Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-01-2017, 10:25 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 13
Where is the water bypass Valve?

I own a 2016 Flagstaff SuperLite 524RLWS. Does anyone know where the drinking water tank bypass valve is for winterization?
Thanks!
John24RLS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2017, 10:41 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
It's actual name is the Hot Water Heater (HWH) bypass valve. It bypasses the HWH, not the "drinking" (Fresh) water tank. And remember you need to close the cold water outlet inlet valve and hot water outlet valve, which should be in the same place, when you open the bypass valve.

Can't tell you specifically where it's at, but go outside to your hot water heater access panel. Now envision where the other side of the water heater would be on the inside. Then go inside and look for a panel you can remove or a door you can open.

FR likes to put these behind panels that are either directly screwed shut with a 4 or 6 screws, or behind a door that has 2 hinges on one side and one hinge on the other. Below is a pic of the door that my HWH is behind. Unscrew the single hinge, and open the door.

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_4765.jpg
Views:	343
Size:	303.1 KB
ID:	153037

UPDATE: Found a pic of your unit online. Looks to me like your HWH is under the counter between your sink and the wall. You just need to figure out how to get to it.

It looks like there's a storage cabinet door just inside your entry door to the right. I'd start there. If you open it, there may be some kind of removable panel at the back of the cabinet. OR there may be a removable panel on the left side of the space under the sink that you get to via the cabinet door at your knees when standing at the sink.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Flagstaff 5ver pic 1.jpg
Views:	536
Size:	111.9 KB
ID:	153040   Click image for larger version

Name:	Flagstaff 5ver pic 2.jpg
Views:	378
Size:	77.8 KB
ID:	153041  
__________________
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
rockfordroo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2017, 11:28 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
BooBoo23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: West Atlanta Metro
Posts: 1,235
The WH should be under the kitchen sink to the left side. I couldn't find any photos of the kitchen area but most likely there is a cabinet door there and on the inside of that compartment there should be a removable panel held in by a couple screws. Remove the panel and you will find the back of the WH. There is different plumbing on various RV so there may be 1,2,or 3 valves on the back of the WH. If there are 3 valves turn all the handles so they are vertical, if there are 2 valves both of them vertical, if here is one valve turn it so it is vertical. You will have to locate the fresh water tank drain under the RV. It may have a small ball valve or it may have a pipe cap. Next locate the low point drains, there should be a decal on the side of your RV that will give you the approximate location of the low point drains under the RV. There should be 2 pipes hanging down, most times it will be a white pipe and a blue pipe (hot and cold) with caps on the ends. Remove the caps and then open all the faucets and operate the toilet valve. Drain the WH tank by removing the anode rod if you have Suburban WH, be sure you relieve any pressure in the system by opening the pressure relief valve and no hot water in the tank or you will get a unintended bath. Go to the city water inlet on the outside of the RV and remove the filter screen and put you finger or a pen into the opening to release the water in the pipe. You may have a black tank flush so you need to clear that of any water also.
The winterizing procedure is generic to all RV's. Attached is a You Tube video that my help you understand it. There are may You Tube videos on the subject so just look at several to see how it is done.
__________________
2014 Palomino Puma 25RS
2011 F-150 Super Crew XLT
Days camped in 2014 - 23 Camped 2015-47
Camped 2016-71, 2017-33, 2018-29 booked
KT4W
BooBoo23 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2017, 12:26 PM   #4
Kasual Kamper
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Fairfield County CT
Posts: 1,297
Quote:
Originally Posted by BooBoo23 View Post
Attached is a You Tube video that my help you understand it. There are may You Tube videos on the subject so just look at several to see how it is done.
Good video, but they didn't include blowing out the lines with an air compressor first.
__________________
Current: 2013 Flagstaff MicroLite 21DS
Past: 2000 Fleetwood Mallard 19N
TV: 2013 Nissan Pathfinder SL 4x4
JayArras is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2017, 05:10 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
Page 2 of this generic plumbing pic shows the numerous ways they've developed over the years to arrange the HWH valves.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf RV Plumbing pic.pdf (358.4 KB, 230 views)
__________________
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
rockfordroo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2017, 03:20 PM   #6
Crazy Dog Lady
 
