Hot Water Heater Hookup?

theraceshop · 10-19-2011, 12:43 PM

Hi,

I am new to the TT world and I have my first real question? I want to hook up the water heater and I am not sure what goes where. I will try to describe and show in picture. The water heater has 2 connections 1) a single outlet on top. 2) a t with 2 outlets on bottom. What is what?

On the hoses - 2 hoses come from right to left 1 hose has a t connection. 1 hose comes from that t and connects back to 2nd hose 2nd hose goes from top of t to left. What goes where?? I am so confused and don't want to mess it up.

Why would some one do this set up?? Last owner said they never used the water heater. I want to tes before I winterize it.

Thanks Everybody!

PS- I included a pic to help what I see

Steve Collins · 10-19-2011, 01:33 PM

Sounds like the PO bypassed the water heater and just ran cold water for everything. That would explain some of the plumbing in your picture.

The bottom fitting on the heater is the cold water inlet. The cold water comes from the city water/fresh tank & pump into the heater there. The tee allows cold water to continue on to either a cold water faucet or the toilet or both depending on what is where in your rig.

The top fitting is hot water out. You are going to have to do some tracing of the lines to figure out what goes from the area of the water heater to the various faucets, etc. and what is coming to the area of the heater from somewhere else.

RV water systems are fairly straight forward. Each pipe can be thought of as a one-way road. It comes from somewhere and goes somewhere. It helps if you draw a simple diagram or map of the system on paper as you work. Once you identify a particular pipe and its origin and destination, label the pipe so you know what it is when you go to make the connections. Masking tape and an indelible marker will work perfectly.

awellis3 · 10-20-2011, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Collins

RV water systems are fairly straight forward. Each pipe can be thought of as a one-way road. It comes from somewhere and goes somewhere.

And with that thought in mind - I couldn't tell from the pic, are there 3 lines on the T? If so, one is on-board pump outlet, one is cold water to the trailer fixtures and one is hot water to the trailer fixtures.
1. Take all 3 lines off and install the T in the bottom hole of the water heater (WH).
2. Put a few gallons of water in your on board tank and have somone cut the pump on briefly. Hook the hose that spews water to the T.
3. Open a hot water faucet that is closest to the WH and have someone put their ear close to the spout. You blow into the remaining two lines. The one that produces noise at the faucet is the hot water line. Put it into the upper WH hole.
4. The remaining line goes on the other side of the T.
The lines on the T are cold water.

Hope this helps,
Teach

theraceshop · 10-20-2011, 11:10 AM

I figured out what is what but I broke the commpression fitting. Anybody know how they go back together??????

mainah · 10-20-2011, 05:36 PM

Well I guess I can see why they never used it wonder if the tank leaks. It just seems like a lot of work just because they never used it. I check it real well when you get it full they can have small leaks that take awhile to show up.

**JohnB** · 10-20-2011, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theraceshop

I figured out what is what but I broke the commpression fitting. Anybody know how they go back together??????

Hi Race shop

Are you after a new fitting? I do not know if the gray tubing of years ago is actually a full 1/2" OD or not. If it is, Lowes or Home Depot may have a fitting like that Tee. Manards if they are in your area may as well and more so then Lowes/Home Depot. Just make sure you measure the gray tube as I thought it might be slightly different then today's PEX tubing. You will more then likely have to buy the entire fitting.

If they do not have it, an RV parts place should.

On the tank and checking for leaks, if you happened to have a compressor, once you get things hooked up, put 30psi of air in, seal off the supply and see if it leaks out. A lot easier to clean up the mess from leaking air then water if you can help it.

Good luck and hope this helps

John

theraceshop · 10-21-2011, 06:14 AM

John,

Thanks For the help. Will go to Lowes on Saturday to look to see if I can come up with something. If I find out that it is shot maybe I will just go with a electric tankless unit. I will have to look into that too.

Fred

awellis3 · 10-21-2011, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theraceshop

John,

Thanks For the help. Will go to Lowes on Saturday to look to see if I can come up with something.
Fred

Don't waste your time. The big-box stores don't carry Quest fittings. I went to Lowe's yesterday in vain to get the T fitting for my WH.
Call around to RV parts depts.

Teach

mainah · 10-21-2011, 02:56 PM

Yeah the gray stuff is not PEX and shark bite fittings won't fit it either. They used that stuff in houses and had big issues with it and it has not been used in any thing other then RV's for years. Good RV supply shops should have the fittings you need.