HWH bypass, where the heck is it??

[Alaskaman1]

Winterizing my new to me 2017 Cardinal 3250, I have searched high and low, in the unit, here and at FR's website, for the location of my HWH bypass lines.


My owners manual was printed in 9/2014 and as usual is worthless. I don't see in the water connections panel anything related to a bypass.


Can anyone enlighten me? It's dropping into the 20's and I need to get this done. In the mean time I will blow the lines but really need to winterize the pump and fixtures.



Thanks, Larry

[Alaskaman1]

This is a Suburban HWH. I'm not new to the RV world, we have over 40 years under our belts. We just returned from the lower 48 with this Cardinal last Friday.




Thanks again.

[upflying]

Is there access behind the water heater?

[Mr. Dan]

Do you have anything like this in your “water connections panel”?

[Alaskaman1]

I don't have anything like that in my control center, here's a photo of mine.


There is no panel in the area of the HWH, it appears it's about centered on the shower enclosure. I've been in every cabinet on that side of the RV, nothing there.


All of my previous RV's, 5th wheels, MH's have had the suction winterization system that included a bypass in the panel. The only exception is an old '70's TT that I installed a bypass kit that drew fluid through the pump.

[rracer5]

The upper right picture on the label shows the combination to put the levers to suction anti-freeze from the bottle by using the on-board pump through the city water connection.

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by Alaskaman1

I don't have anything like that in my control center, here's a photo of mine.


There is no panel in the area of the HWH, it appears it's about centered on the shower enclosure. I've been in every cabinet on that side of the RV, nothing there.


All of my previous RV's, 5th wheels, MH's have had the suction winterization system that included a bypass in the panel. The only exception is an old '70's TT that I installed a bypass kit that drew fluid through the pump.

I think you DO have something like that...... What are the words printed under WINTERIZE? I can't make them out from your pic - even blowing them up. I can't read the words under SANITIZE, either... nor the words on the rectangular blue labels in the center.


EDIT:
OK... I see most of the words on the labels after fiddling with the image to remove glare. All these many valve handles will do what you want. The manufacturer put them in a convenient location so you don't have to crawl under the oven!

[Alaskaman1]

I understand from my past RV's about suction and agree one of those combinations might bypass the HWH.


I think if I put it in suction mode I should see AF coming out of the HWH drain plug if it's not bypassed...no brainer, eh?
My guess is no access panel = bypassed when in winterization position. I do notice if I put it in dry camping mode with the pump on and put air to it it blows out of the HWH drain.


Thanks for the input!

[djousma]

The info you are given is correct that "winterize" does bypass the WH, as I have the same panel. However, I would add a step before you do the AF. Drain the water heater completely, replace the drain plug, set the knobs to city water, and apply compressed air to the system to blow out the hot/cold water lines. Reason being is that there is quite a length of pipe from the back of the control panel to/from the water heater that does not get drained, nor get antifreeze in it because of the bypass, and is why i suggest blowing it out. Once you do that, then go ahead and remove the drain plug in the W/H for the winter, go to winterize setting and run the A/F through the entire system as planned.

[richp]

Hi,

Forest River cleverly left the three bypass valves in my unit buried at the back of the water heater, in a tangle of wires and PEX tubing, with the only access sideways through a small curved panel.

Just finished winterizing mine this morning, renewing my twice a year unkind thoughts about how the guys who thought up this installation never contemplated actual use of those valves.

Which is to say yours might be buried in the back like mine. Hope not...

FWIW.

Rich Phillips

[davejodoin]

On our 2019 8529ikbs they neglected to put bypasses on hot water, one blue going in, one hot going out, luckily we are full timing so it's not a issue.

[rracer5]

Originally Posted by davejodoin

On our 2019 8529ikbs they neglected to put bypasses on hot water, one blue going in, one hot going out, luckily we are full timing so it's not a issue.

You bypass the water heater by putting the levers in your water docking station in a certain combination. The label on the docking station will show you how.

[davejodoin]

Ok, thanks, did not know that.

[rracer5]

Originally Posted by davejodoin

Ok, thanks, did not know that.