Water for Water Heater

Unless newer rigs have some kind of twilight zone plumbing, it's yes,no.

This is simplified pictorial of how the water system works in the RV trailers...



The Hot Water Heater water may be bypassed with the Winterizing Bypass valves - SOmething to check...

Roy Ken

Fill your water heater the same when on City or Pump. Make sure the by-pass valve is off so the tank will fill. Start the pump, or turn on the water from the outside spigot. Go inside the camper and turn on the hot water faucet at the sink, or the shower. Let it spit and spew and squeek and squalk until there is a steady stream of water. The tank is full once you have a steady stream and the "spitting" stops.

THEN... turn on the water heater .... either gas or electric (After it's filled). If your tank is not filled and you turn on the electric, it will burn up the electric element. If you flip on the gas, it will heat the tank, but could damage it. So when turning on the heat, always make sure the tank is full. When draining, always make sure the power or gas is turned off before draining.

Well msqcd, I see you got two helpful relies with very good explanations. ;)

msgcd wrote:
A newbie.

We just got a 2016 Minnie Winnie 22R. A question. The water that goes into the water heater. When we are using City Water, will water get into the water heater or does that water only come from the Tank Fill connection?

Thanks

'Tank Fill' connection............used to fill fresh water tank. That's it. (If left OPEN when using pump----pump will not build any pressure cause it will be sucking water out of fresh water tank and then putting it back into fresh water tank via Tank Fill. Called 'Round-Robin')

"City water" connection supplies the WHOLE RV Plumbing system......Cold water lines and then HOT water lines provided water heater 'Bypass Valve' is closed and cold inlet to water heater is open.

"Pump" discharge connects to same Cold water line 'City Water' feeds so pump supplies same Cold/Hot lines