Published Date: December 29, 2020
Last Updated on June 22, 2023 by Camper Front
When hard water passes through your heater, it creates hard water deposits due to its calcium content. This occurs at all the places where the heated water passes through and then dries.
The water being heated causes the deposits to be created at a faster rate, thereby exposing an RV hot water heater to hard water deposits, and this also affects your shower, sink, and every water outlet your water heater supplies is more prone to this.
Such hard deposits in your water heater will also put your shower and sink at risk. Thankfully, this can be combated with a simple vinegar solution, so if you want to know how to put vinegar in RV hot water heater, we’ve got you covered.
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Table of Contents
How To Put Vinegar In RV Hot Water Heater
Step 1
Start by turning off your RV hot water heater, to do this Locate its breaker on your electrical box and flip it to the “Off” position.
Step 2
Then Locate the water supply pipe, which is usually above the heater, and turn the lever to the “off” position to close it off.
Step 3
Start to drain the tank by turning on the hot water at a nearby faucet. Also, Locate the drain valve usually at the bottom of the tank; the drain valve may look like a spigot for a garden hose.
Then Secure a garden hose to the drain valve and run the hose to a sink or you can take it outdoors and Straighten out any kinks in the hose.
Step 4
Slowly Open up the drain valve and allow the tank to drain. Keep an eye on the other end of the hose to make sure the water is steadily flowing out. Once the tank has been allowed to drain completely, turn off the hot water faucet and close the drain valve.
Step 5
Next, locate the anode rod which is usually present at the top of the hot water heater and secured by a large, recessed bolt which may need to remove using either an Allen wrench or a socket wrench.
Before handling the anode rod, make sure to check your manual for specific information about it. Using the right tool, loosen the bolt and remove the anode rod.
Step 6
After taking the anode rod out, place a funnel into the opening and pour three to four gallons of apple cider vinegar into the RV hot water heater.
After filling the heater with the mixture replace the anode rod and open the water supply valve to allow the hot water heater tank to fill up for at least five minutes. Then close the water supply valve and allow the vinegar to sit in the tank for at least 24 hours.
Step 7
After 24 hours, open the drain valve and allow the vinegar and water to drain out of the RV hot water heater. If there were a lot of mineral deposits present in your tank, the hose may become clogged and cause it to stop draining.
Once this happens, you can Squeeze the hose until you find the deposits and then massage the hose to break them up. Then allow the vinegar and water mixture to drain completely.
Step 8
Take out the hose from the hot water heater and close up the drain valve. Then turn on the nearest hot water faucet and also open up the water supply valve.
Then allow enough water to fill in the tank until it starts to come from the faucet and turn the faucet off before turning back on the hot water heater.
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Conclusion
If your RV has been in use for a long time, you may have to consider buying a new one because. Although maintaining a water heater is a good thing, it is not always possible. If you are experiencing hard water deposits, then master how to put vinegar in RV hot water heater.