Winterizing Atwood water heater

Question

My last toy hauler with the Suburban type water heater was easy. I drained the tank, and under the kitchen sink, there was a shut off valve on the back side of the water heater. Then I winterized the lines like normal. But for the life of me, I can't find a shut off valve for this thing. I've checked all the easily accessible areas but I'm not seeing anything. Trailer in question is a 2015 Work and Play 26 UDT. I know the Atwood's do not have the anode rod, and I've already drained the hot water heater.

I do have a city water adapter that can hook into my air compressor. Theoretically, if there's no water in the lines, there's nothing to freeze. Does anyone winterize their RV's this way? I'd still pour some anti freeze in the traps and such just for good measure (and since I already bought it).

2oldman · Answer

Frankandbeans wrote:I do have a city water adapter that can hook into my air compressor. Theoretically, if there's no water in the lines, there's nothing to freeze. Does anyone winterize their RV's this way? Winterize with air pressure - adapter 2007Blowout lines discussion- how to 2010Blow or antifreeze 2010Blow only? 2012Blow and/or AF.. again late 2012Blow necessary? Oct 2013Does blow do the pump?-Nov 2012AF, blow or both? 2014Pink or blow? 2015How to blow 2015

sch911 · Answer

The shut off valve is always on the back side of the WH.  Can you see that area?  Thats where the valve would be (if there is one).

old-biscuit · Answer

Locate backside of water heater tank....directly opposite outside compartment.

S/B at least ONE valve...cold inlet

That cold inlet may also be the bypass valve.
Handle parallel with cold water line...cold inlet
Handle perpendicular with cold line (90*turn...parallel with cold to hot line...bypass setting)

No valves would be very unusual....find backside of WH Tank and LOOK.
Trace cold/hot lines----shutoff valves would be fairly close by

Air pressure...blowing out lines OK provided you get ALL the lines

mudmaker · Answer

Is this task accomplished in the area where you hook up your water hose? My last camper and this one too just have a bypass or winterization valve in the water closet. No need to climb into the belly of the beast looking for valves.

frankandbeans · Answer

So Forest River did SOMETHING right! There was an access hole cut out of the plywood bed frame. Lifted the mattress, and there was the back side of the heater. 3 valves total, one cold, one hot, and one in the middle that connected between the hot and cold. Pretty easy to figure out, turned off the cold and hot lines, turned on the 3rd valve so that the water flow bypassed the heater altogether.

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Winterizing Atwood water heater

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