2012 378ts question

[petey]

howdy all.i got a new question , on passenger side behind rear dual under neath is a white 3 inch plug,i unscrewed it looked up inside and there are 2 shut off plastic valves,it appears the bottom one goes to hot water tank and is on,this makes sense.a little farther up this valve is shut off.i left this alone until i know what it is for? is it some kind of by pass or for weatherization ? thanks alot pete aultom

[bresdogsr]

That would be to bypass the water heater to winterize. Mine is located in the same area.

[CanadianRVER]

Yup Thats what it is there are acually 3 valves in mine. Even though the tech that did the walk through with me said the bypass valves were in behind thepnel where the pump is! Fat lot THEY know LOL

[raoulwv]

Yes, there are indeed 3 shut off valves. You MUST switch all 3 to bypass the water heater. I learned the hard way.

[JDickson]

I've always only turned one and have never had a problem. Why would you have to turn two or three? I always empty the tank after I turned the one and it has never refilled. I also take the anode rod out and leave it out until I'm ready to fire it up again and leave the release vavle open.
Joe

[Ovair]

Originally Posted by JDickson

Why would you have to turn two or three?

This diagram shows why there are 3 valves. When the handle is in line, water flows. When the handle is cross ways to the line, water does not flow.
Graphic used without permission.

By the way, when the heater is being bypassed (lower image) that is the time to drain the water heater and lift the pressure release valve so the water will gurgle out.

[raoulwv]

JDickson, your RV may be plumbed differently. On my '03 Winnebago, there was only 1 valve to turn to bypass the water heater. When I got the Georgetown, I tried turning the 1st valve I saw only, and ended up with a water heater full of anti freeze.