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Old 09-24-2016, 08:06 PM   #1
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Winterizing Bypass Valve?

While checking out the underside of my new A213HW, I noticed this valve right next to the fresh water tank drain valve.
In the manual I received with the unit, it said to put 3 or 4 gallons of RV fluid in the freshwater tank and pump it through all the water lines to winterize it.
Is this valve used for allowing an intake line to be put directly into the bottle of RV fluid?
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Old 09-24-2016, 08:08 PM   #2
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A little farther away
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Old 09-24-2016, 08:13 PM   #3
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That's exactly what it is. Attach a hose, turn the valve towards it and kick on the pump. Make sure the water heater is bypassed and you should be able to do it with less than a gallon on that trailer.
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Old 09-24-2016, 08:22 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brimare57 View Post
While checking out the underside of my new A213HW, I noticed this valve right next to the fresh water tank drain valve.
In the manual I received with the unit, it said to put 3 or 4 gallons of RV fluid in the freshwater tank and pump it through all the water lines to winterize it.
Is this valve used for allowing an intake line to be put directly into the bottle of RV fluid?
Absolutely, positively under ANY circumstances do NOT add RV antifreeze to the FW tank, you will smell and possible taste it for a long time.
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Old 09-24-2016, 08:43 PM   #5
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Absolutely, positively under ANY circumstances do NOT add RV antifreeze to the FW tank, you will smell and possible taste it for a long time.
X2

That valve allows you to pump the antifreeze out of the bottle without putting any in the FW tank. Why they would tell you to put it in the FW tank is beyond me, ESPECIALLY since they gave you the 3 way valve so you don't have to.

You seem to have 2 more hoses attached to the bottom of your tank. I'm wondering why. I would assume one could be the fill line, but what's the other one for? You should trace these lines and make sure you understand what they do.

UPDATE: Looking again, I see the one on the right doesn't really have a hose attached; I believe it's your tank drain.
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Old 09-25-2016, 09:32 AM   #6
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X2
You seem to have 2 more hoses attached to the bottom of your tank. I'm wondering why. I would assume one could be the fill line, but what's the other one for? You should trace these lines and make sure you understand what they do.

UPDATE: Looking again, I see the one on the right doesn't really have a hose attached; I believe it's your tank drain.
You are correct rockfordroo. The valve on the right is the tank drain.
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Old 09-25-2016, 09:38 AM   #7
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[QUOTE=rockfordroo;1325922]X2

"Why they would tell you to put it in the FW tank is beyond me, ESPECIALLY since they gave you the 3 way valve so you don't have to."

I completely agree rockfordroo. But the manual indeed says to pour a few gallons in the fresh water tank. To make matters stranger, when I picked up the unit from the dealership, the rep was very vague when I asked him if there was a RV fluid intake hose somewhere. He said if a customer winterizes the unit, it voids the warranty. Maybe it does, but I am not about to pay someone to do something that is so simple.
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Old 09-25-2016, 09:40 AM   #8
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Does anyone know what size hose will fit the valve? Please advise.
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Old 09-25-2016, 09:50 AM   #9
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Does anyone know what size hose will fit the valve? Please advise.
Most likely 1/2 hose or PEX, you should be able to find that at Lowes or a Home Depot.
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Old 09-25-2016, 10:09 AM   #10
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[QUOTE=Brimare57;1326175]
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockfordroo View Post
X2

"Why they would tell you to put it in the FW tank is beyond me, ESPECIALLY since they gave you the 3 way valve so you don't have to."

I completely agree rockfordroo. But the manual indeed says to pour a few gallons in the fresh water tank. To make matters stranger, when I picked up the unit from the dealership, the rep was very vague when I asked him if there was a RV fluid intake hose somewhere. He said if a customer winterizes the unit, it voids the warranty. Maybe it does, but I am not about to pay someone to do something that is so simple.
This sounds like the salesman's lips were moving again (that's when you know he's lying!)
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Old 09-25-2016, 10:18 AM   #11
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[QUOTE=rockfordroo;1326208]
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Originally Posted by Brimare57 View Post

This sounds like the salesman's lips were moving again (that's when you know he's lying!)
At the risk of violating forum rules....

Salesman = Politician = Salesman...

/political rant.


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Old 09-25-2016, 01:15 PM   #12
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[QUOTE=Ford Idaho;1326218]
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockfordroo View Post

At the risk of violating forum rules....

Salesman = Politician = Salesman...

/political rant.


I think you're safe on that one as you've just stated a well recognized fact.
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Old 09-25-2016, 02:31 PM   #13
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[QUOTE=Brimare57;1326175]
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockfordroo View Post
X2

"Why they would tell you to put it in the FW tank is beyond me, ESPECIALLY since they gave you the 3 way valve so you don't have to."

I completely agree rockfordroo. But the manual indeed says to pour a few gallons in the fresh water tank. To make matters stranger, when I picked up the unit from the dealership, the rep was very vague when I asked him if there was a RV fluid intake hose somewhere. He said if a customer winterizes the unit, it voids the warranty. Maybe it does, but I am not about to pay someone to do something that is so simple.
I am looking right at manual now and it surely says to pour the anti-freeze in the FW tank ...

Unbelievable
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Old 09-25-2016, 02:48 PM   #14
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[QUOTE=alarge1;1326431]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brimare57 View Post

I am looking right at manual now and it surely says to pour the anti-freeze in the FW tank ...

Unbelievable
The only reason I could see would be if you can't fully drain your FW tank.
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Old 09-25-2016, 02:53 PM   #15
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Draining all tanks is the first item in the list of instructions
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Old 09-25-2016, 03:36 PM   #16
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You'll never completely drain that tank, but there's plenty of expansion room. Chances are, the manual was written when none of those units came with a winterizing kit installed and that valve is a fairly recent addition.....which could mean anything in the last ten years at the rate things get updated. There's no need at all for antifreeze in the tank unless that's the only way you have to pump it through the system. It won't hurt anything if you drink traces of it but people do say it may taste/smell funny and it'll take a lot of fill/flush to get it all out since you can't completely drain it.
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Old 09-25-2016, 03:59 PM   #17
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You'll never completely drain that tank, but there's plenty of expansion room.
EXACTLY!
Neither the FW tank or WH have to be completely empty, because there's room for the frozen water to expand.
It's the places that are narrow that are in danger.
Water lines are #1 danger area.
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Old 09-25-2016, 05:47 PM   #18
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He said if a customer winterizes the unit, it voids the warranty.
The manual give complete instructions to the consumer for winterizing. So the manufacturer support customers doing it. The salesnerd was, er, misinformed.
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Old 09-25-2016, 05:54 PM   #19
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It's a case of the dealership hoping to get to charge for winterizing.
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Old 09-25-2016, 06:35 PM   #20
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It's a case of the dealership hoping to get to charge for winterizing.
BINGO!!!
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