Newbie question about water heater in off season

[patrick1945]

We do not camp between May and November but use the FW as an extra bedroom. Then the black tank is hooked up to the septic system but we have no need for hot water.

Do we drain (it is already turned off) the hot water heater and PUT it in BYPASS?

thanks
Pat

 

[SmokeyBare]

Pat,

No reason to drain the Hot Water tank unless you want to reduce the damage to the Anode rod when your not using the Water Heater.

If you do decide to drain the tank... yes put the system in BY-PASS and drain and leave the Anode rod out of the tank. "In My Opinion"

 

[jpmorgan37]

When you say between May and November, I assume that you are still in Massachusetts. There would be little reason to drain the hot water heater until October when you will possibly be getting into some freezing weather, then you had better have the entire RV winterized unless you plan to have the furnace operating and heat in the underbelly and the hot water heater operating. With the hot water heater cold, and no water flow through it, there will be very little deterioration of the sacrificial anode.

John