New2RVees
Chatsworth, CA
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Joined: 07/02/2007
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Hello all,
I was cleaning our PUP from our last camping trip, and took a can of compressed air to the water heater compartment. It blew a bunch of flakey burnt black and rust colored chips out of the area where the flame is.
I took a picture:
My first assumption was that it was some sort of paint or coating from the hot water tank. Is this normal, or should I be concerned? the trailer is a 2005 Starcraft 11RT. We bought it used, and have only used the hot water heater a handful of times. I do not know how much use it saw with the previous owner.
Here's another pic:
What is this stuff!?!
Thanks.
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happyeaglesfan
Pottsville, PA
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Joined: 09/23/2005
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Lookes to be carbon buildup from the flame to your hotwater heater. I get it on mine as well.
2006 CHEVY 2500HD 6.0L 4.10 Ext Cab
Wife, 3 kids (boys... 6 month old, 5 year old, and 6 year old), and our dog RIGZ.
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PattieAM
Maryland
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Joined: 08/03/2005
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Might be soot - if using your water heater in a high altitude, there are adjustments to be made or you might have improper burning and resulting soot. My water heater's owners manual has a blurb on soot, but I can't access it at present to relay to you. Maybe someone else will chime in.
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mobeewan
Hampton, Va
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Joined: 01/03/2007
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Probably some rust scale from inside the burner tube mixed with the soot too. It's normal, my Suburban WH does it too.
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Polishnurse
Schodack, NY
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Joined: 03/13/2007
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That can be considered normal, it's just burnt rust flakes from the burner tube from the heat of the flame oxidizing the metal. There isn't much you can do about it. It will often happen if the unit is run with out water so the steel becomes red hot. But sometimes it will occur in normal wear and tear. Guess that's why the sell replacements. JM2Cents Bill
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tandkj
Full timer
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Joined: 08/04/2003
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This is normal carbon buildup that occurs during the use of the hot water heater. Working here at an RV dealership, we see this often. Take a long handle brush and put in the intake and push to the out let then reverse the brushing. Use compressed air to do the final cleaning.
08 Camelot
07 Ranger Toad
One lost Golden Retriever
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SidKaye
Mt Dora Florida, Montreal QC for the Summer
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You just performed a cleaning/maintenance on your water heater...Congratulations!
Sidney
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 SLT,48RE, 4:10,Cummins HO Diesel,Quad Cab,LWB,SRW,PacBrake,Prodigy, X-Monitor Gauges,Line-X,Bedsaver
2002 Excel,Ltd,30RGW,Hughes Autoformer,Honda Eu1000i, Hughes Direcway HN7000S, Satmex5,
http://www.kayepics.com
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New2RVees
Chatsworth, CA
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Joined: 07/02/2007
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Thanks all!
I'm glad to hear this is normal. I was worried that I was damaging the trailer. There really was quite a bit of stuff that came out of there...more than is in my picture even. Probably never cleaned out before...
While on the topic of water heaters, how does one determine when the anode rod for the water heater needs to be replaced? I know it gets "corroded," but at what point is it a "goner?"
Thanks!
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davidj54
South Alabama
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Joined: 06/23/2006
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I believe it's considered used up when it's 50% corroded away. I'd say that's a good measure. Mine's two years old and it's barely corroded at all. I double filter all the water that goes into the water heater and haven't ran into any hard water so it doesn't corrode very much. I do check it about every 6 months though.
Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab (Yeah, it's got a Cummins)
2006 Forest River Grand Surveyor GS-280
Prodigy Brake Controller
1000/10000lb Equal-i-zer with 4-way sway control
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tandkj
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Look at the center core of the rod. When the total diameter is twice the size of the core you can replace the rod. Roughly 1/4" in diameter.
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