Bypass valve on heater leaks back

Not sure about yours but ours is a 1/4 turn ball valve. just cut it out and replace it with a new one 1/2" pex

Mine had the check valve that leaked also. I replaced it with a manual valve. Problem solved.

powderman426 wrote:
Mine had the check valve that leaked also. I replaced it with a manual valve. Problem solved.

Mine is a brass gate valve that is more or less hard plumbed onto the back of the hot water heater. Doesn't look like it is an easy removal.

can you post a link to a picture? If nothing else You could just replumb the whole thing Menards/ home depot have 1/2" pex 1/4 turn ball ball valves and rings and short lengths of pipe you can get the tool and and supplies for $60 and have a $40 tool to have in emergency. I have carried mine for years and saved quite a few peoples weekends.

Typical 'check valves' used in RV plumbing whether they have a plastic body or a brass body are nothing more than a plunger/spring/o-ring assembly.

O-ring on end of plunger.....spring held in place with a clip.
Spring holds plunger closed and o-ring seals.
Water pressure pushes plunger OPEN.

O-ring can get shifted out of grove
O-ring can be torn/deteriorated
Plunger can get cockeyed

I hate them because they are plastic junk



Remove them.......install a shut off valve (Sharkbite) and be done with problems.

OR get a true check valve (brass swing check) at Home Depot and replace the junk on with an all metal one

1/2" swing check valve........need short nipples to install

Look more closely. There is a check valve between the ball valve and the tank. The check valve has failed.

Richard

duplicate

Thanks for the replies. Posting pictures is such a pain on this forum. Not sure I could get a camera or phone into the space. I actually have a brass valve with a handle. It is not a check valve. All the pipe connecting the valve to the heater is metal pipe.