Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I just got the camper last winter so there are things to learn

There's a gas water heater installed

What I don't get is why there is a non-valved bypass line tee'd in between the hot and cold inlet/outlets. Seems like it should be a pass through...cold in at the bottom, hot out at the top

The burner ignites and runs for a while. Then I open the hot valve in the shower and no hot water comes out. Close hot...open cold...cold comes out

It seems like the water circuit is bypassing the water heater

Am I missing something? Am I making this clear?

Thanks

No hot coming out of the hot valve at point of use means no cold water is being allowed in. The cold goes in and pushes the hot out.

It is quite common to have a water heater tank bypass, but they are equipped with two selector valves, one on the hot tank outlet and one on the cold tank inlet. Camco makes a bypass kit and sometimes folks put together a DIY system. They all have, they need, valves to bypass the heater tank or to direct the water through the tank. In the camco version both valves must be set correctly to permit flow in and out of the tank. They are special valves, not just a shut off type. They switch flow from one direction to another. For DIY, it will be some variation... I have seen some pictures of DIY using three regular shut off / on - off valves and a couple of tee fittings.

If it is a DIY system maybe the valve you need to change on or off is not right there at the tank.

Google RV water tank bypass valve and select to look at images.

Do you have a picture of your setup at the water tank connections?

Hi Don

Thanks for the lead. After some image searching I think I found my system

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/camco--water-heater-bypass-winterizing-kit--329195

Neither of the valve handles are attached and the stem is tucked in behind a fitting.

I hope I can buy just the handles. Maybe my corner hardware store has something.

A bit more research to
Understand the open/closed configuration of the two valves is next

Best!

Tom

Lots of images on concept and operation....

http://lmgtfy.com/?t=i&q=Camper+water+heater+bypass

Dale