Changing the Water Heater

[JeffM]

When changing the water heater, specifically in a 2000 260DA, how much of the fresh water supply is likely to drain out of the system? Could it completely drain the water tank? Is it standard practice to drain the system before starting the job?

Thanks in advance!
Jeff

 

[toyboat]

Connect the hot to the cold lines like you would to winterize.

 

[estebanj]

The water pump off should prevent drain of the master water tank. You'll get water which is sitting in the hoses.

I would drain the water heater simply to make it lighter to remove/carry.

Esteban

 

[JeffM]

Thanks...it does make sense to plug the lines!

Actually, I'm asking because our previous marina changed the water heater before commissioning this spring, and when we turned on the tap for the first time this year, we didn't get any pink. Last year we had pink in our water for several weeks.

In addition, the cockpit sprayer was broken, and the head fill valve was leaking. So, I'm wondering if the freshwater system was ever winterized.

Trying not to jump to conclusions, but it seemed very unlikely they would have drained all the antifreeze from the system during the work or flushed the system so well during commissioning that they removed all the antifreeze.

I suppose they could have run the pink out while filling and testing the new water heater?

Jeff

 

[wkearney99]

One would hope that given the tremendous labor charges you incurred having the heater replaced that they flushed all the pink out of it.

When winterizing if you bypass the heater you use considerably less antifreeze. There's really not much point in filling up the heater with pink. This would also means less time and water necessary to flush it come springtime. You can either bypass it by disconnecting the lines or by installing a bypass valve kit. I opted for the valve kit to avoid causing problems over time with the lines and the threaded fittings.

I had a dealer fail to properly winterize the fresh water. Took all damn season to wring out the last of the leaks. Water heater had a split seam, shower mixer, shower sump return check valve, two sections of hose and fittings, ugh, it was tedious as could be. Bad news was all my time it took to do it right. Good news was Shurflo sent me a new mixer for free and the rest of the parts weren't very expensive.