Cleaning a RV Water Heater (How to Descale, Sanitize and Maintain)

Cleaning a RV water heater or also know as sanitizing or descaling your RV water heater is a simple process. It’s part of regular RV maintenance that should be done at least every other year. Descaling a RV water heater is the simple idea of using white vinegar to descale and clean up all the calcium deposits that build up over time inside your water heater. In this video we show you how to do just this as well as change out your anode rod if you have a Suburban water heater. RV maintenance is key and taking care of your water heater is a must to keep it running longer.
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[@WhyWait]

For anybody looking to do this project here are some links to the items you’ll need 👍🏼 🔹Anode rod wrench 1 1/16”: amzn.to/3fQcGHg 🔹RV flushing wand: amzn.to/33YTa8w 🔹Suburban Anode Rod: amzn.to/33KKVgy 🔹3/4” PVC plug: amzn.to/3AppAFx

[@billjohnson5023]

Do you need distilled vinegar what’s the difference between that and normal white vinegar

[@WhyWait]

@@billjohnson5023 Simply put, distilled vinegar has been purified more than white vinegar. More than that, there are also dissimilarities when it comes to chemical structure, production and usage. White vinegar is sometimes also called spirit vinegar. Contrary to its name, it’s actually clear. Distilled is just more common to have because it’s also used in cooking and eating. White vinegar also know as cleaning vinegar is stronger thus not recommended for food purposes. You can descale with either one.

[@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.

[@TimeoffwithCuzinEddie]

Nice job! This is definitely something I need to do this spring. Thanks for the information.

[@WhyWait]

Sure thing. You’d be surprised at how much build up can be in there! Thanks for watching bud

[@CompassRoadz]

Although we no longer need an anode rod this is good info for all. We have done this several times in our previous RVs. I ( Kevin) loved doing this job because it’s instant gratification when all those calcium chunks flow out. Great video.

[@WhyWait]

Oh yeah! I love instant gratification jobs! 👍🏼

[@godrulesme8619]

Great job on this video...thank you!!!

[@WhyWait]

Sure thing. This just reminded me it’s about time to do mine again.

[@thewildsasquatches3033]

Thanks for the thorough explanation!

[@WhyWait]

Sure thing. You be surprised at that stuff that comes out! 👍🏼👍🏼

[@huongtoituonglai24]

The looks interesting 🤔 nice place keep safe always stay connected 🙏 ♥️♥️

[@TheRealBiggerAl]

Great explanation, thank you!!

[@WhyWait]

Appreciate it and thank you for checking us out! 👍🏼

[@HappyPlaceDiaries]

Good timing.. just did a thorough tank cleaning today and have the hot water tank on the list for this week. Great info.. going to help me for sure. Thanks

[@WhyWait]

Nice, glad it could help. It’s a project that I let go too long myself. 👍🏼

[@topgun5399]

Could you also when after the vinegar process using the Wand to flush the tank from the pressure valve hole and watching it flush down the lower drain hole . I was able to see more chunks come out and it gives a different angle from the top. Similar when you flush your black tank you would use a wand in your toilet that has a spinner on it besides using the black rinser. I know you don't have a spinner on the wand for the water heater but going from the top to drain to the bottom drain you can clean it better. One more thing you can replace the pressure valve also for a new one since they don't cost that much. If you run into hard water it can gunk up the valve so why not replace once a year as well as the rod. My Atwood I would replace the plug and the valve once a year depending on how often you use it. Inspect anyway. Everything is new and good to go. We just bought a new camper 2021 and now have the anoe rod and a since campers world didn't treat it I did and it needed it. They did give me a new rod but didn't flush it. With a prep charge of $1400 you would think they would. Not to mention whe my wife lifted the jack knife sofa there was dog hair under it. A rip off in my book. They just have a guy walk you thru it to show you how things run. Big deal since I can figure it out anyway. I did have them come down to half the cost of prep in the deal but it looks like they did half the job. Go figure .

[@thejagfamily08]

Very cool I've never seen anybody do it was vinegar. And I didn't know about the magnesium and vinegar not meshing well together great tip

[@WhyWait]

Thanks. Hope it helps out if you ever need to do it. 👍🏼

[@cant-cook-can-cook]

Great video I learnt a lot thankyou.

[@WhyWait]

Good deal glad it helped James. 👍🏼

[@ThoseWhoGlampTogether]

We need to do this. Thanks for sharing

[@WhyWait]

Sure thing. It’s always something right?!

