What position is my hot water cut-off valve in? Closed or open?

[PatLee]

The two photos below show where my hot water cut-off valve currently is. Is it open or closed?
Background: After getting warranty work done at JC this past week, I started driving south to Florida's Gulf coast. I stopped in Marysville, TN and decided to de-winterized because temps were above 30 degrees. I hooked up to city water and ran water through every tap, hot and cold sides, until the water ran clear (versus pink). I then turned the hot water tank cut-off valve beneath twin bed, to what I believe is the OPEN position. I then ran water from the hot side of the bathroom sink, thinking I needed to because the hot water tank holds 6 gallons. I then flipped the hot water heater switch in my bathroom to the "ON" position. An hour later, I turned the hot water in my bathroom sink on. Initially it ran hot but then quickly turned cold. The same thing happened at kitchen sink. I did this again this morning when I got up and same thing - initially hot but then turned cold.
So - tonight, I am in a campsite in Birmngham, AL. I hooked up to the city water, flipped the hot water switch in bathroom to ON, took a walk, and when I came back, I tried the hot water in bathroom and at kitchen sink. Same thing happened. At that point, I got back under the twin bed and turned the hot water valve to the opposite direction - which to me is the closed position. What am I doing wrong? Any advice appreciated. I really want to shower in my trailer while I'm camping.
Thanks so much!

[ROBERT CROSS]

Closed...

Bob
🇺🇸

[majorairhead]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Closed...

Bob
🇺🇸

Yep,

[Gtx Eng]

The way to remember valve positions is to look at the handle. If the handle is in line with the pipe, then it's flowing. If the handle is perpendicular to the pipe, then it's closed. Think of the handle as the "gate" position. Might not be 100pct true, but I've never found a case where it wasn't.

[PatLee]

Okay, thanks for confirming the valve is in closed position. I could use a little more advice though as indicated in the rest of my post. Here are more questions:
1). This yellow valve should be in the open position (parallel to the pipe) for normal operations, yes? i.e. if I want hot water it should be open.
2) When I turn on my BR faucet to 'hot', water flows. This means there is water in the hot water tank, yes? If yes, then why is it cold?
3) I closed the valve yesterday (one in the photos) - shouldn't the hot water stop flowing because it's closed?
4) Occasionally, when I run the hot water side, it initially runs warm but then quickly turns cold. Could this be a thermostat problem on the hot water heater?

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by PatLee

Okay, thanks for confirming the valve is in closed position. I could use a little more advice though as indicated in the rest of my post. Here are more questions:
1). This yellow valve should be in the open position (parallel to the pipe) for normal operations, yes? i.e. if I want hot water it should be open.
2) When I turn on my BR faucet to 'hot', water flows. This means there is water in the hot water tank, yes? If yes, then why is it cold?
3) I closed the valve yesterday (one in the photos) - shouldn't the hot water stop flowing because it's closed?
4) Occasionally, when I run the hot water side, it initially runs warm but then quickly turns cold. Could this be a thermostat problem on the hot water heater?

It could be the mixing valve is not functioning properly. Here (https://www.airforums.com/forums/f44...ve-190287.html) is a thread to read to help diagnose your issue.

I hope it helps.

[lsbrodsky]

Something is bothering me here, but I do not have any drawings to confirm it. I believe the valve you are showing is a bypass valve, not a shut off valve. Water flow bypasses the water heater but still flows to all locations. My manual does not have any plumbing drawings, but perhaps your does. Or someone who has their trailer handy or is more familiar with the piping can jump in. In short, you should have flow and it will be cold. I have separate hot and cold shutoff valves at each sink, don't know about the shower.
Larry

[brick1]

That is the WH bypass valve. Water does not go through the WH, but does go through the pipes to the faucets.

[A W Warn]

Enlarging the photo I see the number on the handle, " 150W8P". That's a 1/2" ball valve.

I also see what looks like a droplet of water hanging on that braded hose. That could be a different problem.

[PatLee]

Isbrodsky - yes, it is the water bypass valve, not 'shut-off' as I said. So, it should be in the open position so that water flows into the hot water tank and starts heating, correct?
Second question: I've had the electric hot water switch in the "ON" position. The red light has not come on to say that it's not heating, so I'm assuming it thinks it's heating. Which makes me wonder if it is the thermostat?

