PapaJim
Connecticut
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Joined: 02/24/2006
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While winterizing:
1. I pressed the button inside the city water connection, behind the screened washer, per suggestions in this forum. The button moved back about one inch and will not return. I tried pulling it back with needlenose pliers, but it will not stay in its original position. Is this thing sprin-loaded in a direction to push it out, or does its position depend on water pressure?
2. When draining the hot water tank, the anode rod was not decayed as I expected from previous years. Instead, it had this white stuff all over it, like mushrooms. Is the anode rod NG? What is the white gooey stuff?
Thanks
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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The check valve in your water inlet has been unseated from the O ring that seals it. The most COMMON reason for this happening is not relieving the pressure from the water system before depressing the button during the winterizing process. Occasionally they can be re-seated if you remove the valve so your can work on it but in many cases it's best to just replace it. Not too expensive to replace.
The anode rod MUST be doing it's job if you have residue from it inside the water tank. Usually they will be eaten away only very close to the drain plug where the soft metal of the plug is different than the steel of the tank itself. It took mine three years of use to eat away about half way through the anode and needing to be replaced.
Good luck / skip
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downtheroad
Puget Sound
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Joined: 02/18/2003
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The rod on the right is shot and needs replacing.
If your anode rod is basically sound, but has some "white stuff" on it, just take a wire brush, clean it off and reinstall..(use a couple of wraps of Teflon tape)
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willald
NC
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Joined: 07/15/2002
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1. Yep, check valve has become unseated, as skipnchar said. Same thing happened to me once, ended up having to replace the valve as a result. Since then, I stopped doing that (pushing button inside inlet valve) when winterizing. Not anxious to have to replace that valve again. I question the need to do that, anyway, if you do all the other winterizing steps properly. We haven't in years, and never have had a problem.
2. Anode rod is fine, put it back in and don't worry about it.
One thing you can do that will extend the life of that anode rod SIGNIFICANTLY as well as avoid other water heater related problems, is this:
Drain out the water heater after every camping trip before you head home, and leave it empty until next trip. This way, tank only has water in it while you're camping. Will make your anode rod last a LOT longer, since it won't be immmersed in water near as much. That, and it means you're towing a good 60-80 lbs less weight down the road (water is heavy). We've been doing that for 2 years now, and anode rod has only wore a tiny bit in those 2 years.
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PapaJim
Connecticut
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Joined: 02/24/2006
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Thanks, guys. Constructive advice as usual.
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