Sanitizing RV Water Heater // SUMMERIZING YOUR RV SERIES

[@garyfanning2769]

Opening the pressure relief valve helps ease filling.

[@dannylayton1106]

This lady reminded me of Annie,my childhood Nannie. She always told me she didn't have time for my foolin around! Such an angel, miss her sweet soul!

[@KP-ni8bh]

Ok, Archimedes! I got the best results by 1. Opening the pressure release so the air in the tank would have somewhere to go (your basic pneumatics;) 2. Not adding the part with the valve until after adding the vinegar, which allowed me to 3. Use a funnel.

[@captmax]

I made up the kit as described with an additional modification. I attached a Camco water bandit to the shutoff valve so I could cram a funnel in it and made pouring vinegar into the hose a lot easier.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

awesome. thanks for sharing

[@brentrhoads2900]

This worked great for me. I would add two things. One. 30% vinegar burns and figured that out the hard way when my hose leaked on the tank side and the vinegar got on my hands which leads to number two. I needed pipe tape to make a water tight fitting. Tank is clean now.

[@tomforeman4976]

Another tip is to use your spare rv water pump with a hose into your vinegar after you hook up to your short hose he had and open a hot water faucet some were in the camper for the air to exhaust out of the tank.

[@markphillips590]

Thanks for the video and advice. On my 2022 2600RB it required a 1/2" FIP (female) and i have seen earlier models that required the male. My 6 gallon tank could only hold 5 gallons, perhaps there was more water in tank, but I had opened the low points. Either way, it is better and THANKS AGAIN!

[@Ray346]

Todd, just an engineer comment NTP is a computer protocol. The pipe thread is NPT (National Pipe Taper thread)

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

It was a slip of the tongue. Thanks for the catch.

[@explorationsrenovations5982]

I was going to mention that. Glad someone beat me to it 😜

[@niceatrya3477]

That must be why my comment is 5 months late. 😆

[@nofixedaddressrv3704]

Maybe should mention which type of fittings needed, Male or Female. Just my $.02. The GHT to GHT doesn't matter since it will have both M & F and only being used as a shutoff. The other one will matter. On Atwood the 3/4GHT should be female and the 1/2NPT should be female, at least for my heater. Great tip!!! I learn something most times I watch your tips!!

[@sunbtanman7354]

This works very good but it also helps to open up your pressure relief valve let the air out. It will fill a lot Faster. It's also a good way to know that you are full.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

This is a extra step that is added to your usual de-winterizing procedures. Thanks for the tip.

[@samcunningham6009]

So I did everything that Todd said, however I did not open the pressure relief valve. The water was already drained. I had closed the hot and cold water valves behind the heater and opened the valve between the two. My wife held the funnel into the shutoff valve (which was connected to a 3' hose) and ensured that that end of the hose was held high while I poured 30% vinegar through there. After less than 1/2 gallon of vinegar, the vinegar began coming back up the hose. I could not get any more in. I shut the valve off and left it overnight. This morning I open the valve and drained the vinegar. I could not (still can't really) understand why I couldn't get more in there the day before. I thought, "Maybe I should have open the relief valve." So are you saying that having that relief valve closed is what minimized the amount of vinegar I could pour in?

[@jamesglenn520]

@@samcunningham6009 You have to open the pressure valve or there is no way for the air to escape. Same as when filling the system. You should always open it to burp out all the air before turning on the heater.

[@samcunningham6009]

@@jamesglenn520 Thank you James!

[@e.b.6766]

“…Ain’t nobody got time for that…” 😂😂😂

[@HardKnoxU]

I have to say, as a RV sales professional, I have really enjoyed your vids. Keep up the good work.

[@weswilde]

I am from the boating industry. We winterize and then Spring Commission the boats. The one time a customer asked us to Summerize his boat, we laughed our $@&! Off.

[@GeorgeP-e2x]

If you have a Suburban water heater like mine (model SW6DEL) DO NOT USE THIS METHOD TO DECALCIFY THE WATER TANK!!! I used this method a couple of years ago and it caused extreme rust corrosion of the tank. When I flushed the tank last fall there were chunks of rusty metal coming out with the water. I just had the water heater replaced for $1000. The vinegar idea sounds like a good one but I guess vinegar and steel don’t mix!

[@kevinthomas8025]

Just bought a new rig this yr so I definitely appreciate this tip because I don't know what has been done before.

