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Draining hot water tank

C

Catcher

We've just boaught our first caravan to have hot water. The instructions say to drain the tank before travelling but I don't remember seeing many people do this on site before they leave(on vans that clearly have hot water)- it could be that I haven't noticed or is it something that people don't tend to bother about?

Thanks

Catcher
 
Catcher,

I try and remember to drain the tank before leaving a site but to be honest it will not be the first time I have arrived home before remembering about it. A couple of gallons of water slopping about in a tank is weight you could do without when towing so it is best to drain before travelling.

Also a lot of sites are now getting more than a little upset with people draining hot water direct onto grass pitches as it kills the grass and leaves them with unsightly bare patches in the middle of their pitches. Either pull off the pitch onto the road before draining or place bucket to collect water as it drains.

Robert
 
I find it better to open the drain plug before leaving the site (am generally on hard standing so killing grass not an issue)as the motion while travelling along ensures all the water drains from the heater.
 
Like others, I undo the drain plug before leaving site but not when on a grassy surface. Also don't forget to open all your taps to drain the system completely.
 
For the few litres that a hot tank holds the weight probably isn't too much of a worry. The main concerns are that if the tank is left full in freezing temperatures it could burst the tank, and if you leave previously heated cooled water in the tank to be reheated next trip you may unwittingly start your own legionella breeding ground. Probably best to drain it every time.
 
Hello Catcher and Mcghee,

Draining is important not only to stop frost damage, but also to prevent motion damage. With a full hot tank, you have 9 litres (=9Kg of water) sloshing around. With the Cascade horizontal tank, the is mass imposes quite some load and it has been known for the tank joint to be strained because of eth inertia of the water.

To protect your tank do drain. Also it reduces the total mass being carried in the caravan - better for
 
I did not bother for a while til I realised the weight and motion problems.

To avoid damaging the grass I turn of water heater, do the chores using the hot water which then fills the tank with cold water which is not now being heated. Time you MT tank the water is cold
 
Many thanks for all the replies. There's some useful advice/tips and I will certainly be draining the tank before travelling.

Regards

Catcher
 
I never have done in 18 years, but became aware that the weight was contributing to an axle problem.Surely though, the hot water tank is full, so can't "slosh around", can it ?
 
Rioja you beat me to that reply !!

I only drain the hot water tank if there is a danger of frost and have done so for the last 25 years.

The weight of 2 gallons of water (20lb) is nothing compared to the weight of the van(29.5cwt for the Oklahoma)or less than 1%)

With a small amount of water in the onboard fresh water tank you have a supply of hot and cold available for hand washing etc en route.(until the hot cools down of course)
 
I agree that the weight of the water is not really an issue in terms of towing weight, but I can quite see the point that during some manouevres the effective weight of the water could be 3 or 4 times its standing weight which may damage the tank seal. How likely this is I don't know but I'm sure John L must have some basis for that statement.
 
Hi Mcgee

I don't disagree with what has been said before and I am sure that there are valid points .

I am just making the point that in my experience there has been no problems with seals or anything else in order to give a balanced debate.
 
http://www.bailey-caravans.co.uk/downloads/Bailey_Owners_Manual.pdf

This is what Bailey say about draining down the water system.

No mention of anything other than for frost protection in this section
Click to expand...
section3.1.12--the link was rather imprecise !!
 
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