suburban water heater pressure

[kstockwell]

so i'm ever so slowly preparing the coach for winter.

I decided to drain the water tank. Drain plug obvious, I start turning, and turning, and turning. No dripping, leaking.. I keep going.
then bang, the plug (apparently with anode) flies out along with a large amount of mineral buildup. It was like a small people spray on my face, arms
legs.

Why would there be so much pressure built up in the water heater? It's not been on for over a month. Was there something I should have done first?

The anode looks somewhat corroded, I found the replacement on Amazon and will be replacing it. Should I try to run vinegar in the thank to try and
get rid of the deposits?

I'll go try and post photos.

kelly
78 kingsley putney vt

--
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT

 

[kstockwell]

pictures

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p61556-img-00233.html

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p61555-img-00225.html

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p61554-img-00219.html
--
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT

 

[emerystora]

Are you sure you were on the drain plug?
I was not aware that it had an anode. It usually is a handle that turns to open a small valve.

Not unusual to have pressure in the tank. There is usually air in the top of the tank that gets compressed by the pressure from the water pump (or city water if you have a hose connected).

Emery Stora
77 Kungsley
Frederick, CO

>
> so i'm ever so slowly preparing the coach for winter.
>
> I decided to drain the water tank. Drain plug obvious, I start turning, and turning, and turning. No dripping, leaking.. I keep going.
> then bang, the plug (apparently with anode) flies out along with a large amount of mineral buildup. It was like a small people spray on my face, arms
> legs.
>
> Why would there be so much pressure built up in the water heater? It's not been on for over a month. Was there something I should have done first?
>
> The anode looks somewhat corroded, I found the replacement on Amazon and will be replacing it. Should I try to run vinegar in the thank to try and
> get rid of the deposits?
>
> I'll go try and post photos.
>
> kelly
> 78 kingsley putney vt
>
> --
> 1978 Kingsley
> Putney VT
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

 

[kstockwell]

I pulled out the manual afterward (of course not before) and it indeed does have an anode that's part of the drain and described draining it in the
same manner I used. They recommend changing the anode yearly.

I guess I was just really surprised, my last MH would leak water while I was unscrewing the drain and never exploded outward like this.
That one had a teflon drain plug, and no anode.

kelly
78 kingsley putney vt

--
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT

 

[kstockwell]

this is not the stock water heater
--
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT

 

[justin brady1]

Did you depressurize the water system before doing it?
I just finished up my plumbing and have several times forgotten to release the pressure after turning everything off, so the next time I go to open a
valve, sometimes a week later, I've still got 50psi of pressure in there and it scares the crap out of me! I see it as a good thing, means all my new
plumbing is holding pressure really well hah

But really if you didnt turn on a faucet to release the pressure from the last time you used it that could be your source.
--
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455

 

[kstockwell]

running the sink on hot occurred to me afterward. I've brazenly unscrewed the drain without a thought for years; guess I was just lucky!
next time, I will think ahead. I was so startled I wondered if this was normal, I think it isn't out of the norm too much

thank you for your suggestion, I doubt I'll forget again and hopefully anyone else reading this now knows

kelly

--
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT