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Topic: Question on Water Heater when sanitizing Fresh Water Tank (Read 20 times) previous topic - next topic
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Question on Water Heater when sanitizing Fresh Water Tank
Yahoo Message Number: 102547
I sanitized the Fresh Water Tank today.  During the initial drain of the tank and water heater both drained as required.  When I put the Chlorine Solution and let it set for 3 hours I then opened both drains and only the fresh water tank drained and the water heater did not--like no water was in it.  I thought the water heater automatically filled up when the fresh water tank was filled.  Possibly I forgot a step with the water pump???
 I then put the mixture of Vinegar and water in the fresh water tank, that will stay there a few days.  I turned the plastic plug, on the water heater, to loosen slightly and water started spewing out the threads.  So it appears the water heater filled this time.  What might I have forgotten the second time I tried to drain the water heater?

Any info is greatly appreciated.

John K.
Re: Question on Water Heater when sanitizing Fresh Water Tank
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102548
I thought the water heater automatically filled up when the fresh water tank was filled.


 No, it does not.  You have to turn on the water pump and then turn on a hot water faucet until water starts coming out.  At that point, your water heater is filled.
 You can do the same thing using your city water hookup...it doesn't have to be done using the water pump.

Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Linda Hylton
Re: Question on Water Heater when sanitizing Fresh Water Tank
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102549
Quote
...I thought the water heater automatically filled up when the fresh water tank was filled.  Possibly I forgot a step with the water pump???

I then put the mixture of Vinegar and water in the fresh water tank, that will stay there a few days.  I turned the plastic plug, on the water heater, to loosen slightly and water started spewing out the threads.
As Linda pointed out, the water heater usually will not fill until there's a demand from one of the hot-water faucets.
 I wouldn't leave that vinegar solution in the plumbing another minute; the one time I used vinegar, I regretted it.
 I've set up a little album in the Photos section, entitled "Water heater drain," to show an assembly I put in so I don't have to deal with that hard-to-access plug and messy spurting any more.

Joanne in Boston NE-44
Re: Question on Water Heater when sanitizing Fresh Water Tank
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102551
wrote: I wouldn't leave that vinegar solution in the plumbing another minute; the one time I used vinegar, I regretted it.
--- Joanne, I'm curious why you regretted flushing the fresh water system with a vinegar solution? In my experience, White vinegar (in the proper amount) does a good job of clearing out any Clorox "residue" in the lines, provided that the amount of Clorox used in the tank/line "sanitizing" was no more than about 1/4 cup per each 15 gallons of fresh water. (A baking soda solution works instead of the vinegar, too.)  So, what happened?  Did your rig smell like a salad? ;-)

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Question on Water Heater when sanitizing Fresh Water Tank
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102552
Quote
...  Joanne, I'm curious why you regretted flushing the fresh water system with a vinegar solution?...
Because then I had to rinse out the vinegar!  What a waste of 55 gallons of water, too vinegary to drink and too weak to use on salad.
 Now, after I drain the bleach water out of the water heater and freshwater tank, I do the following, which takes just a few gallons and a few minutes:  Leave the drain open, insert the freshwater hose, then after a minute close the drain and put in just a couple of gallons of water.  Drive back and forth 10 feet to slosh it around.  Remember, we're rinsing the surface of the tank; there's no need to replace all the air inside it!  Then I run some of that water through the lines. Drain out the rinse water and fill the freshwater tank.

Joanne in Boston NE-44
Re: Question on Water Heater when sanitizing Fresh Water Tank
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102553
Quote
Because then I had to rinse out the vinegar!  What a waste of 55 gallons of water, too vinegary to drink and too weak to use on salad.

 Whenever we've sanitized our fresh water system, we have never bothered with a second rinse using either vinegar or baking soda.  Whatever remaining smell of bleach might remain is so small that it doesn't bother us and we run any water we drink through a filter, so we have no taste of chlorine.

Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Linda Hylton
Re: Question on Water Heater when sanitizing Fresh Water Tank
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102554
Joanne... I have went to Lowes, Home Depot, Osh and have been unsuccessful in locating the white nylon 1/2" both sides niple  like that...
Could you please tell me where you got yours and the part number? I wasn't able to discern it from the picture. I like the set up you displayed in your pictures. Thanks so much for sharing!

Ellen

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Question on Water Heater when sanitizing Fresh Water Tank
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102556
Quote
... have been unsuccessful in locating the white nylon 1/2" both sides niple  like that...
Could you please tell me where you got yours and the part number?
I found it at the local smallish hardware store that has actual human beings to help (Richmond Hardware in Braintree, MA).  I think the store is affiliated with True Value; the receipt says it's part

701839, 1/2" MPT Hex Pipe Nipple $1.29

Joanne NE-44
Re: Question on Water Heater when sanitizing Fresh Water Tank
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102557
Thank you Joanne... I'm off to the hardware store aga
Re: Question on Water Heater when sanitizing Fresh Water Tank
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102558
Quote
I sanitized the Fresh Water Tank today.  During the initial drain of the tank and water heater both drained as required.  When I put the Chlorine Solution and let it set for 3 hours I then opened both drains and only the fresh water tank drained and the water heater did not--like no water was in it.
Did you remember to turn on the water pump until water came out of the hot and cold water sides?  I just did the same think today and had water in both the water heater and all lines. You want to fill your lines with the bleach mix as they need to be sanitized as well.

Rick
2015 27' Mid Bath
 
Re: Question on Water Heater when sanitizing Fresh Water Tank
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102563
Quote
Did you remember to turn on the water pump until water came out of the hot and cold water sides?  I just did the same think today and had water in both the water heater and all lines. You want to fill your lines with the bleach mix as they need to be sanitized as well.
Just remember to not get even a tiny amount of bleach water in your black tank, so DON'T flush if there is bleach in the water.  Bleach will kill all the bugs in the black tank, and you will have a heck of a time getting the black tank working again.

-Dave '06 MB, Indianapolis