compressor thru the pressure relief valve to blow the sediment out, along with a vacuum sucking from the drain.
Great couple of videos. I hope I didn’t kill my hot water heater. I ran concentrated bleach through it when I cleaned the fresh water tank.
Run vinegar through the lines in the house. It makes a huge difference in the clarity of the ice.
I also use a funnel and flexible silicone tube to get the vinegar through the top.
Vinegar kill the Pseudomonas bacteria. It can also be used inside to keep the lime scale from building up around faucets that can also harbor Pseudomonas in any standing water.
Thanks for the videos.
You do a great explaining. Thanks
(ROCKET SURGERY) Has Chad been hanging with Joe Tribbiani again...😂😂😂
I see you have the insect guards on all your vents. I was going to do this to my rig until I saw a video that said you should not do this, because these insect screens can disrupt the air flow to and from the appliances. This recommendation came from the appliance manufactures according to the video.
To get the extra sediment out try a hose similar to your rinsing hose attached to a small vacuum. Be sure to leave the pressure valve open. You need air for the vacuum to work.
Did you wrap the tape against the threads the first time? Looked like it
If you tilt your RV with the hydraulic system...it will help to drain the sediment out of the tank!
We'd have to tip it way beyond it's capability to make a difference....
@@ChangingLanes My thoughts is if it is tipped even slightly it would help to create flow or a current towards the drain...when the tank is laying flat the sediment can flow either direction.