Water Heater

Here is another picture showing the bypass arrangement as it is on my trailer.
It shows it in the "use" position. For bypassing, I close the top and bottom valves and open the middle one. If your heater is in the bypass position, you would still get water out of the hot water faucet even though the heater was empty of water.
Hope it helps you out a bit.
Barney

The brass fitting coming out of the heater in the above picture, may be the check valve. It may be stuck, and need to be replaced. You can do it yourself. by draining the heater down, remove the line and then remove the valve. There are a couple of different ones, so take it with you to the RV parts store. It is just a spring loaded seat, so you may be able to push gently down and unstick it.
I always carry an extra, because I paid over $200.00 to have one installed in Davenport Iowa.

The valve is from $5.00 or $ 10.00

If you have three bypass valves they should look something like this:



The picture shows the valves in the normal (NOT bypassed position).

As has been said, to absolutely verify that the tank is full, lift the pressure relief valve and water should spray out. Stand aside and lift gently because the water can come out with considerable force.

nomad297 wrote:
If the tank is being bypassed, cold water could flow through the hot side of the faucet.

This is very true. You should have received some kind of instructions or diagram with your TT showing how to set the valves to bypass the HWH for winter and then reconnect it in the usage months. If you didn't I would recommend you either get an experienced RVer to look it over with you, or take it to your local RV repair location and have them give you a hand.

The easiest thing to do is go outside and lift the pressure relief valve on the front of the water heater. If water comes out, then your tank if filled. If not, then the tank is being bypassed. If the tank is being bypassed, then you need to look at the back side of the water heater. You'll see one or three valves (depending on type of bypass) that prevent water from flowing into and out of the tank (bypassed) or allow it to enter the tank (not bypassed).
There should be something around to indicate what position the valves need to be in for normal operation or bypassed operation.

avoidcrowds wrote:
If you have the HOT water faucet turned on, and water is coming out, the heater is filled.

Not necessarily. If the tank is being bypassed, cold water could flow through the hot side of the faucet.

Bruce

You have to have the faucet on and water coming out WITH THE BY-PASS VALVE CLOSED , and the WH valves set for the summer operating position… depending on weather you have the single, 2 or 3 valve winterizing kit…
Don’t take a chance if your no sure…

In the winterizing position water comes out the hot faucet without ever seeing the hot water tank…

If you have the HOT water faucet turned on, and water is coming out, the heater is filled. You can't just turn on the cold water faucet, and have the water heater filled. Just wanted to clarify.

Yes it should be good unless you have the bypass on for winter.