[@trailertrashtactics]

I was lucky to find this video! I planned to just use a short hose with a GHT to NTP adapter and a valve on the end and pour the vinigar in via gravity. But my funnel was too big! Never thought to siphon it in with the pump. Side note, my 2022 jayco north point was able to siphon with the red valve flipped away from "winterize" as well.

[@WhyWait]

Yeah it just depends on your system on how you can get the vinegar inside there. Glad this helped you out 👍🏼and appreciate you watching!

[@rvseeingyou]

As always, love your videos. They are easy to follow and concise!

[@WhyWait]

Thanks 😊 We definitely appreciate it!

[@rickstills6716]

We have the Atwood water heater and I still do this every year. Amazing how much calcium chunks flush out of there. 👍

[@WhyWait]

For sure! It really is surprising. We usually run a portable water softener which really helps out but we didn’t have it going this summer.

[@rickstills6716]

@@WhyWait we have the big On The Go water softener. We love it.

[@ryanteter]

Great video. For the life of me, I can’t imagine why Grand Design would’ve put the furnace directly beneath the water heater. Certainly some of that water entered the access panel. Not such a grand design.

[@WhyWait]

Thanks. Appreciate you watching the video

[@GimpyCamper]

I’ve never done this, I did buy a wand last year and didn’t get the first thing out but I think it’s because I drain my tank an average of twice per month all winter. In other news, my Andersen coupler completely froze up Friday and I couldn’t unhook my truck and had to pull the base loose and then drop it from the ball. Took it inside for 30 minutes and it worked fine after that!

[@WhyWait]

Oh wow that’s crazy. Never heard of that happening. Guess that’s why we stay out of that cold weather! 🥶😂

[@rotarythread]

If your anode element thread gets corroded, you can clean it up with rotary thread, or taps and die. That is if you don't want to buy a new one lol! Btw, do you think vinegar + baking soda will clean it up more? Same with power washer instead of wand?

[@GaryBlankenship96b40]

I got a bumper pull rv did all tanks then 3 gallons vinegar in my atwood cut off power unplugged propane . Now i got no hot water

[@nsrvlife5895]

Great Video! I 'm new to RV world and i'm going to do the fresh water tank / water heater cleaning next week for the 2018 GD reflection 150 i purchase from a private party. I have a few questions, I apologize first for these silly quesions: 1. If I need to do fresh water tank / water heater cleaning at same time, i need to do the fresh water tank first becasue I need fill it up. Am I right? 2. Do I have to turn heater ON when vinegar is pumped in? 3. For the Anode Rod, are RVs share the same size? As you mentioned 3/4 inch? Thank you!

[@WhyWait]

Hey thanks for watching! So make sure the water heater is off when no water or liquid is in there. After filling with vinegar you can turn it back on over night, you don’t have to but I do. I think it helps descale it. Next, most Anode rods are the same but I some can be a different size so double check. And last here’s a link to my video on how to sanitize all your fresh water lines and fresh water tank. I would do this on another day from your water otherwise you just have to much going on and it will be confusing with bleach, vinegar, by passing the water heater and all that. Hope this helps. HOW TO SANITIZE A RV WATER SYSTEM (Using the Grand Design Nautilus System) kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3uZoHWjhregqtk

[@deputy1229]

We have a horrible sulfpher smell and I’m going to try this. Research showed to get an aluminum anode versus magnesium. Now I’m a little confused which rod to get.

[@WhyWait]

Depends on your water softness. For harder water an aluminum anode rod is the best choice for your heater and if you live in an area with soft water then a magnesium anode rod is your best choice. Aluminum anodes tend to be cheaper than magnesium anode rods. A magnesium rod will generally last less than an aluminum rod. We run a water softener so I go with the magnesium 👍🏼 Thanks for watching.

[@phillipank1213]

Hey this is very helpful. Newbie question though, I have City Water and a Winterize inlet. Which one do I use for this project? I'm still trying to learn the plumbing system in this thing 🙂

[@WhyWait]

Well every model model camper has a different plumbing system. In this video we have the nautilus system with a Grand Design RV. Sounds like you’d use your city water inlet because you need this to get into your water heater to clean it. Usually a winterize inlet will avoid going to your water heater because you don’t winterize a water heater or put antifreeze in it, just drain it for winter. Of course I don’t know your system so I can’t be sure. But most city inlets go straight to the water heater first before any other plumbing part of the rv. Hope this helps

[@phillipank1213]

@@WhyWait I have a winterize inlet and a winterize bypass (off/on). If I connect to that and turn Winterize ON, nothing is pumped in. So I might try using the city water inlet. Thanks again.

