Winterizing cabin (every other week)

[Polarice]

I have a question about the water heater.

Basically the plan for next year instead of leaving the heat on low is to just drain the pipes into the crawl space. Put anti freeze into the toilet. Then we were thinking of shutting the water off that goes to the water heater, enclosing it with some foam, and just leaving it turned on.

Would this damage the water heater? We figured this would be better than draining it and filling it back up every other week. It would also cut down on the $200 heating bill per month.

Has anyone done this sort of thing?

 

[snobuilder]

Interesting idea....I don't think it would harm the water heater but I'd be more concerned about the load it puts on my furnace every 2 weeks to bring my now VERY COLD house back up to comfortable temps.
On initial startup mine will run continuously for a day or more depending how cold a winter we have.
I recently shut my place down with the LP costs because I knew I wouldn't be back for 30 + days.

 

[snocrazy]

I would drain the water heater too. Wasting energy to heat that water. Water heater will work harder in the cold house.
I know you mentioned wrapping it in foam or blanket.

 

[Tankjo]

I winterize our cabin every weekend. We have it set up so it only takes 10 min or so. We have a 2 story so all we do is shut off the pump and the water heater drain the lines by turning on the faucets n flushing the toilet and putting rv antifreeze in the drains and back of toilet. then once everything is drained back down to the water heater we turn on a small wall heater (room is well insulated) shut the door and come back next week turn on the breakers and your good to go. Wev'e been doing this for 14 years works perfect,never had a problem.

 

[Polarice]

My concern with draining the water heater every time was a possible sediment buildup. Then the sediment plugging it up and keeping it from draining.

Tankjo: You're saying that you drain the water heater and then leave the small heater run where the water heater is located?

I also run a wood stove and in 45 minutes I can have it cranking.

 

[durphee]

We went to a tankless water heater, best thing we ever did. No need to spend money on leaving it on. Once you open up cabin you have instant hot water. With a tank we always drained it just in case of a power failure then you have a frozen and busted tank.

 

[Polarice]

We went to a tankless water heater, best thing we ever did. No need to spend money on leaving it on. Once you open up cabin you have instant hot water. With a tank we always drained it just in case of a power failure then you have a frozen and busted tank.

Wow now this seems like an idea.

I was looking at this http://www.amazon.com/Rheem-RTE-13-Electric-Tankless/dp/B003UHUSGQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393257952&sr=8-1&keywords=Tankless+Water+Heater

What are the down sides to something like this?

 

[Tankjo]

No polarice our water heater stays full we just turn off breaker to heater and pump. then we turn on small wall heater to keep utillity room warm.

 

[jimmyj]

The tankless system is both energy conservative and useful for the situations outlined above. The only downside is that when you "call" for hot water it does take a little longer to actually get the hot water (probably a minute or two only), but once you do, it never stops.

 

[snocrazy]

Wow now this seems like an idea.

I was looking at this http://www.amazon.com/Rheem-RTE-13-Electric-Tankless/dp/B003UHUSGQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393257952&sr=8-1&keywords=Tankless+Water+Heater

What are the down sides to something like this?

Do your research. Rheem is not the best manufacturer out there. My experiences with their furnaces has been a nightmare. They like to price replacement parts so high you may as well buy a new one. This little device only being a couple of hundo prob no big deal. Read reviews from multiple sources.

 

[sixball]

Draining the water heater is no issue. We have our cabin set up as others drain all water lines and water tank use RV antifreeze shut down all our power lock up and go! If you drain from the outlet at the bottom of the tank it will keep sediment down. It is a good practice to run water from the bottom outlet of the tank on all hot water tanks once or more a year on any hot water tank.

 

[Doo Dude]

We drain our lines every time as well. We also drain out hot water heater too, we just drilled a hole out of the basement foundation (we have a exposed basement) put a ball valve on the bottom of the tank and plumbed PVC through the hole in the wall. Drain pipes, open all faucets, put RTV in traps and Toilet, open valve on hot water take, jump in truck and go home. We have never had any problems at all. We go up about every three weeks. I will say this year the furnace runs a lot to bring the place up to temp.

 

[Polarice]

I may drain the water heater every time but I think that it'll take all night before it gets hot. I would probably save money in the long run purchasing a tankless water heater.

I assume that you guys that are just letting it get freezing cold in there are taking all of your canned goods out and shampoo etc?

 

[Polarice]

Also what about the washer?

I have a front loader washer. Doesn't that keep some water in there?

 

[gogebictodd]

Do your research. Rheem is not the best manufacturer out there. My experiences with their furnaces has been a nightmare. They like to price replacement parts so high you may as well buy a new one. This little device only being a couple of hundo prob no big deal. Read reviews from multiple sources.

I would have to agree, just replaced my LP water heater, would throw a code almost every time I went up to the cabin, the Replacement Part was near $500. I ended up replacing it with an Electric Heater.

 

[snobuilder]

I may drain the water heater every time but I think that it'll take all night before it gets hot. I would probably save money in the long run purchasing a tankless water heater.

I assume that you guys that are just letting it get freezing cold in there are taking all of your canned goods out and shampoo etc?

I think I am hearing you say that you want to leave the water heater full and insulate it because it takes a very long time to heat your water.
Your water entering the heater is at ground temperature. If it takes longer than a 1/2 - 1 hour to make hot water, you need a new one or if it is an electric water heater you may have one element burned out.
I fried a couple over the years of cabin ownership because I mistakenly switched the water heater on before it was full.

 

[Woodtic]

I drain the hot water heater,hook a air compressor to it,and use it as a air flask. This makes blowing out the water lines very easy and it gets all of the water out. Make sure all of your valves are open. That's where water tends to get trapped and freeze. Especially ball valves. If you have the inter web there,you can turn everything on from home. I just have a guy down the road from me turn on the heat before I get up there.

 

[Doo Dude]

I think I am hearing you say that you want to leave the water heater full and insulate it because it takes a very long time to heat your water.
Your water entering the heater is at ground temperature. If it takes longer than a 1/2 - 1 hour to make hot water, you need a new one or if it is an electric water heater you may have one element burned out.
I fried a couple over the years of cabin ownership because I mistakenly switched the water heater on before it was full.

Ding ding ding we have a winner. I forgot to mention that too. Make sure the heater is full we have forgot on occasion as well and fried elements in ours as well. We now keep extras at the cabin

 

[ezra]

water heaters aside any one putting any thought in to freezing cabin then reheating back to freezing every weekend? frost then water then frost then water in your walls then rot and mold. 40deg and be done with it cheaper in the long long run

 

[Woodtic]

I agree with you Ezra. If I'm coming right back up,the heat stays on. You use a buttload of propane to heat the place back up. Plus as you mentioned,moisture problems. It's also a good way to crack dry wall and pop windows.if you heat it up to fast or it cools down to fast.