Forum Discussion

tempsho's avatar
tempsho
Explorer
Jul 27, 2013

Water heater bypass

I just bought a brand new Keystone Bullet Premier 31BHPR travel trailer and I am trying to winterize it already (I know, too soon)
However, I don't think it came installed with a bypass line/valve. There is a valve at the bottom of the tank to isolate it, but shouldn't there be a bypass line between the cold and hot lines?

With that valve closed, and pulling directly form the antifreeze bottle, I am able to get pink to all my cold taps, but not to my hot taps. (nothing comes out, the pump doesn't even turn on)

If I open that valve, then it fills the hot water tank as well, which is wasting about 6 gallons of antifreeze each time and then I can get antifreeze to the hot taps.

Am I missing something or did Keystone really not install a water heater bypass on my tank?

BTW, I love my 31BHPR!!!!

  • I will install a couple 'T' fittings and a valve between the hot and the cold line to make my own bypass. For how little extra effort it would have taken to install a bypass line from the factory when they were putting it together I am really shocked its not there
  • Based on your picture there is no bypass installed. However, it looks like you have antifreeze in the upper line (output) of the water heater. If you have added enough antifreeze to fill the water heater, eventually you should be able to pump the antifreeze to the hot water side of the faucets. Not ideal but it is a way to protect your rig.