what valves to turn on and which ones not

[wannagetrdone]

Hi guys i stated in a previous post I'm totally new to rv living. My question is I have two valves on the back side of my water heater. One is higher up one is lower. Which one do I need to turn on and which one to turn off. I removed the top one because one of the twist connections was broke it started gurgling and water ran out my storage compartment through one of two lines I have in there that doesn't seem to go to anything. Thanks

[hammerdown]

By back side do you mean the outside or inside of the RV? Do you have a bypass installed? Can you post a photo or be more detailed?

[wannagetrdone]

By back side I mean the inside of the rv. There is a line in the top and one on the bottom both have a valve installed there is also one between the two lines. There are also two lines in the back of the rv that don't seem to go anywhere.

[hammerdown]

One water line goes in to the heater the other comes out as hot water. Both valves need to be open to get hot water. Now is the other valve a bypass for winterizing the water heater? If so you open it (it should be closed for normal use of the heater) and close the other two to bypass the heater and drain the tank in the winter.

[McMonk]

Take a look at these links, they may help:

http://rvbasics.com/techtips/rv-wate...er-basics.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4546786_inst...ypass-kit.html

Cold water goes in at the top of the tank.
Hot water comes out at the bottom of the tank.
In between the lines going in and out of the tank you may have a short pipe. This is your bypass. If you shut off the valves for the water going in & out of the tank, the water must travel somewhere in order for you to use the faucets - hence, the bypass. You'll likely have another valve at the top of the bypass to allow water to travel freely through that pipe, 'bypassing' the hot water tank.

The bypass allows you to drain your hot water tank if it's not in use and still have use of all the faucets.

and just for future reference, winterising:

http://www.thecampingsource.com/item.../category.aspx

http://etncc.5.forumer.com/a/how-to-...r_post391.html

Does this help?

[hammerdown]

Originally Posted by McMonk

Take a look at these links, they may help:

http://rvbasics.com/techtips/rv-wate...er-basics.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4546786_inst...ypass-kit.html

Cold water goes in at the top of the tank.
Hot water comes out at the bottom of the tank.
In between the lines going in and out of the tank you may have a short pipe. This is your bypass. If you shut off the valves for the water going in & out of the tank, the water must travel somewhere in order for you to use the faucets - hence, the bypass. You'll likely have another valve at the top of the bypass to allow water to travel freely through that pipe, 'bypassing' the hot water tank.

The bypass allows you to drain your hot water tank if it's not in use and still have use of all the faucets.

and just for future reference, winterising:

http://www.thecampingsource.com/item.../category.aspx

http://etncc.5.forumer.com/a/how-to-...r_post391.html

Does this help?

Not true, cold water goes in at the bottom and hot water comes out at the top.

[McMonk]

Whoops... fair enough!

[wannagetrdone]

Ok guys that pretty well cleared that question up for me. Can anyone tell me what the two lines that doesn't go to anything in my storage compartment is they have the screw type connections like what hooks up to the water heater. Thanks in advance guys.

[McMonk]

I'd suggest that one or both of those lines is for winterising the system... using the water pump, that'd be where you'd suck-in the RV antifreeze to protect your pipes from freezing & bursting. But...hey...I could be wrong!