Suburban Caravan Hot Water System

Hi Mick, I made up a smaller length (around 30mm) of plastic tube out of an old piece of the pipe that is used to carry water around the van. It is 12mm OD. Got some John Guest fittings to adapt it to my hose. Just run it in short bursts and the old anode material will gradually come out. I dont think you will get all of it out but a good 80% will be obtainable. Just remember to lift the pressure relief valve first before you start. My first time I copped a blast of pressurised water and anode material over me cause I forgot. It also allows the tank to breathe as the old water flows out.
Also had a friend who had his anode done at a Caravan service place and they didn't refil the hot water tank so it cooked the 240v element the next time he connected to power. Make sure you refil the tank after you have finished till it flows out of the relief valve and then close the valve. Cheers, Bob.

Thats about it - I have a garden hose fitting with about 1 metre of 10mm plastic tube adapted to it - I just put that in there and give it a good flush around when I get home - I then leave the anode out so the tank can dry - 5 years so far and no issues. The gunk is from the anode - flush the loose stuff out and forget the rest.

I just take the anode out an d turn the water on and use the thingy that u pull the awning down with to hook all the gunk out as the water is flushing the tank works a treat

The calcium gunk comes from the anode as it "sacrifices" itself so that the tank casing is not corroded.

I have a bottle brush on the end of a thin aluminium pipe and push and pull in the anode hole with the hose and it gets all the white calcium out.

Well after some thought and a trip to Bunnings.

Click on tap fitting onto a 19mm poly reduced to 13mm, capped with a few holes punched into the end of it. You will also need a male/male tap fitting to connect onto normal
household hose