kellem
Shenandoah valley,VA
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Joined: 05/07/2007
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Keep our furnace set at 35* all winter but still winterize.
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ppine
Northern Nevada
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Joined: 07/04/2016
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Drain the water heater and switch over the bypass valve so you don't fill it with anti-freeze.
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profdant139
Southern California
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rmauk, two thoughts. First, keep asking questions, even if you think they are dumb. We were all newbies, and us old timers like helping newbies avoid our misteaks.
Second, to drain your water heater you might need a 1 1/16" socket, depending on the model of your trailer. You can get them at a good auto parts store -- call around!
OK, three thoughts. When you get ready to drain your water heater, turn it off and let the water cool. Turn off your water pump. Open a hot water faucet. Then unscrew the anode, which is a hex fitting on the outside of the water heater.
By opening the faucet, you minimize the gush of water that will, well, gush out at you when you remove the anode.
If your trailer is not new, check the anode for corrosion.
Good luck, and keep on asking!!
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Ed_Gee
Central Oregon coast
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bukhrn wrote:rmauk wrote:Newbie here. Due to freezing temps, I want to run the furnace on low but with all water drained, but not winterized yet. How do I run the furnace but not the hot water tank? Did you drain the water heater?
He stated that in his original post....
Ed - on the Central Oregon coast
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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Joined: 08/19/2009
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Ed_Gee wrote:bukhrn wrote:rmauk wrote:Newbie here. Due to freezing temps, I want to run the furnace on low but with all water drained, but not winterized yet. How do I run the furnace but not the hot water tank? Did you drain the water heater?
He stated that in his original post....
The reason people are asking is as a newbie, he may not realize that if you open the low point drains, the hot water heater may still remain full.
To the OP:
If the hot water tank is full, you do want to turn it on so it doesn't freeze but you want to make sure you know for sure if it's full or not. Particularly on electric heat, you can burn out the heating element in seconds if the tank is empty.
This brings up another question. How long are you running the furnace and are you plugged into electricity. If not plugged in, the furnace may only be good for a night or two running off battery power (the fan runs off 12v battery power). Once the battery dies, so does the furnace, even if you have propane in the tank. If plugged in, you are good until the propane runs out.
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rmauk
Pennsylvania
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Joined: 11/02/2020
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Watched the videos on anode rods. Thank you.
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kellem
Shenandoah valley,VA
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valhalla360 wrote:Ed_Gee wrote:bukhrn wrote:rmauk wrote:Newbie here. Due to freezing temps, I want to run the furnace on low but with all water drained, but not winterized yet. How do I run the furnace but not the hot water tank? Did you drain the water heater?
He stated that in his original post....
The reason people are asking is as a newbie, he may not realize that if you open the low point drains, the hot water heater may still remain full.
To the OP:
If the hot water tank is full, you do want to turn it on so it doesn't freeze but you want to make sure you know for sure if it's full or not. Particularly on electric heat, you can burn out the heating element in seconds if the tank is empty.
This brings up another question. How long are you running the furnace and are you plugged into electricity. If not plugged in, the furnace may only be good for a night or two running off battery power (the fan runs off 12v battery power). Once the battery dies, so does the furnace, even if you have propane in the tank. If plugged in, you are good until the propane runs out.
The nature of the OP's question would indicate novice, I commend them for asking.
I also commend you for a thorough response.
* This post was
edited 11/03/20 12:12pm by kellem *
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bukhrn
Lanexa, Va
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Joined: 03/20/2005
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One more thought, Not water heater related, When you do get to winterizing, Don't forget the outside shower, Many newbies do forget it, (and a few old timers as well) sometimes that Oldzheimers kicks in. ![[emoticon]](https://forums.goodsamclub.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/wink.gif "wink")
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CharlesinGA
South of Atlanta, Georgia
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rmauk wrote:Watched the videos on anode rods. Thank you.
The issue here is that there are two brands of water heaters, Surburban, which has a steel tank and the anode rod, and the electric switch on the outside on the LH side hidden by some wiring and other stuff.
The other brand is Atwood, now Dometic, and they have an aluminum tank and NO anode rod. They have a plastic drain plug on the LH lower corner of the tank.
In either case, drain the tank.
Charles
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Lynnmor
Red Lion
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Joined: 07/16/2011
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bukhrn wrote:One more thought, Not water heater related, When you do get to winterizing, Don't forget the outside shower, Many newbies do forget it, (and a few old timers as well) sometimes that Oldzheimers kicks in.
Since you have dementia, here is a reminder to add the black tank flusher to the list.
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