No bypass valve

[Wildbill57]

My Suburban water heater only has 2 vavles on it. There is no bypass valve that runs between the hot and cold water lines. How do you winterize this setup?

[dagst1]

On the back of the water heater you have a line at the top and at the bottom. Where are the valves located?

[Papa-T]

My Atwood water heater only has two valves also. This picture shows the water heater bypassed for winterized.

[dagst1]

Papa-T. Glad you posted that picture. Now the explanation - Some by-pass systems use 2 - 3 way valves. In your picture on the red and blue lines that run horizontal where the "Tee" is there would be a 3 way valve in both the red and blue lines and no valve in between them in the vertical red/blue line. To use the water heater you turn both 3 way valve handles horizontal or pointing at the water heater. To by-pass turn the valves so they point at each other. The antifreeze comes in the blue line hits the 3 way valve turns and goes up to the top 3 way valve then turns and goes out on the red line Bypassing the water heater.

Not sure if that is his set up but it would explain no valve in the vertical line.

[hondavalk]

Check valve on discharge side of water heater eliminates need for a 3rd valve.

[Monarch]

I have an Atwood water heater that has only two valves. When I am using the hot water heater the horizontal (hot water) line's valve is open, the handle is parallel to the hot water line. The vertical (cold water) is open, the handle is parallel to the cold water line.

When I winterize, I close the hot water line, the handle is now perpendicular. I leave the cold line open.

The attached picture shows the lines when winterized. The verticle line is shows the pink antifreeze.