Auto Winterization Water Heater Bypass Valve leaking

[Rick Buddrus]

Anyone had any experience with the Auto Winterization Water Heater Bypass valve. Mine is leaking from the top adjustment screw and after conversation with Swan Industries today I am led to believe this is a common problem with these valves. Has anyone had any success with taking one apart to change the seal that is causing the leak/bypass. I am going to attempt the repair with the valve installed and am hopeful someone on the forum has already done this.

Thanks all.

[Rick Buddrus]

Anyone had any experience with the Auto Winterization Water Heater Bypass valve. Mine is leaking from the top adjustment screw and after conversation with Swan Industries today I am led to believe this is a common problem with these valves. Has anyone had any success with taking one apart to change the seal that is causing the leak/bypass. I am going to attempt the repair with the valve installed and am hopeful someone on the forum has already done this.

Thanks all.

[ua40j]

Rick,

Mine always leaked and never did work as advertised. I finally quit using them. We full time so we don't have to winterize, but if we did, we would replace these with manual valves.

Good luck with your repair.

[Rick Buddrus]

Jim,

Did you bypass them?

[RKL2]

Rick...I remember reading on a forum about these leaking valves...it seems that there is a metal washer with a raised flange that eats into the rubber washer/seal and causes the leaking. I believe the fix was to replace the rubber washer/seal and then don't use the raised metal washer without pounding the flange flat or substituting with a flat washer....Hope it helps...I would try a search on several forums to learn more....RKL

[ichn2go]

Rick do a search for author Tomcat 15. He had a real problem with these and he had them apart several times..Good luck,,,jim

[ua40j]

Rick,

I haven't bypassed them yet....the dealer (after 3 attempts) finally got them to stop leaking and i've left them that way. Sorry.

[Rick Buddrus]

Jim,

I'm going for repair (leakless) on the first attempt. Wish me luck. Just hours away from parts in hand.

[d.duin]

I replaced mine 3 times. Winnebago furnished 2 the first year and swan sent a third the 2nd yr.
I doubt you can replace the seal in place, at least mine had to be removed in my Horizon. I finally gave up & put in manual valves and no more problem. Of course it always went out while on a trip and once while driving and we didn't hear the pump running. When we arrived at our forest site no water!
Good luck
Ace