My water heater has 3 valves on it. One on the red line at top = it's openOne in the middle = bypass valve closedOne on the blue line at bottom = closedShould the bottom blue line valve be open for normal RV usage?I'm just wondering, I am winterizing, drained water heater, shut off red line, opened bypass, blue already closed, will leave it that way. Is this correct?Thx!

If the blue line valve was closed you would not have gotten any hot water at the faucet, so it must have been in the open position.Normal RV operation:Red line valve openBypass valve closedBlue line valve openBypassed:Red line valve closedBypass valve openBlue line valve closed

Boon Docker wrote:If the blue line valve was closed you would not have gotten any hot water at the faucet, so it must have been in the open position.Normal RV operation:Red line valve openBypass valve closedBlue line valve openBypassed:Red line valve closedBypass valve openBlue line valve closedHmm, well unless the valve is somehow backwards it was in the sideway position (closed) and not in line with the line (open).

If this is the type of setup you have with the blue line valve closed and still get hot water then that valve is defective.

1/4 turn valves....valve handle indicates if valve open or closedTraditional valve that you turn handle until fully open or closed....valve handle could end up any position

Thanks for the pictures, that is exactly what I have. Must be the valve then. Water heater works fine! Thanks!

Water heater questions.... | Good Sam Community

Boon_Docker
Explorer III
Oct 08, 2019
If the blue line valve was closed you would not have gotten any hot water at the faucet, so it must have been in the open position.

Normal RV operation:
Red line valve open
Bypass valve closed
Blue line valve open

Bypassed:
Red line valve closed
Bypass valve open
Blue line valve closed
campermama
Explorer II
Oct 08, 2019
Boon Docker wrote:
If the blue line valve was closed you would not have gotten any hot water at the faucet, so it must have been in the open position.

Normal RV operation:
Red line valve open
Bypass valve closed
Blue line valve open

Bypassed:
Red line valve closed
Bypass valve open
Blue line valve closed

Hmm, well unless the valve is somehow backwards it was in the sideway position (closed) and not in line with the line (open).
Boon_Docker
Explorer III
Oct 08, 2019

If this is the type of setup you have with the blue line valve closed and still get hot water then that valve is defective.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Oct 08, 2019

1/4 turn valves....valve handle indicates if valve open or closed

Traditional valve that you turn handle until fully open or closed....valve handle could end up any position
campermama
Explorer II
Oct 08, 2019
Thanks for the pictures, that is exactly what I have. Must be the valve then. Water heater works fine! Thanks!
wopachop
Explorer
Oct 08, 2019
Might not want to open the pressure vent. Lots of plumbers over the years have told me to never touch them on residential water heaters.
campermama
Explorer II
Oct 08, 2019
wopachop wrote:
Might not want to open the pressure vent. Lots of plumbers over the years have told me to never touch them on residential water heaters.

??? not sure what you are talking about? I'm talking about my rv
ScottG
Nomad
Oct 08, 2019
campermama wrote:
wopachop wrote:
Might not want to open the pressure vent. Lots of plumbers over the years have told me to never touch them on residential water heaters.

??? not sure what you are talking about? I'm talking about my rv

Your RV WH has one too and many of us open them to speed up draining. It's a gamble though because sometimes they leak forever more after that.
So it was good advice that also goes for RV's.
campermama
Explorer II
Oct 09, 2019
ScottG wrote:
campermama wrote:
wopachop wrote:
Might not want to open the pressure vent. Lots of plumbers over the years have told me to never touch them on residential water heaters.

??? not sure what you are talking about? I'm talking about my rv

Your RV WH has one too and many of us open them to speed up draining. It's a gamble though because sometimes they leak forever more after that.
So it was good advice that also goes for RV's.

Well when taking the drain plug out its safer to release the pressure first. I've replace the pressure valve on a different rig before, not a big deal if needed.
opnspaces
Navigator II
Oct 09, 2019
Did you check if your valves were only 1/4 turn valves? Or are they the ones that turn a few revolutions? If they are the screw type and you never touched the cold valve then it's still open and needs to be closed.