[@markweaver2188]

After watching this I said of course because my wife uses the same method to occasionally clean our coffee maker. She runs vinegar through it (like we would making coffee) then a couple of runs with fresh water to clean out any vinegar. Yes, our coffee tastes better once this happens so why not the hot water tank.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Thanks for sharing!

[@denniskissinger7937]

Todd, don't mean to be one of "those", but your video made me want to clean my water heater. I have a dometic, so what I did was to use pex. fitting off the drain into pex tube bend with my shut off valve above the water tank. Thanks for the idea. Did this as the water system was sanitizing, drained them both the next day.

[@randallmarshall3603]

Make sure to open the pressure release valve!! And wear eye protection! I forgot and I now have chemical burns and abrasions on my eye. I poured about 1/3rd a gallon before it stopped draining. So I stepped up higher and pulled the 4 ft hose tight. The vinegar quickly drained toward the tank but rebounded from the displaced air and shot the vinegar at high speed directly into my eye. (My shut off valve has a small opening) Definitely my stupidity on this one and a painful lesson at that.

[@gordschultz1980]

Great tech tip Todd! Thanks for sharing.

[@thecritterandthebutterfly]

We use the same process but used some PVC parts instead of the hose and a 50/50 mix ratio. Easy fill, easy drain and they are easily stored.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Thanks for the tip.

[@deeb7138]

You never disappoint. I'm looking forward to more SUMMERIZING.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Thanks for watching.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Make sure to use NPT National Pipe Thread fittings. Todd talks about NTP stag so much it was a slip and our editor edits what he hears 🙂...

[@timcahoon4911]

NTP network time protocol. 😂😂

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Maybe our editor shouldn’t try to write text on the screen and let Todd be Todd. ;)

[@PlaneSaddles]

Let us not forget that NTP/STAG is where a lot of RV parts come from at the dealer level. Lol

[@VegasPoolGuy1]

Best video I’ve found on getting vinegar into my dometic water heater!! Thx! I’ve subscribed!!

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@rvingthecrossroadsoflife345]

I guess I can yard sale the little water pick I just bought 😁

[@stevejohnston2845]

Enjoyed the video. I used the method in this video and I think it worked well. One side effect - I drained the vinegar on my driveway and it ran onto my fescue grass. The grass is now brown!

[@maryfinkiewiczmartin2310]

New to all this with a older 2005 camper ty for info just subscribed

[@IndianaFr0g]

Nicely done! Looking forward for the rest of your "SUMMERies".

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Thanks. It’s going to be a good series.

[@larryturner8722]

Nice job of covering this topic.

[@donkiml5805]

Great video. Thanks. Much, much better than what the manual said how to do it.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Thanks for watching.

[@weloveups831]

Great video and he is just fun to listen too!

[@canadiantwig4772]

Fantastic, now off to Lowes again.. lol

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Awesome.

[@mikeduffy13]

dude, dynamite "ain't nobody got time for that" reference!

[@rondecker5460]

Thanks for all your educated videos. They are very informative. I can't wait to apply these when I get my trailer.

[@66atherton]

Great tip! Hopefully this will help prevent the electric heating element from becoming calcified and whistling.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Yes it dissolves all the calcium in the hot water tank including the heating element

[@kmknier]

You do not need the shut off valve for this to work. Just set a step ladder by the water heater and wrap the hose around a leg so the hose is higher than the tank.

[@ExploreItAdventure]

I've read through quite a few comments and didn't see whether it's ok to use this method if I don't have a bypass valve for my water heater. Parts are on order so moving forward but sure would be nice to know before giving it a try. Love your videos, big help.

[@niceatrya3477]

I’d love to see a video of comparing using sodium dichlor vs. bleach for fresh water tank sanitizing. A simple tsp. Is all that is needed to sanitize a 100 gallons, yet very few people talk about this method. A single one lb. Bag will last you a lifetime of rv’ing.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

It would be a great test to do. Thanks for your comment.

[@johnr5545]

Thanks god bless

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

You too

[@ApresSavant]

Great video. Just one observation: NPT is the correct acronym for the National Pipe Taper.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

You are correct. It was a slip of the tongue. We will notate this

[@bryanmontgomery4050]

3/4 or 1/2” pvc 90° and a couple feet of pipe, fill with funnel.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

thanks.

