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09-19-2017, 09:38 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Ontario
Posts: 11
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Winterizing Water Lines - no shut off valve.
folks,
see the attached picture, i have a 2007 Rockwood Roo and the hot water tank is missing the top shutoff valve.
im starting the to winterize the water lines, and it needs the shutoff valve to stop antifreeze from getting into the tank.
has anyone worked with this configuration before??
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09-19-2017, 09:58 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,652
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There are several ways to install bypass valves and this looks like the one that uses a check valve on the hot water side.
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09-19-2017, 10:12 AM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Ontario
Posts: 11
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OK, Tks....
So if i shut the bottom one off and the middle one on i should be good to go?
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09-19-2017, 10:17 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,652
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If there is a check valve at the hot water output port then, yes.
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09-19-2017, 10:26 AM
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#5
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Insert witty title here
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: About 30 miles west of Beantown.
Posts: 4,034
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If you are worried, turn your valves into the winterization position then open the water heater drain plug and let it drain. Turn on any HW tap and see if water flows out of the drain plug. If not, it's been bypassed. Make sure your water heater is OFF before doing this.
__________________
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Forever in my memory. Forever in my heart.
Laurie J. Wood 3/22/67 - 8/23/19
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09-19-2017, 10:35 AM
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#6
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,146
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A somewhat easy way to tell if your system has a working check valve in the hot outlet... with a cold (off) but full water heater, hook to city water or turn the pump on, turn the bypass valves (cold closed-bypass open) and then go out and open the pop-off valve on the water heater tank. If there is pressure and good flow, you do not have a check valve (or it is stuck) and the water is back-feeding through the hot water line. If it basically dribbles and then nothing comes out the pop-off, your check is in place and working.
I specified having the water heater cold. This is just so you don't get scalded.
If you insert a hose into the pop-off outlet to direct the water away from you you could test it hot... but BE CAREFUL!
EDIT: The other Tim beat me to it!
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2024 Ford F-Series SCREW•7.3L•4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=90
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09-19-2017, 10:56 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
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There are a number of ways manufacturers have plumbed the hot water heater. See pg 2 of the attached for some of them, in no particular order. You appear to have option #5.
__________________
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2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)
2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
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09-19-2017, 02:32 PM
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#8
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Crazy Dog Lady
Join Date: May 2017
Location: near Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 62
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I'm happy to see posts like this crop up, as I am currently grappling with what to do with my 2017 Forester 2391TS, which has a Truma Combi furnace/water heater. According to Dan Dobecki at FR, "Per Truma who inspects and approves our install it is perfectly fine to run RV antifreeze through the water heater. We do not install a bypass on any unit we install that water heater on. If you have any questions please feel free to contact my office."
OK, but Truma, the manufacturer, specifically warns not to put RV antifreeze into the water heater. Who do you believe? (Hint: Truma) So, am I left with compressed air as the only way to winterize my MH? The unit is under warranty, and the dealer won't even respond to my e-mails.
__________________
"Little Toot" (2017 Forester 2391 TS)
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09-19-2017, 02:42 PM
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#9
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Weekend Warrior
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Vevay, Indiana
Posts: 129
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can't you just add the shut off valves yourself?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Granny K
I'm happy to see posts like this crop up, as I am currently grappling with what to do with my 2017 Forester 2391TS, which has a Truma Combi furnace/water heater. According to Dan Dobecki at FR, "Per Truma who inspects and approves our install it is perfectly fine to run RV antifreeze through the water heater. We do not install a bypass on any unit we install that water heater on. If you have any questions please feel free to contact my office."
OK, but Truma, the manufacturer, specifically warns not to put RV antifreeze into the water heater. Who do you believe? (Hint: Truma) So, am I left with compressed air as the only way to winterize my MH? The unit is under warranty, and the dealer won't even respond to my e-mails.
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09-19-2017, 02:57 PM
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#10
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KyleStout
can't you just add the shut off valves yourself?
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That's what I would do if faced with the dilemma of no antifreeze in the system -vs- adding shut off/bypass valves and being content knowing everything is protected.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2024 Ford F-Series SCREW•7.3L•4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=90
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09-19-2017, 03:18 PM
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#11
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Crazy Dog Lady
Join Date: May 2017
Location: near Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 62
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 5picker
That's what I would do if faced with the dilemma of no antifreeze in the system -vs- adding shut off/bypass valves and being content knowing everything is protected.
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Agreed. We'll have to install it ourselves. But the water heater is really difficult to get at -- the access panel only allows access to the drain valve. The water inlet and outlet are behind walls. Also it's all "pex" plastic pipes, no threaded fittings, which adds to the difficulty. I bet this will also void our warranty.
