Hot Water Systems

_{Copyright - 1998 - Les Doll - All rights reserved}

      The hot water system doubles the plumbing in an RV. Beyond the pump and the city water valve, are the hot water tank and a complete separate plumbing system to each sink and shower installation.

      Most modern RV's are equipped with a bypass valve arrangement that allows the hot water tank to be drained without affecting the rest of the system. The bypass consists of one, two or three valves, depending on the configuration, plus the necessary plumbing needed to isolate the tank from the rest of the water system. It is a simple matter to position these valves for proper operation and winterization. See the article "Painless Winterizing" for step by step winterizing instructions.

And By-Pass for illustrations.

      On units without the bypass installed, it will be necessary to either install a permanent bypass as described above or to connect a temporary set-up to circumvent the hot water tank. The various fittings and connections will depend on the particular application. You will encounter a wide variety of plumbing configurations, necessitating some close examinations to ensure adequate antifreeze installation. Remember that the cold water enters the hot water tank through the bottom of the tank and exits through the top. Since the pump (or outside water pressure) forces the water into the bottom of the tank, all lines exiting from the top fitting are hot water lines and will need to be protected with antifreeze.

      To drain the hot water tank, open the exterior access door and remove the drain plug (or open the drain valve on some models) and then open the pressure relief valve located on the upper portion of the tank. Allow the tank to drain fully and replace the drain plug.