[@Blakehx]

Where do you get that strength of vinegar?

[@jacquetaylor2714]

Now you have to answer the lovely questions!😂🤣😅

[@SteveDodson-l8n]

Todd - Man you opened up a can of worms with this video! Why don't you do another and go into more explanation taking into account all the comments listed so there would be NO CONFUSION. Thanks from a subscriber.

[@timmyers3428]

De-Winterize, or Summarize, Aha, you said De-Winterize at 5:08, I am sticking to that LOL

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Thanks.

[@robertosgood961]

Sooo ... add two gallons vinegar to tank, and then water to top off tank, let sit 8 hrs and drain? Or does the two gallons vinegar remove all calcium without water for fullness? Love the videos Todd, keepem' coming!

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Yes. 2 gallons or vinegar and top off with water. Then let it sit.

[@jamesglenn520]

Is the 2 gallons enough for a 12 gal water heater 🤔

[@READY2ROLLU]

@@jamesglenn520 math doesn't have to be hard. 2

[@jamesglenn520]

@@READY2ROLLU I would hope that you were intending to comment to Robert. My question which has not been answered is logical. He doesn't really say but implied the solution is for a 6gal system Not a 12gal.

[@READY2ROLLU]

@@jamesglenn520 then use 12 gal of vinegar if you want. Not rocket science. 2 gal is plenty for a 12 gal tank if you fill it and let sit.

[@LeslinAdventures]

Thanks for tip

[@cindycierlik8162]

Awesome thanks 😊

[@mikeehrhart9488]

Great video!! I was wondering how to do that. Getting all my stuff together now so that we’re ready.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Glad we could help!

[@royh729]

Have this on my to do list for sure. I usually drain my water heater after each trip. I use a 3/4 male adapter and add about 8 inches of 3/4 pipe to let it drain. For cleaning just add a 90 degree with another section of pipe taller than the heater so you can add vinegar as Todd mentioned. Todd, if you fill it up over the heating element with the mixture would turning it on help in descaling any better? Or just let it sit for the 8 hours without heat. Looking forward to more tips.

[@Koalagirl73]

Thank you so much!

[@Ray346]

By the way great video.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Thanks.

[@94auwing]

Ain’t nobody got time for that 😂😂

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

very true

[@rescueraver]

Great tip

[@upinthishitch]

Todd I have a 2022 Alliance Valor that needs a new awning and solar panel installed. I live within 30 miles of you guys and wondered do you need a project for your students in those fields anytime soon. I will be back in TX around March 5th and would be happy to bring it on over. If not I will be hiring a mobile tech to come out and install these two items. Thanks and keep the videos coming.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

While I would love to help I get soooo many request I can only do installs on my solar students rigs. Keeps me too busy. Now if you are going to hire someone I’d suggest someone who was trained by me. (Not saying there aren’t many great installers) but I know the quality work they do and assist them if needed.

[@cathybeall986]

Thanks didn’t know that

[@jimgrier7869]

Would a water softener be good when using an RV as a base camp, not taking it anywhere?

[@tglass0000]

Dang, just a day after this video and my hometown is out of white vinegar.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

wow. Hopefully they'll get some in soon

[@badbadley]

Great idea, but you said 2 gallons of vinegar, then mentioned water, then said leave the 2 gallons of vinegar in for eight hours. If the tank is one third full will that descale the heater elements? Or did you mean to add four gallons of water to the two gallons of vinegar (for a 6 gallon tank)?

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Scale the mixture to the size of your tank. you want the tank completely full of the solution.

[@dannyscobee6530]

Great suggestion. 2 gallons of vinegar in a 6 gallon tank won’t do the job for the whole tank. Just add more vinegar & maybe some water & wait longer.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

So you put in 30 at 2 gallons and fill the rest of the tank with water. Apparently I neglected to say that part

[@dannyscobee6530]

@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy ok, that makes more sense 👍🏻👍🏻

[@timcahoon4911]

I like your tech tips but I disagree with the water heater being unsanitary due to mineral buildup. ( I’m a farm kid who drank from cattle troughs and flowing wells. These days I’m more worried about PFAS and chemicals. I drink from my tanks. ) I see doing this to remove the buildup to make the tank more efficient and as a side benefit cleaning the tank. I do think having a mock-up tank and hose set up as a visual while explaining the process would be great. Or a link to a more detailed video would be good. Just my thoughts. Keep up the good work.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Thanks for sharing. that calcium does take up space. so as to maximize the efficiency of your tank by removing it is very helpful.

