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Rbertalotto's avatar
Rbertalotto
Explorer
Oct 05, 2015

Fixed my "Warm" hot water

The "hot" water in my Cherokee 19RR was warm at best. Regardless of using the electric or gas to heat it.

I finally lifted up the mattress and located the hot water heater valves under a removable panel.

Sure enough, the bypass valve was open. Mixing cold water with the hot water.

These hot water tanks usually have three valves. Water intake, water out and a bypass valve. The bypass valve is usually physically between the other two valves. This valve should be closed under normal conditions. It is only opened, while the other two are closed, during winterizing.

Hope this helps someone else with "Warm Hot Water"......
  • Rbertalotto wrote:
    These hot water tanks usually have three valves.


    "I read it on the internet so it must be true!" :S

    Whether any water heater is plumbed with a 1, 2, or 3 valve system or is even equipped with a bypass of any kind is entirely up to the trailer manufacturer and no one method is necessarily any more common than another. For sure, a 3 valve is the easiest to understand as many just don't realize 1 and 2 valve systems utilize check valve(s) instead of valves to accomplish the same task. My current Freedom Express is equipped with an Atwood water heater plumbed with a 3-valve bypass system but in the past I've owned rigs with 1, 2, and even no bypass systems.
  • It's great to be handy...and have access to the internet. Saw this solution on here somewhere.....Thanks rv.net!

    So I saved $100 here and then the furnace in my house wouldn't start and figured out the pilot blew out. Saved another $100+ no calling the plumber!
  • Aren't you glad you didn't have to pay a Tech $100 to reposition the valve!
  • Be aware that water heaters can have one, two, or three operable valves that manage the bypass setup. One and two valve setups also have a check valve at the hot outlet.
  • Thanks for the update. I'm glad you found the problem.
    Simple, cheap fixes are nice.