FROM AARON, A STUPID QUESTION

[aaronbocknek]

hey guys, i think the marina will be turning on the water soon and i have forgotten something in regards to the water heater. i have a 20 gallon raritan and i was wondering when i connect the shore water to the boat, does the water heater fill up first when the dockside tap is turned on? i need to flush the water heater out first before i use it, and i just need to know that i'm doing it correctly. once it's flushed out and filled up, then it will be time to heat it up. which could take sometime given the size of the tank and temperature of the city water.

[alexander38]

open the drain on the heater and open all your faucets and run the city water ....the water will follow the ez path to the drain. Then shut it fill it then turn it on..then start shutting the faucets. start with the closest to the water hook up....pretty straight forward there T-BOY

[prowlersfish]

Open the drain and let it drain out . then turn on you city water part way ( make sure you have all ready flushed out your hose) after a minute or two close the drain . then open up the hot water faucets and let it run awhile . And of course just turn on the the cold water to flush it out .dock water on full . I assume you replaced the forward bilge pump ?

[Big D]

...when i connect the shore water to the boat, does the water heater fill up....

Yes unless you have a shut-off valve or by-pass system there for winterizing purposes. It will only fill up a certain amount until you open up a hot water valve to let out the air. Follow what was suggested above. Also, if you didn't operate the relief valve when you winterized, now is the time. This should be done every year to make sure it operates properly for safety reasons. If you don't do this, it could fail to operate when it's needed to releave pressure if the t-stat fails. If it leaks after you close it, it should be replaced.

[aaronbocknek]

I assume you replaced the forward bilge pump ?

new rule 1500 and 15' (just in case) of new smooth bilge hose was ordered yesterday from defender. should be sent on the 2nd. have vacation from the 8th to the 19th so i can do it then. i'm determined to work through my mobility issues to do this.

[aaronbocknek]

...when i connect the shore water to the boat, does the water heater fill up....

Yes unless you have a shut-off valve or by-pass system there for winterizing purposes. It will only fill up a certain amount until you open up a hot water valve to let out the air. Follow what was suggested above. Also, if you didn't operate the relief valve when you winterized, now is the time. This should be done every year to make sure it operates properly for safety reasons. If you don't do this, it could fail to operate when it's needed to releave pressure if the t-stat fails. If it leaks after you close it, it should be replaced.

will do with the valve big d. if it does leak, how difficult is it to replace?

[Big D]

It'll just spin off with a wrench

[aaronbocknek]

It'll just spin off with a wrench

got it. thanks mate. i'll exercise it tomorrow when i get down there. today was more or less an easy/lazy day. the rain gently falling on the cabin top, the calm, quite atmosphere at the marina the salon couch that literally sucks the life out of you..... tried to watch some of season one of 'star trek: enterprise' but it was a lost cause. i must have slept for two hours. and man, did i need it. i have a lot to catch up on as my sleep patterns are totally out of whack. it could have been the shock top belgian white too!!