[@timcahoon4911]

@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy I agree with that statement but as to it be “unsanitary” I disagree.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

So I’ll explain directly as Todd. Water isn’t completely drained as the drain plug/anode rod is 1” above the bottom of the tank. This water sits and allows the small amount of bacteria to grow. And over time becomes a lot of bacteria. I’m glad you grew up on a farm. And are tougher for it. I also grew up in a different era. But knowing what I know now, I make different decisions. Thank you for what you guys/gals do though. It’s a service unrecognized.

[@timcahoon4911]

@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy ahhh. That makes sense now. I figured the tank drained more. With what you explained things make much more sense than just a dry tank covered in calcium. Thanks for the explanation.

[@bnashvegas]

After two gallons of vinegar fill tank completely with water correct? Didn’t quite catch that.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Yes fill with waiter.

[@anthonyochoa2644]

Where do we hook up to flush out the water heater. Do we hook up inside the trailer or out side where the drain plug is located

[@bbyparit]

I keep watching videos that tell me how to get the vinegar in through various winterizing kits/hoses/pumps... those were not in the list of links to things I'd need so I'm sitting here not knowing how to get the vinegar in. I feel dumb, but don't want to do it wrong. I have a 2021 Crossroads Sunset Trail 331BH.

[@paulbassett531]

Great stuff Todd, easy to follow and thanks! I know this is a summarizing maintenance tip , but Q: if you are full time living how often should we do this?. As we are using our water systems 24/7 is there less collection of calcium buildup or more in our hot water heater tanks.

[@lutkedog1]

Can you use Vinegar cleaning on a Aluminum Dometic Tank?

[@nileshhathi7856]

You say household. Ingest which is pure white vinegar and you are holding a bottle of distilled vinegar. Which one or either? Thanks great video

[@tommcl386]

I was told once after filling the tank and vinegar solution to turn on the water heater for 3 to 6 hours. Should I be doing that? Or should I stop doing that? Thanks for the video.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Please do not turn on the heater. This will not help decalcify and actually cause the opposite effect.

[@eo621]

How many gallons of vinegar should I add for a 15-16 Gallon water tank ? I added two gallons to my hot water tank and topped it off with water thinking it was a 6 gallon tank and when I drained it this morning I filled up 3 5 gallon buckets to the top. That’s how I fount out it’s a bigger water tank than I thought. New rv’er lol thanks for your help.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

you'll want to aim for a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water and then let it set for 24 hours if possible.

[@donmaxwell3020]

I like the tip. I just would like to confirm... I would be able to pour 2 gallons of vinegar into the tank without any of it also filling the hose? I'm just surprised that, with the opening at the bottom of the tank, there's only an inch of space in the tank for the vinegar to fill and will start filling up the hose. i.e. the vinegar level would never rise above the opening of the tank and would fill the hose, even as it would be held upward above the tank.

[@samcunningham6009]

That's what happened to me.

[@jamesglenn520]

Open the pressure valve at the Top of the Tank to let the air out.

[@cathyhann7957]

After you put the 2 gallons of vinegar do you add water the rest of the way to fill water heater?

[@jenniferjunkins9773]

Where do you connect the hose to if you dont have a winterization kit? Where the anode came out??

[@turk10315]

In the video when you talk about adding the vinegar you say open up your PNT valve? How do you do that? Thanks

[@Euskaltel0526]

To understand correctly, I add water after I pour in two gallons of vinegar to fill the remainder of the tank?

[@Toulmantwo]

Hey Todd Great videos. I have a question. You said 30% Vinegar that bottle is 5%?????

[@brendaanthonyrealestateage3233]

Hello, I was trying to summerize the hot water take. I bounced the connection but o can’t get it being the line to screw it in

[@stevencole7186]

I have a 2020 starcraft autumn ridge.....it smells when I turn on only the hot water...not the cold water...but I looked and I don't have an anode rod...it's just a plug..what do I do?

[@laurenbernabela5926]

I have a question, I recently purchased a 2020 Coachman Freelander 27QB. I would like to sanitize and dump my fresh water tank, well filling it up was easy, but I can't figure out how to dump the tank. There's is no drain to be found so I wonder if you can help me out.

