Hot water heater bypass valve

[ArkansasGreyWolf]

Does my setup have a bypass for winterization? Are the shut off valves for hot and cold usable as the bypass of water heater?

[CHICKDOE]

from the picture is looks as if the two valves you have are two way valves. note that there is a white hose connected between the two valves. this is a bypass hose. the two valves need to be set in sync with each other. as it looks in the picture the valves are set to direct water into and out of the water heater (normal setting). in this setting they block of the bypass hose. if you were to turn both valves 90 degrees they would direct water into and out of the bypass hose (winterization setting) and block off water into or out of the heater tank.

[67L48]

Looks like a nonfunctional mess to me, but maybe it's just the picture playing tricks on my eyes.

What it looks like to me is that when I follow the cold (blue) line, it does this:
Line > 2-way valve > bypass line to red line > hot water tank

Same for the red (hot) line:
hot water tank > bypass to blue line > 2-way valve > line to trailer

If you close the valves, water flow stops completely. The valves are before the bypass line.

If you open the valves, water flow will go both into the tank and across the unrestricted bypass line ... whichever is the least restrictive. That means that your hot water line will always be diluted with some cold line flowing up through the bypass line. How much, I don't know.

But, the way I see the picture, the valves only work to completely block flow. The bypass line does nothing but offer to dilute your hot water line. I see no way to use that setup to actually complete a flowing line while bypassing the hot water tank.

If you only use two valves, it should look like this:

Note that these are 3-way valves and sit right on top of the bypass line. Now, the flow can either be stopped completely, allowed to flow only to the water tank, or allowed to flow only across the bypass line.

Maybe this is what your tank is set up to do and the perspective of the photo is playing tricks on my mind.

The way to do it with 3 valves is like this:


But, notice that in no case can the valves be before the bypass line! Your photo looks like your valves are before the bypass line, which makes the whole thing nonfunctional.

Again, sorry if I am not seeing that photo correctly.

[rockfordroo]

The manufacturers have come up with a number of ways to do bypass valves. See page 2 of the attached generic plumbing pic. You have Option 3b.

BTW: Your valves are called "3-way" valves, not "2-way" valves as CHICKDOE stated.

https://assuredautomation.com/3-way-ball-valves/

[ArkansasGreyWolf]

Thanks all. Love this site! I’m so grateful for all the help and guidance.

[cavie]

Originally Posted by 67L48

Looks like a nonfunctional mess to me, but maybe it's just the picture playing tricks on my eyes.

What it looks like to me is that when I follow the cold (blue) line, it does this:
Line > 2-way valve > bypass line to red line > hot water tank

Same for the red (hot) line:
hot water tank > bypass to blue line > 2-way valve > line to trailer

If you close the valves, water flow stops completely. The valves are before the bypass line.

If you open the valves, water flow will go both into the tank and across the unrestricted bypass line ... whichever is the least restrictive. That means that your hot water line will always be diluted with some cold line flowing up through the bypass line. How much, I don't know.

But, the way I see the picture, the valves only work to completely block flow. The bypass line does nothing but offer to dilute your hot water line. I see no way to use that setup to actually complete a flowing line while bypassing the hot water tank.

If you only use two valves, it should look like this:

Note that these are 3-way valves and sit right on top of the bypass line. Now, the flow can either be stopped completely, allowed to flow only to the water tank, or allowed to flow only across the bypass line.

Maybe this is what your tank is set up to do and the perspective of the photo is playing tricks on my mind.

The way to do it with 3 valves is like this:


But, notice that in no case can the valves be before the bypass line! Your photo looks like your valves are before the bypass line, which makes the whole thing nonfunctional.

Again, sorry if I am not seeing that photo correctly.

The valves in the OP post are installed correctly. Handles inline with hose= heater bypassed. handles 90 degrees to hose=heater operation.

[Mch5jdm]

this is my setup on my grey wolf. Looks like a 3 way valve bypass. Seems to work. My hot is well...hot.

[B and B]

Originally Posted by 67L48

Looks like a nonfunctional mess to me, but maybe it's just the picture playing tricks on my eyes.

What it looks like to me is that when I follow the cold (blue) line, it does this:
Line > 2-way valve > bypass line to red line > hot water tank

Same for the red (hot) line:
hot water tank > bypass to blue line > 2-way valve > line to trailer

If you close the valves, water flow stops completely. The valves are before the bypass line.

