Water Heater Check Valve

[RamblinFever]

I winterized our 2004 Bounder 35E yesterday but even with the bypass valve set to bypass, pink stuff ran into the water heater. I suspect there is a check valve somewhere in the water heater outlet line but can't find it. Any ideas where to look? Do I need to pull the water heater?

[RamblinFever]

I winterized our 2004 Bounder 35E yesterday but even with the bypass valve set to bypass, pink stuff ran into the water heater. I suspect there is a check valve somewhere in the water heater outlet line but can't find it. Any ideas where to look? Do I need to pull the water heater?

[Jack Myton]

If it is like the Atwood 16 gallon tank in our Rev., there is another valve at the back, high up on the left side as you face the heater from the outside. You do want to drain and flush the 'pink' from the tank itself as it is, apparently, according to techs I talk to, corrosive.

[RamblinFever]

Thanks for the corrosion tip - I will flush it out. However the heater is fully enclosed with an access door on the front and I cannot find see the plumbing. The bypass valve is mounted in the next compartment. Do I need to pull out the heater? Does it have flex plumbing?

If it is a big job I can live with the inconvenience, but any help would be appreciated.

[Jack Myton]

I would suggest that you call Fleetwood on Monday and get advice on it's installation and access. On our first coach, an '01 Discovery, the tank plumbing was accessed through a bottom opening cover. Also, check with the water heater manufacturer to get proper instruction manuals that should include the bypass procedure. If you pull the drain plug and drain most of the water, you shouldn't have to worry about freezing, and since we are getting into the warmer weather, the relatively short retention of 'pink' shouldn't be a problem.

[GerryB54]

My unit has a single lever bypass valve accessible from the outside TV compartment just aft of the water heater...there is also a "low point drain" valve in the vicinity of the water heater, but the bypass valve is the one that keeps the antifreeze out of the water heater tank. If you turn the wrong lever, antifreeze will enter the tank.

My bypass valve has an indicator card right on it indicating bypass or normal...does yours?

[RamblinFever]

I contacted Fleetwood and they will send me a schematic. However the customer service people have little technical knowledge and could not tell me how to find the check valve. I suspect that the schematic won't either. Any help from someone with experience would be greatly appreciated.