[@mikec8123]

Is the process the same for an aluminum tank?

[@carolyn9547]

I followed the instructions to a T but you can't get that much vinegar in the hot water tank. It wouldn't take even a full gallon. I was standing on the stairs with the hose straight up, way above the heater. I still left what was in there but had to go back in and open the valve to allow it to fill with water. I'm not sure how Todd got all that vinegar in his water heater.

[@mrzif0013]

What about winterizing an instant water heater?

[@jc525exc]

Todd say use food grade vinegar, 30%-40% vinegar. No sure what that means? Reason I ask there is 30-40% acetic vinegar available & I suspect that is NOT what he's referring to?

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

it's like the percentage on alcohol. it's the concentration. the reason we use food grade is because your using the same system to drink and make food.

[@dondartt684]

Okay, the tank is clean and it’s a lot better than the pick. How about the water lines do they need cleaning and how is it done? Todd, the more I watch your video’s the more I realize there is a lot to learn about Rv’s.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

It’s easy to sanitize the rest of your water systems. We will cover this in a future summerizing your rv series tech tip.

[@jimspicer2986]

If I put the two gallons of vinegar in my 6 gal heater, do I have to add four gallons of clean water to it to top it off so the top of the htr gets cleaned? What about opening the pressure release valve to vent off the air in the tank while filling it?

[@94auwing]

So I have ? What would cause a pressure temp valve to seep? I have replaced it twice and they always start seeping

[@esava2874]

Heard vinegar will get rid of the calcium. But that it doesn’t kill bacteria unless it’s 140 degrees. Do you recommend turning the power on to the heater to heat the vinegar as an extra precaution?

[@ernie5187]

Ok so after the water tank is bypassed and we fill the water tank with 50/50 vinegar and water...do we turn on the water heater to warm the solution? ..

[@clee2599]

I have a 6 gal hot water tank. Do I need to use 6 gallons of vinegar? Also, when I add water to flush it out, should I use my water meter to make sure I don't overfill it?

[@Cruzin1a]

I was wondering the same about straight vinegar or diluted.

[@donaldkerr3080]

How many gallons of vinegar for a 12 gallon hot water heater

[@chaco883]

I'm sure I'm not the 1st one to point this out but did you ever think of changing the name to just Tech tip Tuesday since there are never 2 minutes long

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Nope.

[@markimmenschuh5389]

I heard if you heat up the vinegar and water, it cleans the tank out better

[@walterwyatt5338]

Love the video, I’ve been fighting a stinky hot water for a while. However I have changed the rod and soaked it with 6 gal of vinegar and 5 gal of water for about 18hrs( had to go to work). And it is still a stink’s. I guess my only other option is to change out the heating element. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Love your tips.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

It could be the heating element. Also check your water filters and maybe sanitize your fresh water lines.

[@markpillori]

How about for Truma?

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

With tankless make sure to follow their recommended cleaning procedures.

[@staceymiller4765]

What if the tech filled your water heater up with antifreeze? It’s brand new, never turned it on. I dumped it, refilled it, dumped it again and ran water through it for 7-8 minutes. Is that good or do I need to sanitize it?

[@lostxrulez]

Any tips on a suburban tank-less water heater?

[@bourbontraveler]

Please tell me the last person poisoned by their Rv hot water tank

[@davidchambers6843]

What do you do with an instant hot water heater with no anode rod or pressure valve? How do I clean it?

[@grumpyshorts1056]

How do we get that calcium build up out of the entire 5th water system and what if we have an on demand hot water heater? Good stuff!

[@guywood67]

You mentioned that calcium is covering the entire tank. I have a 12 gallon tank and if I only add two gallons of vinegar how is it going to clean the entire tank? Thanks

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

So what I neglected to say is fill the rest with water. You can also find the standard 3%vinegar by the gallon for $4. Put 10 gallons in with no water. A couple options

[@sitchad]

What about Aluminum tanks?

[@luannburton3133]

I liked you video on cleaning hot water tank with vinegar. But doesn't a fresh water hold tank also get lime/calcium build-up? I'm wondering why you wouldn’t flush the entire system.

[@46streetglide]

I could only get 1 gallon of vinegar in my water heater once the level rose to the height of the anode rode i couldn't get anymore in