Water Heater

Craig · 08-13-2002, 08:39 AM

1. Where does the water relief valve on the hot water heater drain the water to (I should say where is it supposed to drain to)? I see no openings in the body near the water heater other than the propane line.
2. My water heater has a black coating on it that looks like some type of protectant. Anyone know what this is?
3. And the really stupid question - the water relief valve on the water heater was stuck (because of the coating mentioned above) fully turned all the way to the left. Wouldn't this be the "open" position for the relief valve to drain water. And turned to the right to close the relief valve? Or do I have this backwards?

davidz71 · 08-13-2002, 08:49 AM

I have an Atwood in my '77 Excella. It has the same style relief valve my water heater in my house has. When I pull up on it, water flows out. Water then hits the bottom of the heater opening and goes to the ground. This is on the outside of the trailer with the door open of course. Do you have a different style of water heater?

83Excella · 08-13-2002, 09:51 AM

The pressure relief is on the outside of the trailer on the water heater and should vent to the outside of the trailer you wouldnt want that hot water going to the inside. The valve should be tested for operaton every so often to be sure it works, you just pull on the small lever on the valve, it is a spring loaded valve set to open at a specific pressure or temerature.

John

Craig · 08-13-2002, 11:12 AM

Sorry for the confusion. What I intended to refer to was the water drain valve. Isn't there a drain valve on the water heater?

83Excella · 08-13-2002, 08:58 PM

That too is on the outside, it is a 7/8 hex plug either plastic or aluminum, some water will remain in the tank with the plug out.

davidz71 · 08-14-2002, 04:01 PM

Some RV shops sell a water drain valve made of brass which resembles the drain valves on auto radiators.

KeithC · 07-13-2007, 11:29 PM

The "winterization" section of your hot water manufacturer's owner's manual explains the pressure relief valve operation and how to properly clear the pressure valve and blow out all remaining water from the system manually.

Safari-Rick · 10-01-2007, 05:16 PM

Anyone have or had a problem when they replaced the drain valve on the water heater with it leaking. I've tightened it short of breaking the threads and it has this minute leak (drip, drip,drip).