[@emfalls496]

I know this may be a stupid question but this is my first cleaning out my hot water heater. SO after you turn off the hot water heater (Electric or propane) and flush the hot water out of the hot water heater thru the faucets in your sinks, how do you make sure it fills back up with cold water? Do u just run the cold water side and it automatically goes to the hot water heater?

[@WhyWait]

Hey Em, Not too sure what your asking here but after flushing your water heater out it fills back up when you hook your hose outside back up and turn it on. When you hook up to city water your water heater is the first place water goes and fills up before it goes to your pipes and faucets. Just remember to switch it back on so it heats the water back up. Hope this helps. If not try watching again maybe because it’s all explained in there 👍🏼😁

[@user-xe9tf8xh4f]

where you get the 90 degree adapter? for 50 amp power cord

[@WhyWait]

On Amazon. You can search there. For some reason they always seem to be out of stock.

[@ChamberEverything]

When you click on the link for the picture plug it there are length options. Which length is best?

[@WhyWait]

Picture plug? I’m not sure what you are referencing

[@cavy16262]

1 gallon vinegar to 5 gallon water fill up?

[@WhyWait]

I do about a 50% ration. So if my water tank holds 12 gallons I use 6 gallons of vinegar and then top my tank off with 6 gallons of water. It’s one of those processes that doesn’t have to be exact at all. Thanks for watching!

[@kiyamanus3723]

I’ve always just drank the water as is out of trailers never cleaned it out no filters nothing. Only reason I’m concerned now is because this new trailer we bought has a hole in the fill water cap and guy put some foam in there to block it from sloshing out while driving I guess and it’s moldy!

[@WhyWait]

Yikes. Sounds sketchy. I always sanitize my fresh water tank and all my water lines. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3uZoHWjhregqtksi=Ii8fU3iOGNh7nGPz

[@WhyWait]

Here’s another good option too. 👍🏼 The BEST RV Water Filtration for RV Living kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppXNaZ5narBohMk

[@segelnnatur2022]

What about using muriatic acid? They do it all the time to clean the scale of the house furnace hot water coils. I'm thinking muriatic acid would destroy the pump. It's more powerful than vinegar. Thank you

[@WhyWait]

I’m not sure, it’s not something Ive ever heard of or tried. Sounds pretty industrial and maybe over kill for these small water heaters. But like I said I’m not sure.

[@segelnnatur2022]

@@WhyWait exactly, I'd also be certain to have a shut off valve so the acid never can flow past the hw tank and through to the water lines. It's also not good for any harsh chemicals, like bleach to be in the pump for any longer than absolutely necessary. After you used the vinegar are you positive that it loosened up even more junk that was stuck to parts of the tank? Or was that junk already loosened and just sitting at the bottom, just needing more flushing out?

[@John.Mann.1941]

Muriatic Acid is a long obsolete name for hydrochloride acid. Just remember your high school chemistry class experiments and demos where metals and hydrochloride acid meet up.

[@HintonTheTrail]

So we just finished up a month of boondocking and our hot water tank was putting out an odor that could only be described as coming from the Devil’s anus. It was horrible. We did our standard flush and then your vinegar truck. 5-hr drive and the flushed it all out again and it’s all good. Thanks for the video!

[@WhyWait]

Oh man! 🤢 Glad that worked out for you guys. I’ve heard about the water heater egg smell but haven’t experienced it as of yet. Hopefully doing this every two years keeps it from happening. 🤞🏼

[@nj8987]

Good for a modern water heater but most of this doesn't work for my old suburban water heater.

[@WhyWait]

Bummer. Thanks for watching though

[@ronaldkeown6737]

Or just an old anode as a plug

[@WhyWait]

That works too. Not crazy about descaling it with the old anode though if it still has a lot of material on it. Just creates more of a mess that needs to be flushed out.

[@scottisaaks]

Doesn't work if your fresh water goes into the fresh water tank ..not sure how to get white vinegar into the water heater without it going into the fresh water holding tank first.

[@WhyWait]

What RV make model and year do you have?

[@juancanolopez8]

​@@WhyWaitim also wondering how to get the vinegar inside the water heater im starting to get a smell ... I have a 2023 coachman catalina destination trailer.

[@tnhnt]

No such thing as a 1 1/18” socket. Must mean a 1 1/16”?

[@WhyWait]

Yup, sure do. 👍🏼

[@tomcat5986]

Haha, said it twice and I was thinking to myself I heard him wrong. As we say in the south, "bless his heart"...great dude

[@supermanbatmommy]

Why thumbnail looking like andrew tate

[@WhyWait]

Not sure what you mean by this? Saying I look like Andrew Tate ?