Descaling hot water tank on 2000 Bounder

[tada]

I’m wanting to descale my Atwood hot water tank on my 2000 Bounder with vinegar. But I don’t have a winterization system that sucks the fluid in. From the attached pictures, can you tell me where to get the vinegar into the system? The big blue handle has a bypass marking on it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Tom.

[Ray,IN]

Why do you think it needs descaling? Atwood has an aluminum tank, you should be sure whatever you put inside is compatible. When you pull the electric heater element you will see signs of calcium deposits if scaling is present.

[tada]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Why do you think it needs descaling? Atwood has an aluminum tank, you should be sure whatever you put inside is compatible. When you pull the electric heater element you will see signs of calcium deposits if scaling is present.

Good point. I was just trying to do “new to me” maintenance. Maybe a good wash down with the Camco wand will suffice. Thank you.

[Old-Biscuit]

A Vinegar Soak would be a good idea on a 18 yr old Water Heater tank and Atwood has a Vinegar Soak Procedure in their manuals


Turn Off water supply
Relieve Hot Plumbing system pressure ---open a faucet hot side
Remove drain plug and drain WH Tank
Remove T&P Relief Valve
Install drain plug & close faucet

Pour 4 gallons Vinegar and 2 gallons water into WH Tank via T&P opening using a funnel (7 gal Vinegar/3 gal water for 10 gal tank)
Install T&P Relief Valve


Turn water heater ON...electric/propane or BOTH and let it go thru 4-5 heating/cooling cycles (Start it and let it heat/cool overnight)
DO NOT use hot water......let Vinegar Solution heat/Cool----SOAK


After heating/cooling cycles have been completed
Relieve pressure---open faucet hotside
Remove drain plug
Turn on water supply and BLAST water out thru drain hole ....can use a Wand thru drain hole but the wand blocks most of the drain hole and hinders fully flushing the crud out


Might want to replace that Old T&P after vinegar soak
And use a NEW Nylon Drain plug




Vinegar is a mild acid and does a better job of scale/calcium removal when heated and left to soak.
Will clean but not damage the aluminum tank

[tada]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

A Vinegar Soak would be a good idea on a 18 yr old Water Heater tank and Atwood has a Vinegar Soak Procedure in their manuals


Turn Off water supply
Relieve Hot Plumbing system pressure ---open a faucet hot side
Remove drain plug and drain WH Tank
Remove T&P Relief Valve
Install drain plug & close faucet

Pour 4 gallons Vinegar and 2 gallons water into WH Tank via T&P opening using a funnel (7 gal Vinegar/3 gal water for 10 gal tank)
Install T&P Relief Valve


Turn water heater ON...electric/propane or BOTH and let it go thru 4-5 heating/cooling cycles (Start it and let it heat/cool overnight)
DO NOT use hot water......let Vinegar Solution heat/Cool----SOAK


After heating/cooling cycles have been completed
Relieve pressure---open faucet hotside
Remove drain plug
Turn on water supply and BLAST water out thru drain hole ....can use a Wand thru drain hole but the wand blocks most of the drain hole and hinders fully flushing the crud out


Might want to replace that Old T&P after vinegar soak
And use a NEW Nylon Drain plug




Vinegar is a mild acid and does a better job of scale/calcium removal when heated and left to soak.
Will clean but not damage the aluminum tank

Thank you. Those are exactly the instructions I was looking for. This is an older motorhome that the previous owner neglected and took shortcuts on. I need to live in it for a while do to a new job and I just want to make sure it’s in the best shape it can be.

[Ray,IN]

FWIW, my MH water heater works great. I never found a reason to descale it, as I've never flushed anything out, and the 120VAC heating element is clean of deposits.

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

FWIW, my MH water heater works great. I never found a reason to descale it, as I've never flushed anything out, and the 120VAC heating element is clean of deposits.

'


AZ water like much of the SW is HARD.

[tada]

Waiting for the new plugs to show up from Amazon. The previous owner has installed a hose bib in place of the plug.

[tada]

Got the hot water tank fully descaled today. A lot of white scale came out on the driveway. Soaked in it venegar and water with gas and electric cycles for two days just like Old Biscuit recommended. Installed a new Atwood plug where the previous owner had installed a hose bib (why?). Also installed a new temperature/pressure relief valve that was really scaly and a bear to remove. Now I have a nice clean hot water tank. I moved on to disinfecting the fresh water system today. It was a relief to see that the untested water pump worked very well. It was a little bit of a disappointment to find the ice maker supply tube from to valve to ice maker had dry rotted, but I’ll get over it for now. At least until I find another strong person to help me strong arm the fridge it out of the cabinet. There’s always ice trays.