Water Heater Shut Off Knobs

[Moab Happy]

I just bought a 2010 Jayco Jay Flight 19"BH and want to try out the city water hook up. The manual said to make sure the water heater is in it's normal mode. The water heater has three shut off valves one upper and lower running horizontal and one in between running vertical. What does the vertical knob do? I thought maybe that is for bypassing the water heater for when I winterize it but I'm not sure.

[Nighthawk 96]

Welcome to the forum.

The valves on each end allow water into and out of the heater. The one in the middle will let water bypass the heater if the water is shut off of the in and out sides of the heater. This is if you want to drain your water heater in the winter and put antifreeze in the rest of the system. Generally the valve handles are set up to indicate the direction the water flows.

Water should be flowing in and out of water heater and the handle in the center should not allow water to pass.

There should be no difference in the setting for both city and fresh water tank usage.

[Grumpy]

When you are using the unit all valves should be horizontal which makes the center valve closed and the other two open.Don't turn it on until it is full. This would be normal.

When you winterize all three should be vertical which makes the center open and the other two closed.

[Moab Happy]

Thank you for your help