[lsbrodsky]

Originally Posted by PatLee

Isbrodsky - yes, it is the water bypass valve, not 'shut-off' as I said. So, it should be in the open position so that water flows into the hot water tank and starts heating, correct?
Second question: I've had the electric hot water switch in the "ON" position. The red light has not come on to say that it's not heating, so I'm assuming it thinks it's heating. Which makes me wonder if it is the thermostat?

The in use position is with the valve handle in line with the pipe. A red light on the panel indicates a certain kind of fault, but if the element is bad, you will not see a red light and not get any heating. If you had the element on with the water heater empty, you can be sure you burned it out. Mine had a badly soldered connection from the factory and it fried the wiring, same symptoms. It can also be the temp sensors on the water heater, accessible through the outside panel.
Larry

[OTRA15]

FWIW . . . your owner's manual should have a variety of illustrations/photos/comments about this IMO.

Happy trails,

[banderabob]

Originally Posted by Gtx Eng

The way to remember valve positions is to look at the handle. If the handle is in line with the pipe, then it's flowing. If the handle is perpendicular to the pipe, then it's closed. Think of the handle as the "gate" position. Might not be 100pct true, but I've never found a case where it wasn't.

Same way for me.

[JonDNC]

Also with the valve in the open/normal position trying heating with propane if you can, that’s an independent system. If you burnt out the electric element that should give you hot water.

[Bob Peahl]

Originally Posted by PatLee

Isbrodsky - yes, it is the water bypass valve, not 'shut-off' as I said. So, it should be in the open position so that water flows into the hot water tank and starts heating, correct?
Second question: I've had the electric hot water switch in the "ON" position. The red light has not come on to say that it's not heating, so I'm assuming it thinks it's heating. Which makes me wonder if it is the thermostat?

The conversation seems to be melding two issues.

1. Bypass. The photos show a bypass valve. The purpose of this valve is to allow the system to operate without filling the water heater tank by diverting water to bypass the water tank. Thus, this valve should be closed if you want hot water.

2. Shut off. The shut off valve works in conjunction with the bypass valve. Close the water heater shut off valve and open the bypass valve to use the system without hot water. Close the bypass value and open the shut off valve to get the water heater tank to fill and provide hot water.

As noted by others, these valves are designed so that handles in line with the pipes are open, while handles perpendicular to the pipes are closed.

[link2dks]

Pat Lee I'll try to answer your questions:

1. Yes
2. Not necessarily. If the yellow valve is closed it shuts off the water supply into the hot water tank. Hot water exits the tank into a mixing valve. This valve is also connected to a cold water supply line to mix cold water with the hot water if it is to hot. Water will still flow thru your hot water lines thru the mixing valves cold water supply pipe. See picture, the white braided line is the cold water into the mixing valve. There is a third connection to the silver mixing valve on its back side coming from the hot water tank. The red pipe is the beginning of your hot water supply to the trailer.
3. See #2
4.This answer is a little bit of a guess. The thermostat in the mixing valve is possibly failing. This is assuming you had not used all of your hot water and did not wait long enough for more to heat up and that electric heating element is working correctly.



I hope this helps some.

Dave S

[lsbrodsky]

Be careful how you think about the bypass valve. The attached pdf is the page from my owners' manual.

Larry

[link2dks]

Originally Posted by lsbrodsky

Be careful how you think about the bypass valve. The attached pdf is the page from my owners' manual.

Larry

Larry

Not sure what you mean. The only function of the yellow handle valve is to shut off water supply into the hot water tank. I think calling it a bypass valve is really a misnomer because it does not does not shunt that water supply to anything else.

Dave S

[lsbrodsky]

Originally Posted by link2dks

Larry

Not sure what you mean. The only function of the yellow handle valve is to shut off water supply into the hot water tank. I think calling it a bypass valve is really a misnomer because it does not does not shunt that water supply to anything else.

Dave S

See post #15....I was trying, nicely, to say that hot water requires the valve in the open position.
Larry

[GettinAway]

I can’t get to my 25FB right now, or I would go look. In years of doing my own winterizing I guess I’ve never thought about this. How does that bypass really work? I just switch it from where it’s at to change it to the desired function. It’s always just worked.
Simple test might be to shut off the water, pull the water heater drain plug, and see if it’s full? I’m not sure how you would get any hot water, if it’s really being bypassed.
Following along just to see how this is resolved. Sorry I can’t be more help.