All to save the cost of 3 valves. Thanks FR!
__________________
"Little Toot" (2017 Forester 2391 TS)
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09-19-2017, 03:58 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Waynesville
Posts: 14,428
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Granny K
Agreed. We'll have to install it ourselves. But the water heater is really difficult to get at -- the access panel only allows access to the drain valve. The water inlet and outlet are behind walls. Also it's all "pex" plastic pipes, no threaded fittings, which adds to the difficulty. I bet this will also void our warranty.
All to save the cost of 3 valves. Thanks FR!
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Pex valves and Alligator Ends make this a "Easier Job"!  Youroo!!  Home Depot 1/2" Sharkbite shutoff valve "SKU# 282971!
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09-19-2017, 09:43 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Media, PA
Posts: 2,932
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Granny K
I'm happy to see posts like this crop up, as I am currently grappling with what to do with my 2017 Forester 2391TS, which has a Truma Combi furnace/water heater. According to Dan Dobecki at FR, "Per Truma who inspects and approves our install it is perfectly fine to run RV antifreeze through the water heater. We do not install a bypass on any unit we install that water heater on. If you have any questions please feel free to contact my office."
OK, but Truma, the manufacturer, specifically warns not to put RV antifreeze into the water heater. Who do you believe? (Hint: Truma) So, am I left with compressed air as the only way to winterize my MH? The unit is under warranty, and the dealer won't even respond to my e-mails.
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My Truma Combi has a drain valve that I open in cold weather. The procedure is in the Truma user manual. On mine it us a yellow valve on top of the unit that gets flipped 90°.
__________________
2017 Dynamax REV 24RB
2018 Ford F-150
Formerly a 2013 Sunseeker 2250 SLEC.
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09-20-2017, 06:37 AM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Ontario
Posts: 11
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Thanks Folks for your help with this, As you can see by my picture that I have pretty good access to the valves, so I'm going to have the $ 2.00 Valve added to the top...
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09-20-2017, 07:08 AM
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#15
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Crazy Dog Lady
Join Date: May 2017
Location: near Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 62
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Delco Bobby
My Truma Combi has a drain valve that I open in cold weather. The procedure is in the Truma user manual. On mine it us a yellow valve on top of the unit that gets flipped 90°.
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Certainly a first step in winterizing is to drain the hot water tank. What this does not do is assure that there is no water in the hot water lines downstream from the water heater. This is where the bypass valve becomes vital. Without it, you would have to completely fill the water heater with antifreeze in order to force antifreeze down the hot water lines.
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"Little Toot" (2017 Forester 2391 TS)
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09-20-2017, 07:09 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5,712
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From the pic...that was definitely and OOOPS ! by FR for forgetting the 3rd valve.
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09-20-2017, 07:10 AM
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#17
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Crazy Dog Lady
Join Date: May 2017
Location: near Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 62
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Quote:
Originally Posted by youroo
Pex valves and Alligator Ends make this a "Easier Job"! Youroo!! Home Depot 1/2" Sharkbite shutoff valve "SKU# 282971! |
Thanks Youroo. I hope you're right! The difficulty comes from the contortions (and possible removal of obstructions) that I would have to do in order to reach the water heater.
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"Little Toot" (2017 Forester 2391 TS)
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09-20-2017, 07:51 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SouthWest Michigan
Posts: 5,977
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I am wondering,,, if you close the valves & drain the W/H,,, then blow out the sys,,, with the valves open,,, you could then re close the valves,,, before adding the antifreeze???
It sure looks to me like FR forget a valve ???
I am guessing someone has winterized this unit in the past ???
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09-20-2017, 09:39 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
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I'm not sure the OP has a "tank." It's a hot water and heat combo; sounds more like an on-demand hot water system to me. So there may not be a tank to drain, just some piping??
__________________
1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)
2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
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09-20-2017, 10:14 AM
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#20
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2007 WildCat 32QBBS
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NJ
Posts: 2,349
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Forest River didn't forget a valve!
When it comes time to winterize, empty the water heater last by removing the plug/anode rod.
Prior to emptying the tank, turn the cold feed valve OFF (bottom valve)
OPEN the bypass valve (mid-valve).
Now winterize by blow-out or antifreeze. Run all faucets including HOT until you see the antifreeze.
Then drain the tank.
You will not get antifreeze in your tank during the process because the water in the tank is trapped and cannot get out, so antifreeze cannot get in. It's a basic rule of displacement. Kind of like holding your finger over a soda straw and the soda stays in until you remove your finger.
Hope this clears it up.
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2007 Forest River WildCat 32QBBS
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