Granny K's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: near Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 62
Quote:
Originally Posted by JayArras View Post
Good video, but they didn't include blowing out the lines with an air compressor first.
Blowing out the water first is not absolutely necessary but still a good idea. If you have a compressor at home all you need is a "blow out plug"
http://amzn.to/2xMOVeE
one end goes onto your city water connection on your RV, the other end goes onto your air compressor hose. Set your compressor to somewhat below 40 psi to avoid damaging your water system.
__________________
"Little Toot" (2017 Forester 2391 TS)
Granny K is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2017, 03:26 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cedar Creek Lake, TX
Posts: 3,477
It sounds to be like the original poster is not asking about the hot water heater bypass but rather the fitting to suck antifreeze directly into the water pump for winterization (there bypassing the fresh water tank.)
That being said I am not familiar with your trailer to tell you where this inlet is located, or if it even has one. Mine does not have one, but they can be added.
__________________
Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Keystone Loredo 290SRL
2019 Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins crew cab
Andersen hitch
CedarCreekWoody is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2017, 05:36 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 269
First thing to do with any RV is to get rid of those screws that hold those panels on that let you get access to your hot water heater or any other fuse boxes.
After all each time you take the screws out the holes get messy and bigger
Get some Velcro and you are done.




brandon2
2014 2500TS
brandon 2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2017, 05:42 PM   #9
Site Team
 
Mr. Dan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Grayson County, Texas
Posts: 21,502
Quote:
Originally Posted by CedarCreekWoody View Post
It sounds to be like the original poster is not asking about the hot water heater bypass but rather the fitting to suck antifreeze directly into the water pump for winterization (there bypassing the fresh water tank.)
RIght. Fact is we're not certain what the OP is asking since the terminology is non-standard. Maybe we'll get more info soon.
__________________
2015 FR Wildcat 295RSX / GMC Sierra

Nights Camped: '13 = 49/'14 = 74/'15 = 74/'16 = 85/'17 = 110/'18 = 111/'19 = 86/'20 =108/'21 = 115/'22 = 135/'23 = 78; Booked for 2024 = 69
Mr. Dan is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2017, 10:53 PM   #10
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 13
I did find the HWH bypass valve. Thanks to your post. I do have a factory fitting to suck antifreeze into the system.
And a separate fill fitting for the Fresh water tank
and a separate fitting to hook up city water.

Here is my next question.
When sucking antifreeze into the system through the factory fitting does it go into the water tank as well as all the other lines as pointed out in the video?
Thanks for all the help so far and the video was great to.
John
2016 Flagstaff Superlite 524RLWS
John24RLS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2017, 11:12 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
You don't really want antifreeze in your fresh water tank. You want to drain the tank and just leave it empty. So if you have the 3-way valve, turn it so the pump sucks from the AF connection. If you have separate valves, make sure the valve from the pump suction to the fresh water tank is closed and the valve from the pump suction to the AF connection is open.
__________________
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
rockfordroo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2017, 06:20 AM   #12
Crazy Dog Lady
 
Granny K's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: near Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 62
Quote:
Originally Posted by John24RLS View Post
I did find the HWH bypass valve.
Here is my next question.
When sucking antifreeze into the system through the factory fitting does it go into the water tank as well as all the other lines as pointed out in the video?
Thanks for all the help so far and the video was great to.
John
2016 Flagstaff Superlite 524RLWS
Let's deal with the tanks separately.
Fresh water tank: When you switch the valve on the plumbing leading to the water pump, it will connect the antifreeze fill hose to the water pump and cut off the feed from the fresh water tank.
Hot water tank: You do not want to put antifreeze into the hot water tank. First, it would take a lot of antifreeze to fill the tank, then it may be difficult to remove all the residue from the hot water tank. (Some manufacturers of hot water tanks specify not to put in antifreeze for a variety of reasons.) This is the reason that there should be a hot water tank bypass.

So to answer your question: Neither.The antifreeze goes only into the water lines and into the P-traps.
__________________
"Little Toot" (2017 Forester 2391 TS)
Granny K is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2017, 09:58 PM   #13
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 13
I found the Water tank bypass valve and the water pump.




In the second picture you are looking at the rear wall of the through cargo compartment. Is the duct in this picture that is not connected to anything for heating the cargo compartment?



Thanks John
John24RLS is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bypass, valve, water

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:46 PM.