Forum Discussion

Downwindtracke1's avatar
Nov 11, 2015

Water Heater By-pass

Looking through my new old camper, I see a by-pass for the water heater. What that about ? I also noticed it was an option on the .02s
  • downtheroad wrote:
    Here is everything you need to know about: Water Heater by-pass.

    >>>Click Here<<<

    And yet, the single valve setup in my Northstar isn't represented there...



    My camper is currently winterized and this valve is in bypass mode. I can only assume there's a check valve in the hot water outlet from the tank that prevents back flow.

    To the OP, bypass the water heater before draining it then winterize the inside lines. This prevents antifreeze from entering the water heater.
  • Use it when winterizing ours so it does not pump antifreeze into the water heater.
  • Yes, there is a check valve in the other port to prevent backflow.
  • I had already pumped the anti freeze before I remembered the bi pass Any real harm in having some of it in the heater?
  • Just be careful with that bypass. If it's turned on, it's possible that the WH is empty but water will flow to the HW taps. You will the "assume" that it's safe to fire up the heater. That can cost you a water heater very quickly.

    Go ahead, ask how I know. ;)
  • jmcgsd wrote:
    You will the "assume" that it's safe to fire up the heater. That can cost you a water heater very quickly.


    Just a tip that I do, when I pull the anode to drain it for winterizing, I also take two of the connectors off the water heater and tape them up with electrical tape. That prevents the remote control from igniting and starting the water heater. Someone else probably has a better way, but this works.
  • realter wrote:
    I had already pumped the anti freeze before I remembered the bi pass Any real harm in having some of it in the heater?

    No harm, just remember to run water through the water heater before you put the drain plug back in to flush out the antifreeze. Use much less water that way than trying to flush it out through the water lines after the drain plug is reinstalled. Ask me how I know... ;)