If you open the valves, water flow will go both into the tank and across the unrestricted bypass line ... whichever is the least restrictive. That means that your hot water line will always be diluted with some cold line flowing up through the bypass line. How much, I don't know.

But, the way I see the picture, the valves only work to completely block flow. The bypass line does nothing but offer to dilute your hot water line. I see no way to use that setup to actually complete a flowing line while bypassing the hot water tank.

If you only use two valves, it should look like this:

Note that these are 3-way valves and sit right on top of the bypass line. Now, the flow can either be stopped completely, allowed to flow only to the water tank, or allowed to flow only across the bypass line.

Maybe this is what your tank is set up to do and the perspective of the photo is playing tricks on my mind.

The way to do it with 3 valves is like this:


But, notice that in no case can the valves be before the bypass line! Your photo looks like your valves are before the bypass line, which makes the whole thing nonfunctional.

Again, sorry if I am not seeing that photo correctly.

It does the job as a bypass, 2 3way valves .

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Mch5jdm

Attachment 171213 this is my setup on my grey wolf. Looks like a 3 way valve bypass. Seems to work. My hot is well...hot.

Yours is the same as the OPs; pic is just taken from a different angle. Option #3b in the plumbing diagram I attached in Post #4.

[Mch5jdm]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Yours is the same as the OPs; pic is just taken from a different angle. Option #3b in the plumbing diagram I attached in Post #4.

Thanks!

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by B and B

It does the job as a bypass, 2 3way valves .

I believe you are correct about OPs valve being installed in the wrong position
In the photo of the 3 valve set up,,, I believe the correct way to set the valves for uses would be to have bypass turned off !!!

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Wolverine 1945

I believe you are correct about OPs valve being installed in the wrong position
In the photo of the 3 valve set up,,, I believe the correct way to set the valves for uses would be to have bypass turned off !!!

The OP doesn't have a 3 valve setup. Look at pic in post #1. He has two 3-way valves.

But you are correct, the 2nd pic in Post #3 does have either the bypass valve OR the hot and cold valves in the wrong position (depending on whether you want it set for use OR for winterized).

[cavie]

Originally Posted by Mch5jdm

Attachment 171213 this is my setup on my grey wolf. Looks like a 3 way valve bypass. Seems to work. My hot is well...hot.

I see only 2 valves. But then I am old. that is the proper way to install a 2 valve system. they are in the IN_USE positions.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by cavie

I see only 2 valves. But then I am old. that is the proper way to install a 2 valve system. they are in the IN_USE positions.

I believe he meant he has a bypass system using "3-way valves," not a 3 valve bypass system.

[ArkansasGreyWolf]

Originally Posted by cavie

The valves in the OP post are installed correctly. Handles inline with hose= heater bypassed. handles 90 degrees to hose=heater operation.

When you say “handles in line with hose = heater bypassed” are you talking each handle turned in line towards with the white hose or each handle turned in line towards their respective hot and cold line? Or does it matter which direction being a three way valve?

[Wolverine 1945]

I am just glad we have a 3 valve sys !!!

[Muletrain]

I finally got my camper home and started the dewinterization. Snapped a couple of pics. Hope it helps. First Pic with valve handle pointed towards heater is the normal position. Next Pic with valve handles parallel to the lines away from heater is bypass (winterization) position.

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by Muletrain

I finally got my camper home and started the dewinterization. Snapped a couple of pics. Hope it helps. First Pic with valve handle pointed towards heater is the normal position. Next Pic with valve handles parallel to the lines away from heater is bypass (winterization) position.

I am surprised they did not do that years ago,,,
and save the cost of a valve !!!

[ScottBrownstein]

Really wish they would install those 3 ways in the correct orientation, they are flipped...at least both of them are. Handle should point towards flow direction. Spent 2 hours getting my pump to work since the handle points towards the pump, not the tank line.

[ArkansasGreyWolf]

Originally Posted by Muletrain

I finally got my camper home and started the dewinterization. Snapped a couple of pics. Hope it helps. First Pic with valve handle pointed towards heater is the normal position. Next Pic with valve handles parallel to the lines away from heater is bypass (winterization) position.

Great info, thanks!!