Air bubbles in my hot water

[RickRinehart]

I tested the water system in my RV today and I have so much air in my hot water system that the water looks like foam. The water heater is not on. Water from cold water side is clear. Any ideas. Thanks.

[RV Wizard]

RickRinehart, welcome to iRV2.com. We are glad to have you join us here and we look forward to reading of your adventures and experiences. There could be a number of reasons you have this issue but I need to know a couple things to help you pin it down. What brand of water heater do you have? Was the coach winterized and if so was potable antifreeze used? Did you winterize and de-winterize or was it done for you if it was winterized? How much water have you now allowed to flow through the water heater? Let us know and we will be able to tell you why and how to correct the problem.

[Gary RVRoamer]

My first action would be to simply let the hot water run (heater turned off) for 5-10 minutes and see if it clears up. You may even need to do it for each tap in turn. There can be an amazing amount of air trapped in the lines if they have been emptied out for any reason (winterizing, drain tank, sanitizing , etc.).

[hdossett]

How does your pump act? My Bubble acts like a pressure tank, (some people pay extra for this). Pump takes longer to stop becaues it takes longer to build up the pressure to the cut off point. A bubble wont show up as "foam". Air in the water will. I see it in my house in the winter. I use an above ground water tank and cold water seems to do this for me (you said w/o Wh being on.)

My bubble happens every time I drain the WH and at some time it will eventually burp, and works fine from there. Usually, operating from shore water pressure for a few days will do it. I seldom run from shore pressure, even on the rare occaison that I have it available. I always run from the tank, going on eight years now, five of them fulltiming.

Sounds like something is Aerating your water. Does this happen at all faucets?

Harold

[RickRinehart]

Thank you all for your kind replies. I think I'm gonna like this forum. I winterized the coach myself and used RV anitfreeze. The hot water tank was drained (not sure of the brand). After chlorinating the system and systematically draining and refilling and draining and refilling the tank, the foamy problem has improved. Still have some bubbles but nothing like before. Maybe the hot water tank trapped a bunch of air as it was being filled. But its acceptable now.

Thanks again
Rick

[sknight]

Sometimes, and strangely only sometimes, I have to open the pop off valve to get the last bit of air out of the heater. Leave it pressurized for an hour or two, then open the pop off valve, heater off of course. The way water enters the tank must agitate mine to create the foamy condition.

Extra bonus, it's a good idea to open the pop off valve to make sure it moves easily.

[paz]

If you have foam in your water and it seems to be improving after draining and refilling the water heater a couple of times, I suspect you got antifreeze into the hot water tank.

When I used to winterize, I always purged all the water lines thoroughly before opening the valves to the hot water tank. If there was a slug of antifreeze sitting in the line where it dead ends at the closed valve, it may have gotten into the hot water tank. Just keep purging and you should be OK.

[ronmos]

also check the screens in your faucets.