How to Drain a Hot-water Tank in a Travel Trailer

It's essential that you routinely drain the hot-water heater in your recreational vehicle or travel trailer. The task should be performed at least once in the spring and once in the fall if you camp year-round. If you camp only a couple of times a year, you should drain your water heater after every trip. Bacteria and fungus grow in warm, dark and wet places. Some RV water heaters feature petcocks to drain the tank or a plastic drain plug. A petcock is an easy-to-open valve that allows water to flow out without removing the plug. If your heater does not have a petcock valve, you can have one installed to make it easier to drain later.

Instructions

1

Go to the driver's side of the travel trailer or RV. You will see a two- or three-vent compartment that will be beside the fill for the water tank. Open the middle or last vent compartment, depending on whether you have two or three.

2

Open the bottom petcock valve or use a wrench to open the plastic drain plug on the bottom of the hot-water heater tank. Open the relief valve on the top of the water heater to let air into the tank as it is emptying. Leave the petcock valve open until you are ready to use the water heater again to let the water heater "breathe."

3

Replace the drain plug with a petcock valve kit. Wrap Teflon tape around the threads on the fitting that will go into the tank, the reducer fitting and the petcock valve. Screw in the large fitting into the drain hole and tighten with a wrench. Screw the reducer into the fitting installed into the drain hole and tighten with a wrench. Screw the petcock valve into the reducer and tighten with a wrench. Open the petcock valve and leave it open until the next time you will use the travel trailer to let the water heater "breathe."