By Dustin Simpson
In the past, Dave Solberg and I met weekly for a livestream called Talkin’ RV Tech. We not only answered technical questions, but we also shared what we like to call “cool tools.” These are tools and gadgets that we actually use! We also believe they will be helpful to you. This captures one of our shares, the Camco water heater tank rinser.
Utilizing a water heater tank rinser is key to maintaining your water heater. Whether you have a Suburban or Dometic water heater, sediment rests at the bottom of your tank. The only way to get it out is to disturb it at the bottom of the tank and flush it out. As Dave mentions, the drain valve is not at the very bottom of the tank. So, simply draining the tank will not remove the sediment.
To use the water heater tank rinser, simply attach it to the end of a garden hose. Insert the rinser into the water heater drain, turn on the water flow and move the tank rinser back and forth to disturb and wash out all sediment from the water heater.
More “Cool Tools”
- Kill A Watt measures watt/amp draw
- Cool Tools: The AWBLIN Automotive Test Light
- The Magnetizer Demagnetizer
- Cool Tools: Use the DeWalt Impact Wrench for daily RV tasks
- Cool Tools: Our ‘ultimate companion’, the DeWalt Grease Gun
- Cool Tools: Making cord hangers from an inner tube
More from Dustin
Read more of Dustin’s articles here.
Dustin owns and operates California RV Specialists, an independent RV repair shop located in Lodi, CA. He thrives on sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm of RV repair and maintenance with his team, customers, and virtual friends.
Be sure to check out his YouTube channel where he shares what’s going on in the shop and the product offerings in the store. Dustin is also very active on Facebook. Join his group, RV Repairs and Tips – What’s in the shop!
RVDT2918
The plastic Camco flush wand has been known to break off or pull apart and ended up inside the tank.
There are others made with a metal wand and secure attachment to the handle.
My point as well. The plastic ones are not good. I have a friend who STILL has one stuck in their Water heater! I dumped mine and got an aluminum one (shaft) that won’t break off. This MAY be an old article, since the upgrades are much better now-IMHO!
BTW, I enjoy Dave’s articles, and of course Dustin’s. Good info for all do it yourself RVrs.
The article is dated 6/2.
I also doubt if Camco made any changes or they would advertise it as “new and improved”.
This has been discussed many times before. The Camco rinser is junk. I spent two weeks trying to remove the grey tube from my water heater. It split at the connection during the first use and shot into the tank. I bought this metal version that is a major improvement. I found it’s also useful to rinse the coils in my house and RV air conditioners.
https://amzn.to/4uVXIo4
I recently had some work done on my travel trailer which included changing out the heater element and the anode. I was surprised that he didn’t use a flusher to clean sediment out. Instead he used a piece of 12-2 romex bent to a hook to break up the sediment and water from the onboard fresh water tank to flush it out. I had a flusher but honestly it seems he got more sediment out his way.
With the bottom of the tank over an inch below the drain, I doubt if much of the sediment came out.
I’ve also turned on the city water into the tank, since it comes in at the bottom of the tank, as I was flushing it to help suspend the crud while flushing.
Thank you, Dustin. Seems very easy. Have a great day and safe travels!