Hot water bypass leak

[BigDogF250]

Has anyone removed the hot water bypass from their trailer? I'm not really even sure what it's there for (other than another place to spring a leak). One of the fittings on it started to leak, I think it's the plastic threaded portion that goes into the brass bypass.

It's not easy to reach and I didn't want to troubleshoot extensively while vacationing (other than to capture the leak in a bowl). Just wondering, keep it or cut it out completely?

[BigDogF250]

OK, thanks for the info and the suggestion for checking the big box stores for parts. I will tear it apart this weekend and fix it.

[RoyB]

The older trailers may be using a three valve setup like shown here in this google image...



LOWES is a good place to find those type of water connections... You might be able to remove the dripping hose and take it to lowes and they can fix you up with a new one...

Roy Ken

[allcool]

Do you mean the pipe with the ball valve in it that shuts off the flow of fresh water to the hot water tank..?

If thats what you're talking about, it helps when filling up your 150 gallons fresh water tanks, you don't have to fill the hot water tank before the water pump will immediately circulate fresh cold water when there is only a few gallons in the tank. Other wise, before the water pump will circulate water, the hot water tank must be filled by the pump first. This takes a good 5-10 minutes or so if you have a 10 gallon hot water tank.

I've used it before, but usually just let the rv water pump run when filling the tanks. I'm in no rush and with the hot water tank full, that gives me 160 gallons of fresh water. I also leave the hot faucet open to help bleed air out of the hot water tank while filling with pump on.

Don't think I'd remove it. Might be good to have it in some situations so as to be able to isolate the hot water tank.
Probably be harder to remove it then fix your leak..?

[Old-Biscuit]

The 'bypass' line and valve are there as a means of bypassing water heater when winterizing rig and pumping anti-freeze thru hot/cold system without anti-freeze filling water heater.

TO winterize cold inlet is closed, bypass is opened and hot outlet is isolated via a check valve in outlet nipple or a shut-off valve closed (check valve being cheapest/easiest/most common vs a shut off valve)