Hot water heater

[Richard G. Abbinanti]

Another Hot water heater question:


When I purchased my Cape Dory a few years ago, the previous owner disconnected the water in and water out hose. He then connected them together. I wanted to reconnect these two hose again. I read when the thermostat opens the water goes through and heats the hot water , is there a valve to turn ?

Richard

[bottomscraper]

Maybe, maybe not. On Mahalo we disconnect the water lines and bypass the water heater when we winterize. It saves several gallons of non-tox antifreeze. There is a valve in the cold water supply line to the water heater. It has been open since the day we bought the boat. I'm not sure what it's purpose is, maybe a shutoff if the heater leaks.

[Richard G. Abbinanti]

Bottomscraper


I thank you, will look for a valve.

Richard

[Oswego John]

We call it a service valve. It controls plumbing downstream from the valve. If there should be any trouble with a sink or other plumbing component, you can shut the local service valve and still use the other plumbing facilities. They are very handy and useful.

O J

[Richard G. Abbinanti]

Any thing on the hot water heater itself?

[Russell]

There is a valve in the cold water supply line to the water heater. It has been open since the day we bought the boat. I'm not sure what it's purpose is, maybe a shutoff if the heater leaks.

When my heater busted a leak in the Bahamas I was VERY happy to have that shut off valve.

[Jeff and Sarah]

Can you clarify that you mean a valve in the potable water lines or a valve in the engine water line? Worth noting is that the relief valve on my water heater says that if activated, it cannot be reset and must be replaced. I was glad that I noticed the warning, because it could save potential annoyances.

Also, I just flushed my water heater a couple days ago (the boat has been sitting for a long time unused before I purchased her)- It wasn't as bad as it could have been, but I did get quite a bit of rust out of it. If you haven't used the water heater before, it is probably worth running some water through the engine water portion to make sure it's not clogged or full of rust particles. I used a drill pump and some spare lengths of garden hose.

[Richard G. Abbinanti]

The valve I am looking for may not be there. Right now the fresh water does not go into the engine. Now I am going to attach fresh water to the hot water heater, is there something I should turn on , so that the fresh water goes into the engine and heats up and returns to the hot water heater.
Richard

[doubleb]

On the humorous side of things.

I mean not to offend but I thought perfect timing.

I had a plumber tell me it’s not a Hot Water Heater.
It’s a water heater,
“You can’t heat hot water.â€