hot water tank bypass

[alpinemike]

Hi everybody
I just purchased a 2007 Georgetown 378 this summer. what I'm wondering
about is. Is there only one bypass valve for the hot water tank? It's time
to winterize unfortunatly.

[windrider]

Unfortunately, this gets asked and answered often. If you will do a search on here, you will find numerous threads with varying explanations. This is the first one I found with Gergetown, GeorgeTown water heater by-pass

There are many others, some with diagrams. Search and ye shall find.

Sorry, can't help more, but sometimes you got to do your homework like the rest of us did.

[f1100turbo]

One location for valves yes.
You will most likely have three valves to turn tho

[Hankster]

We have an '07 Georgetown 359TS. In the basement cabinet where the propane tank is located, there is an access to the hot water tank ( a round opening). I reach around inside until I find the valve and I close it. This prevents water from entering the hot water tank, so now drain the hot water tank and you should be set to go. You can also put RV antifreeze in the line while it is draining. Because I use the MH in the winter, I do this about 12 times per winter and have never had a frozen line.
The Hankster
'07 Georgetown XL, 359TS

[F and E Damp]

Our 02 325 only has one hand valve. I guess there's a check valve somewhere to prevent back flow into the heater. In this particular layout, the water heater is in a cupboard at floor level aft of the kitchen.

I'll be doing our winterisation this week. Forecasts are for lows around 36F, so it could drop below freezing, given the accuracy of the forecasts out here on the West coast. We've already had one overnight where there was rime ice (what we Brits call "hoar frost") on the north facing roofs in the morning. Outside min/max said the minimum was 38F that night.

[cfsoistman]

Originally Posted by alpinemike

Hi everybody
I just purchased a 2007 Georgetown 378 this summer. what I'm wondering
about is. Is there only one bypass valve for the hot water tank? It's time
to winterize unfortunatly.

I have a 2007 as well and yes in my case there is only one valve. It is a two way valve that allows water to either flow through or by-pass the water heater. The hot side has a check valve to only allow water to leave the water heater. I'm glad there's only one because the access to it from a 4" Access Cap is just barely reachable.

[ohiobill]

Our 378 (2011) has two valves located above the plug in the bottom of the hot water heater compartment that seem to be the bypass valves.

Then there are the two additional valves to bypass the water tank and draw from the bottle of pink stuff. These are in the compartment above the low point drain, behind a plastic plug.

Haven't used them yet, but I think the 4 will do it!

Now wish there was a simple way to do the icemaker...

[ronhanson]

My 2009 has 3 valves. Winterizing last week I was suprised to reach up and only feel 2. One of the handles had came off, probably from vibration, and was floating around in the compartment!

[ohiobill]

Correction! I was wrong, there are three valves above the plastic plug under the hotwater tank! Found out after pumping a gallon of pink stuff
into the hotwater tank this afternoon. Sorry for the incorrect
prior post.

Has anyone else wondered why Forest River put a plug on the winterization hose that won't fit into a standard antifreeze container?

I will say this 378 is more difficult to winterize than any of my previous 3 fivers!

[Falcon35]

ohiobill: I took my hacksaw and cut of the ears on winterization hose plug now it drops in to the antifreeze jug.
The 374 is harder to winterize then our fifth-wheels as well. That is what we get for the extra features like water dispenser and ice maker.