How do you operate hot water heater?

[pdxpfeifer]

Silly question. How do you operate the hot water heater and clean it out? I tried to turn it on once three years ago and in the limited time the hot water heater had a flame, but did not seem to heat any water hot? But then we discovered a water leak and shut it down.

I have fixed the water leak, but need to figure out how to clean and operate the tank. We are going to actually want to use it for camping on a long trip to Canada this summer. 

I can only imagine the slide in there for non use 

[Toedtoes]

The easiest cleaning method is to use swimming pool chlorine granules. You'll do your entire fresh water system at the same time.

Empty your tanks (I find just running the water through all the faucets works well).
Start filling your fresh water tank and put in about one teaspoon of granules as you fill.
Make sure the hot water is not bypassed.
Let sit for at least 6 hours up to a day.
Then let all the water drain out of the faucets - make sure to use all faucets and toilet so the chlorine goes into all pipes.
Then refill with clean water and you're good to go.

You can do a second chlorine flush, but I've never found it necessary. And you do not have to fill & rinse repeatedly afterwards as the chlorine granule residue is no worse than the chlorine in a pool or your tap water (and doesn't have that icky aftertaste like bleach).