Community Forums

heritage2006 · 07-05-2013, 11:10 AM

Can someone tell me what these shut-offs are for ?

Also, "1" and "3" seems to be in the "open" position and "2" in the "closed" position. Am I right on that ? If so, why ?

Have I mentioned how useless the manuals are !! LOL

Libero · 07-05-2013, 11:18 AM

1& 3 are closed when HW TANK is being bypassed wnd open when in service.

2 is closed when the HOT WATER TANK is in service and open when TANK is being bypassed.

Looks like they are correctly set for in service in pictures

Tony Lee · 07-05-2013, 11:48 AM

They are to allow you to winterise the coach without having to waste a lot of antifreeze fulling the HW tank up.

Briefly - shut the valves 1 and 3 and drain the HW tank by removing the drain bung or the electrode from the outside access door.

Open valve 2 and pump antifreeze through the system as detailed on a million posts on the topic. Open taps - hot and cold - one at a time until the water changes colour to the antifreeze colour and shut each one off.
NB - need to use special non-toxic RV antifreeze.

Alternative is to use compressed air to blow all the water out of the lines and make sure things like pumps filters, icemakers and such are prepared properly.

BFlinn181 · 07-05-2013, 11:48 AM

Actually, your set up makes it very clear unlike some that have a by-pass valve in a remote location. When 1 and 3 are closed, water is blocked coming and going from water heater. By then opening 2, water will 'short cut' or by-pass the water heater. You could then drain and winterize WH. Closing 2 and opening 1 and 3 then restores normal flow through WH. Nice, clear setup!

heritage2006 · 07-05-2013, 12:09 PM

Thanks !!

Actually I've never winterized this RV - and hope to not have to for a LONG time to come. I'm blessed in that I can Winter in Arizona each year.

But I like to learn something new about my coach all the time. When things just 'work' well there's no motivation to learn.

I just sanitized my fresh water tank for the first time. I never use the fresh water tank for my drinking water but figured as I am on hook-ups right now (I usually boondock) might as well do it.

I followed this You Tube video to do it:

HOW TO: Sanitize an RV Fresh Water Tank - YouTube

The video mentioned something about not putting the bleach solution through the hot water and I wondered how that was prevented.

"007" · 07-05-2013, 03:02 PM

Here is some more info in QT's 1 & 2 for explanation plus for winterizing.

Winterizing

Pic #1

Pic #2

Yours are in full view the pic's show other wise.
Hope your still enjoying the hot weather.

heritage2006 · 09-04-2013, 07:41 PM

Figured I'd continue on with this thread as I am now going to (for the first time

) flush my Hot Water Tank. I'm following the instructions on this YouTube Video:

HOW TO: Flush an Atwood RV Water Heater - YouTube

At about 4:30 in the video it talks about using the hose that is primarily designed to draw anti-freeze into the system when winterizing.

They use this hose to draw the vinegar into the hot water tank. On their RV there is a 'diverter valve' which they turn from 'normal' to 'divert'.
What I don't know is what valve(s) to turn in my case.

The inital pics I posted shows three different valves. In a compartment where this 'anti-freeze hose' is on my rig there are two additional valves !!

Anybody know which one(s) I turn ??

BFlinn181 · 09-04-2013, 08:15 PM

The hose with the clamp on the end I assume loops out of the photo and connects at the black valve with the handle set in the off position, (the handle is perpendicular to the flow) By loosening the clamp the black plug should come out of the hose end. That end is then put into either vinegar or RV anti-freeze jug. The other valve is in the open position because the handle is parallel to the flow. Close that valve and open the first one controlling the suction hose. Now if the pump is turned on it should draw from the jug instead of the water tank and be pumped into the system. If you open a hot water tap, it will pump it into the water heater on the way to the faucet. When winterizing you do the same thing, except you use the water heater by-pass valve to prevent having you fill the heater tank with anti-freeze since you have drained the tank by pulling the drain plug.

heritage2006 · 09-04-2013, 08:26 PM

"The hose with the clamp on the end I assume loops out of the photo and connects at the black valve with the handle set in the off position"

YES

"By loosening the clamp the black plug should come out of the hose end. That end is then put into either vinegar or RV anti-freeze jug."

YES and YES

BFlinn181 · 09-04-2013, 09:18 PM

You have labeled the valves correctly.

heritage2006 · 09-04-2013, 09:25 PM

Thanks Bob ! I'll give it a try tomorrow and report back.

And do not turn any of the three valves that are on the actual hot water tank - the ones I originally posted in this thread ?

BFlinn181 · 09-04-2013, 09:39 PM

No, those valves are set for service, i.e. water flowing through the water heater. To winterize you'll open #2 to and close #1 and #3 to by-pass tank for winterizing.

"007" · 09-05-2013, 06:13 AM

Leave the valves on hot water tank as they are for normal use when not in by-pass mode and sanitize the hot water tank also to eliminate the smelly egg smell that you may get in hot weather..
You can also put the bleach in your empty city water hose to sanitize the hose at same time.