Bypass problems

[Scribble]

I have a 2017 Forest River heritage glen lite 386RLBHK. We started to winterize with the single valve in bypass mode but it filled up the water heater. I thought maybe the one way valve was bad so swapped that as it was the easiest and cheapest unit. It still stated filling the water heater from the bottom cold line. Do these bypass valves fail? I can still feel resistance when throwing the lever to bypass and normal.

 

[Oaklevel]

Do you have two or 3 by pass valves in your system.

I personally have not had a bypass valve fail...... usually one is in the wrong position.

I will say while having antifreeze in the not great . It can be cleaned out in the spring.

 

[bikendan]

I have a 2017 Forest River heritage glen lite 386RLBHK. We started to winterize with the single valve in bypass mode but it filled up the water heater. I thought maybe the one way valve was bad so swapped that as it was the easiest and cheapest unit. It still stated filling the water heater from the bottom cold line. Do these bypass valves fail? I can still feel resistance when throwing the lever to bypass and normal.

Pics of the WH valves are often more helpful than descriptions.

 

[Scribble]

There is only one valve in my system and it has 3 connections. I’ve attached a pic like the one in my trailer.

 

[Scribble]

Well I think it destroyed my anode rod last year due to the entire water heater being filled with antifreeze before I could start winterizing the hot side. It was also very wasteful and expensive since it took 7 gallons due to filling the heater with fluid just to pump it through the hot lines.

 

[toyhauler2007]

Valve probably not bad but handle could be bad (worn where it attached to valve stem).Had this happen to our motorhome,remove handle and turn valve with small adjustable wrench .

 

[Oaklevel]

Well I think it destroyed my anode rod last year due to the entire water heater being filled with antifreeze before I could start winterizing the hot side. It was also very wasteful and expensive since it took 7 gallons due to filling the heater with fluid just to pump it through the hot lines.

The anti freeze will not destroy the anode rod...... just wastes a lot of antifreeze.

 

[Brother Les]

have you ever winterized your unit before?

 

[Scribble]

Yes it has been winterized each year of owning. This year was the first that I was involved with as it was previously my brother handling everything as the camper was solely his prior to this year.
He didn’t know that the tank was being filled with antifreeze last year and I only discovered it doing this by accident.

I have taken the handle off and verified the handle is actually turnin the valve.

 

[aceinspp]

Do you ave the handle pointing up? That's where it is suppose to be to by pass. Later RJD

 

[Scribble]

Yes I was running it in bypass mode. I did pull antifreeze in from the pump hose meant for winterizing and in both directions up in bypass and in normal I was getting antifreeze into the water heater. I had the anode out and was watching water and air bubble in on the low cold inlet line.

 

[Iwritecode]

I have a similar valve on my 2015 Sabre. But I also have a second valve right next to it. Do you have this?

 

[Scribble]

I only have the one valve for bypass. I have even removed the panels covering all the underbelly plumbing and see there are no additional valves. in any of the plumbing lines.

 

[Iwritecode]

My best guess is that if you only have a single turn-able valve, you must have a check valve somewhere else that may have failed.

 

[Scribble]

The only check valve I can find is the one way valve on the hot outlet and I did exchange that. When I was sucking in antifreeze with the valve in normal or in bypass I can see the water coming in from the bottom of the tank "the cold side". The single bypass valve plumbing layout is kind of confusing as it doesn't really bypass things like you would think.

 

[dnicoll]

Filled hot water tank with antifreeze

I have the same setup with two valves mounted in the wet compartment in our Columbus. One valve for hot water tank bypass, the other is for winterizing. My hot water tank also filled with antifreeze this year.
There is a backflow preventer valve in the water line from the tank to the trailer. This BFL failed during the summer. The antifreeze circulated around and filled the hot water tank ‘from the back.’ I usually use one 4 litre jug to winterize my trailer - including dumping some down the drains. This year I used four 4 litre jugs. (Too bad I can’t count on saving it and reuse next year!)