Water Heater question

We will be taking our first trip (just a weekend for a dog show) this weekend. I remember reading that you can damage the water heater if don't do "something" correctly. I can no longer find the post but it had to do with the water heater being empty..I think. I have a 1996 2518 and you have to go outside to light the pilot. Do I simply turn on the pump and open the hot water valve before lighting the pilot?
Cheri

[ripp1202]

Yes and it must have water in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you open the valve to bleed the air till you get water then you know that the tank is full do this at all the faucets

Thanks! That's what I needed to hear.
Cheri

Cheri, this might be redundant. Remember that anytime you are putting water into your TM ( city water or water storage tank) you should turn on one of your hot water valves and leave it on until water flows through it. If you are filling your water storage tank, you will need to also turn on the pump in order for water to be "pumped" into the hot water heater. You should wait until the tank is at least half full before you turn on your pump. Otherwise the pump may run a while before water is pumped through it. As I understand, the pump is lubricated by water and if you run it very long without water flowing through it, it may be possible to burn it out.

Hal

I did not know this and, in fact planned on doing this tomorrow before we take off on Friday. Thank you
Cheri

OK, here is another question. How do I know my water heater is full? I filled the water tank and turned on the pump while running water through the hot water valve, but that doesn't mean there is 6 gallons of water in the water heater. I'm probably missing something obvious...but what else is new?
Cheri

[Harry Womack]

The water will not come out of the hot water faucet until the hot water heater is full. Leave the hot water faucet on until all of the air is out and you get a steady stream.

Well then I guess it was full all along. When I opened the 2 valves below the TM to drain the tanks, nothing came out of the one closest to the hot water heater, but water came out of the faucet imediately.
Thanks
Cheri

[rtcassel]

Water will not drain from the tank unless a faucet is open. Turn the pump off, open a hot water faucet, then open the drain valve to empty the tank.

Thanks. We will need to get the new routine down. We had a nicely tuned routine for the old tent trailer. Its a transition thing. And we are dry camping this time out. Just wanted to make sure that the learning curve did not include replacing the water heater.
Cheri