new to rving

[1SG]

hello all, my wife and i are new to rving. We just purchased a 2019 Forest River Flagstaff Micro Mini. We are very excited for our first camping trip in a week. I have become somewhat familiar with out trailer.
My concern is i cannot find any kind of bypass valve for the hot water heater. How do i know if my hot water tank has water in it, All the plumbing is enclosed except for the freshwater fill hose in the one storage compartment bay, NO valves anywhere.

please help.

[mawilson]

Welcome to the world of RVing.

Open the hot water at either the kitchen or the bath sink or both. Keep them open until the sputtering stops and the flow is smooth. Then close them and turn on the water heater.

[1SG]

so there is no valve i need to turn, if i hook up to city water, the tank will fill up automatically, just need to clear the air out and then heat it up

[chaps2018]

Originally Posted by 1SG

so there is no valve i need to turn, if i hook up to city water, the tank will fill up automatically, just need to clear the air out and then heat it up

My TT experience is that the HW bypass valves (if equipped) are near the tank. Can you find the tank on the outside and confirm you cannot access it from the inside? It would look something like this https://goo.gl/images/j34JjL

Another way to verify there is water in the HW tank is to open the safety valve to see if it is pressurized. of course make sure there is no possibility of hot water being in the tank. The valve is located behind the outside access panel and looks like this Camco 10423 1/2" Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve with 4" Epoxy-Coated Probe https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006IX8AU..._J-QsBbA7SNCYH

[1SG]

The freshwater nor hot water tank are visible. Everything is enclosed.

[1SG]

i will check the relief valve in the morning. I just brought the trailer home on thursday, and guy that walked me around it did not mention how it gets filled or drained, just how to make sure the switch at the heater is in the on position and the one in the TT for electricity is on. That was the orientation for the hot water, he said he put about a 1/3 tank of water in the tank for demonstration purpose, ie, toilet flush and water in faucets.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by 1SG

The freshwater nor hot water tank are visible. Everything is enclosed.

Your water heater tank IS visible, it's behind the outside hatch door.
That's also where you access the electric side switch, if it's a Suburban WH.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by 1SG

hello all, my wife and i are new to rving. We just purchased a 2019 Forest River Flagstaff Micro Mini. We are very excited for our first camping trip in a week. I have become somewhat familiar with out trailer.
My concern is i cannot find any kind of bypass valve for the hot water heater. How do i know if my hot water tank has water in it, All the plumbing is enclosed except for the freshwater fill hose in the one storage compartment bay, NO valves anywhere.

please help.

I have No idea which Micro you have,there are Several Models,so here is my "WAG"! There will be a W/H access Door on the Entrance Door Side of unit! Now go inside and directly in front of that outside W/H Door will be your "Bypass Valves"! You may have to Remove Drawers/unscrew Panels/be a Contortionist/but the Valves are there! You will NEED to locate these NOW so when "Winter Comes" you can change them Back! Play House and Camp in your Driveway "Before you go Camping"! Youroo!!

[wmtire]

Your water heater will be behind an outside access door like the one in the picture below (colors will vary to match the RV paint scheme), but this will be the front of the water heater. Your bypass valves are most likely on the backside of the tank, and you may have to remove a drawer, fake panel, etc inside the trailer to be able to access it.


Locate the tank outside, then go inside and see if you can figure out how to get to the backside of the tank. You sometimes may even find access thru a storage compartment hatch near it.

[wmtire]

Also since this is your first RV, this thread may help in a lot of other things too.


http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ts-157524.html


Good luck, and let us know if you get it figured out. You do need to find/access the water heater to make sure the valves (if equipped) are correct as many come shipped in the winterized position. If you do have a suburban water heater, it's also fully explained in the link above how to operate.

[Kirk S]

Originally Posted by youroo

I have No idea which Micro you have,there are Several Models,so here is my "WAG"! There will be a W/H access Door on the Entrance Door Side of unit! Now go inside and directly in front of that outside W/H Door will be your "Bypass Valves"! You may have to Remove Drawers/unscrew Panels/be a Contortionist/but the Valves are there! You will NEED to locate these NOW so when "Winter Comes" you can change them Back! Play House and Camp in your Driveway "Before you go Camping"! Youroo!!

Lol, I've had my Forester for 18 months. I live in south Georgia so don't winterize and everything is working properly so no hurry locating things. I took some time last weekend to remove some panels out of curiosity and found 3 valves behind the water heater, the furnace and ductwork, the Big Foot level sensor and the slide controller. I'd already located the Lippert modules when replacing the generator genie. Still looking for the router...I'll find it one day. Reminds me of an Easter egg hunt.