Draining water lines

[Slow_movin]

I may be mistaken, but it seems like that if the water heater bypass valves are left open (water flows thru water heater) and when you remove the water heater drain plug, all but just a little water is drained from the hot and cold water lines...therefore, it seems like this is acting like the low point drain (except for about 2 feet of cold water pipe). If you go ahead and winterize, it would leave only about a foot of pipe below where the water pump hooks to fresh water.
Is this wrong and if so explain, please...

Also, if you are handy with PEX, you can go in the compartment where the water pump, etc. is located and looking in the back right hand corner are the fresh water holding tank and low point drain lines...and install cutoff valves on the pipes and no more crawling underneath to unscrew the caps and wait for the water to drain.

2018 FR3 0DS

[CC Traveler]

As I understand the main purpose of the bypass valve on the hot water heater is to avoid getting antifreeze in the hot water heater. It will assist with draining the system, but close the valve before you winterize.

Other threads within the FR3 forum discusses adding drain valves in the system.

[Flybob]

If I understand you, you are assuming that you can drain the water lines by removing the WH drain plug. You are assuming the WH is below the other water lines and that there are no low spots in the lines. Even opening faucets and low point drains will not guarantee that you got all the water out. You only need an inch or so of water line with water in it in cold climates to split a water line. With a antifreeze suction line /valve on the pump and a few gallons of antifreeze <$10 and an hour, you can relax when the temp drops well below freezing. Also don't forget inside/outside showers and sink sprayer if you have one.

[rockfordroo]

What Flybob said.

Think about it: Your hot water outlet line on your water heater is at least one foot above the floor. That line then (in most cases) drops back down to the floor somewhere before it gets to a bathroom/kitchen/shower faucet. So your hot water doesn't really drain. Even if you were to open the bypass valve, it's still 1 foot above the floor. The only way to drain it is by a low point drain.

[HangDiver]

Originally Posted by Slow_movin

I may be mistaken, but it seems like that if the water heater bypass valves are left open (water flows thru water heater) and when you remove the water heater drain plug, all but just a little water is drained from the hot and cold water lines...therefore, it seems like this is acting like the low point drain (except for about 2 feet of cold water pipe). If you go ahead and winterize, it would leave only about a foot of pipe below where the water pump hooks to fresh water. Is this wrong and if so explain, please...

Hook up to city water, open a faucet and pressurize your plumbing, then shut off and disconnect. Remove the anode rod and drain the HW tank. Now open your low point drains and see how much water comes out. No more guessing.