Community Forums

clogan · 10-31-2007, 10:50 AM

Our Hot water will not flow out of any outlets with either tank or city water supply but, the all cold water outlets are unaffected. There is also pressute to the hot water heater but, no hot water at the faucets. Is there a check value on hot side of the Hot Water heater?

I am able to get the hot water flowing by briefly reversing the water flow through the hot water heater but, the moment that you turn off all hot faucets, the hot water will not start flowing again when the hot faucets are turned again.

Has anyone run into this problem or does anyone know the location of this apparent check valve?

Thanks for any help or ideas!

Clogan
2001 36FDDS Alpine

clogan · 10-31-2007, 10:50 AM

Our Hot water will not flow out of any outlets with either tank or city water supply but, the all cold water outlets are unaffected. There is also pressute to the hot water heater but, no hot water at the faucets. Is there a check value on hot side of the Hot Water heater?

I am able to get the hot water flowing by briefly reversing the water flow through the hot water heater but, the moment that you turn off all hot faucets, the hot water will not start flowing again when the hot faucets are turned again.

Has anyone run into this problem or does anyone know the location of this apparent check valve?

Thanks for any help or ideas!

Clogan
2001 36FDDS Alpine

Frankie · 10-31-2007, 11:13 AM

Depending on your oem,yes check valve would be the first place I look.They can get deposit buid up.Also check your winterization valves,unlikly but check anyway.

Ted III · 10-31-2007, 12:20 PM

clogan, my thought would be that the winter by-pass valve is turned to do just that. By-pass the hot water heater. I have a 2005 34' but I would think your hearter is roughly in the same place. There is a valve that allows you to winterize your water system so you do not have to fill the h,l. water tank. Find the valve and turn it to be literally inline with your system.

Ted III · 10-31-2007, 12:22 PM

clogan, your by pass valve is turned in the wrong direction. Check by your hot water heater and I will bet it is in the winterazation position

clogan · 10-31-2007, 01:19 PM

Ted,

Thanks so much for your rapid response. But the cold water bypass valve was and is in a position which allows cold water to flow into the Hot tank and there is excellent water press at the safety pop-off valve (even when water will not flow out of the hot faucets (not at all will flow).

However, in reading our owners manual, and it says "To turn the water supply off to the water heater, simply turn the valve so that in points Straight up". This is exactly opposite of how it works. Straight up off the cold supply line alows the water to flow into the heater - not bypass as the manual says.

The manual also says: "Also located on the backside of the water heater, there will be a hot water line. The handle on this valve will need to be turned so that it is pointing straight down, this will the allow the water from the cold water line to flow into the hot water lines." We do NOT have a second valve near or going to the hot water tank (at least I not find one after one hour of searching). In addition, the first valve mentioned above (on our coach) diverts the cold water into the hot water lines as just discribed in the manual. However, our single vale much be turned straight up in order to supply the hot water tank.

Clogan

Ted III · 10-31-2007, 03:06 PM

clogan, when all else fails disconnect the hot water feed line and see if anything comes out. If not I would suggest or think the hot water heater is trash!
Ted Ulmer

Old Scout · 10-31-2007, 03:13 PM

"Valve turned the wrong way" is too easy an answer since it probably worked fine until recently. I vote for a plugged check-valve. You may be able to disassemble and remove the gunk or worst case, knock out the valve-center for now and replace later,,,,,

DR Dave · 11-05-2007, 09:51 AM

On our 2000 36FDS we had trouble with cloged lines sometimes had to take apart valves to unplug. Found problem to be hot and cold water revursed alowing debree from anode into lines. Cold goes in the bottom and hot comes out the top. also check the anode if you have never changed it replace it after flushing out the tank.

clogan · 11-12-2007, 08:58 AM

Thanks to all for the advise and help.

The problem was indeed the check valve - a brass one on the top (outlet) connection of the hot water heater. After much searching to find and removing debris from the check valve, yesterday, everything is now working fine.

RedHotSoup · 10-08-2008, 04:43 AM

I think Alpine engineers discovered if a check valve is installed on the water heater outlet they don't need a second shutoff valve to prevent cold water (if first valve is set for winterizing) from reverse flowing into the water heater. Like all good engineers they were able to eliminate the second valve, reducing cost and eliminating another point of failure. Unfortunately that information didn't get back to the technical writers to update the documentation.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by clogan:
Ted,

...The manual also says: "Also located on the backside of the water heater, there will be a hot water line. The handle on this valve will need to be turned so that it is pointing straight down, this will the allow the water from the cold water line to flow into the hot water lines." We do NOT have a second valve near or going to the hot water tank (at least I not find one after one hour of searching). In addition, the first valve mentioned above (on our coach) diverts the cold water into the hot water lines as just discribed in the manual. However, our single vale much be turned straight up in order to supply the hot water tank.

Clogan </div></BLOCKQUOTE>