Community Forums

timracz · 08-22-2021, 01:20 PM

I have a 10 gallon water heater in my 2019 Tiffin Open Road 34PA. I drained it and filled it with 5 gallons of white vinegar and 5 gallons of water. Then I turned the water heater back on to cook the solution for 24 hours. At about 21 hours I noticed some of the vinegar solution leaking out of the propane burner tube. The leak was not from the propane small tube but from the larger tube where the flame heats up the water. Anyhow, it seems I cleaned a hole into my water heater. It is almost 3 years old, and this is the first time I attempted to clean it. Is it possible that the calcium deposits could have been clogging a tiny leak? I finished flushing it out, and now it is filled with clean water, but it is still leaking. The leak is a constant slow drip, but I guess I will need to replace the water heater? I plan to clean the new one every 6 months. Have any of you used white vinegar and water to clean your water heater? Thanks for your help. All the best, Tim

Old-Biscuit · 08-22-2021, 01:39 PM

Like this

That is a 'common' area for Suburban Water Heaters to leak
Suburban uses a Steel Tank that is Glass-lined
*overpenetration weld

Should not be doing the vinegar soak to clean ----- that is to remove sulfur smell and for Atwood Aluminum Tanks
Just remove Anode Rod routinely and drain/flush tank....one of those 'wands' works well due to the larger drain hole on Suburban Tanks (3/4")

Suburban tank leaks means replacement of the Whole water heater...no replacement tanks

If Atwood.., that is an unusual place for leak
Tank can be repaired/welded

Suburban has a 2 yr limited warranty with a 3 yr limited warranty on the TANK
Contact Suburban for Replacement of Water Heater...labor not included
https://www.airxcel.com/docs/default...y.pdf?sfvrsn=4

Mike8253 · 08-22-2021, 01:52 PM

Can you advise if yours is an Atwood or Suburban heater, and if a Suburban, have you regularly replaced the anode rod? 3 yes. old is very young to have an issue like that. I have seen videos about using vinegar for cleaning, but I don't know what concentration was used.

Mudfrog · 08-22-2021, 02:09 PM

I've never used vinegar to clean a water heater. I was thinking it was used for smells but have never had an episode of that occur. Haven't looked up the procedure but I would imagine that 5 gallons would be a bit much.

May jinx myself but our 6 gallon Atwood is still doing fine after 18 plus years. I pull the Hott Rod every other year and do a quick flush with plain ole water.

Old-Biscuit · 08-22-2021, 08:35 PM

Atwood has vinegar soak procedure in their Water Heater Manual
4 gal vinegar to 2 gal water for 6 gal tank
Let it go thru 4-5 heating cycles then drain/flush
(10 gal tank-----6.5/gal vinegar to 3.5 gal water)

*Suburban doesn't have a vinegar soak in their manuals

Mudfrog · 08-22-2021, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Atwood has vinegar soak procedure in their Water Heater Manual
4 gal vinegar to 2 gal water for 6 gal tank
Let it go thru 4-5 heating cycles then drain/flush
(10 gal tank-----6.5/gal vinegar to 3.5 gal water)

*Suburban doesn't have a vinegar soak in their manuals

Oh well, I guess the OP didn't use enough vinegar in his 10 gallon tank. Would have never guessed those amounts were recommended. Hope the OP can get it repaired without going through the trouble of buying and installing new..

Old-Biscuit · 08-23-2021, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudfrog

Oh well, I guess the OP didn't use enough vinegar in his 10 gallon tank. Would have never guessed those amounts were recommended. Hope the OP can get it repaired without going through the trouble of buying and installing new..

Depends on Which Brand OP has on repairs

Suburban...new water heater (which I suspect OP has)
Atwood......weld repair

Old-Biscuit · 08-25-2021, 03:39 PM

Hello OP.....any feedback?

Kendorado · 08-31-2021, 08:11 PM

Hey, Vinegar is an acid!!! use it to rid your system of strange smells THEN use only a small amount!!! One cup yes I said cup for every five gallons of water. Flush well...
Ken D.

Old-Biscuit · 08-31-2021, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kendorado

Hey, Vinegar is an acid!!! use it to rid your system of strange smells THEN use only a small amount!!! One cup yes I said cup for every five gallons of water. Flush well...
Ken D.

Actually the procedure in Atwood Manuals use 2 to 1 ratio
4 gallons vinegar/2 gallons water for 6 gal tank
Aluminum Tank

***Suburban doesn't list a vinegar procedure but do list chlorine procedure to rid sulfur smells
Steel...glass lined tank

arcaguy · 08-31-2021, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kendorado

Hey, Vinegar is an acid!!! use it to rid your system of strange smells THEN use only a small amount!!! One cup yes I said cup for every five gallons of water. Flush well...
Ken D.

You're right, but Vinegar is a VERY mild acid, in fact it's so mild you can drink it. Vinegar is only 4% acid the other ingredient is water. The acid in white vinegar is acetic acid. My point being that at a 2 to 1 dilution of vinegar with water will give you about 2.66% acid solution, not enough to cause any issues.

rastevens321 · 09-09-2021, 12:23 PM

I recently attempted to clean my suburban WH using a vinegar solution as there was a fair buildup of calcium. The unit is 4 yo and had never been cleaned. After a pretty good water flush there was still a lot of calcium in the bottom so I did the vinegar soak. I did not heat the solution and seems that didn't really do much. I did another water flush, put in a new anode, and declared victory.

rlavender · 09-09-2021, 05:42 PM

I’m going to ask the odd question, Are you fill the HW tank through the pump? I have that Odor in my tank, but have only drained and refilled. After the first heat up the Odor is back.