Forum Discussion

JaysonD's avatar
JaysonD
Explorer
Oct 25, 2016

Anti-freeze in the heater

Hello everyone. We just got a 1998 Itasca Sundancer DL 29WU and we love it. It's now time to winterize the beast and no matter how hard I try to make this work, I always end up with antifreeze in the water-heater. I think it's only a one valve by-pass system since there is only one valve next to the water heater. I've tried in both position but I still get fluids inside the hot water tank. Has anyone ever had this probleme? I'm in a bit of a pickle because it's suppose to go below freezing point in the next few days.

If I'm stuck, can I ust fill the water heater with anti-freeze and llve with it this winter and get a proper 3 valve bypass system installed in the spring. A case of 4 gallons of RV antifreeze is only 10$ right now

Thanks

JD
Class C
  • GordonThree's avatar
    GordonThree
    Explorer
    Oct 25, 2016
    Long as you're using non toxic rv antifreeze, just don't forget to rinse it out in the spring.

    a little fluid freezing inside the big tank won't be a problem. it's when it freezes inside small pipes, valves is the problem.
  • romore's avatar
    romore
    Explorer II
    Oct 25, 2016
    You should only get anti freeze in the tank at one position. Are you sure the shaft is turning when you move the lever? It may not be completely closing. Make sure you thoroughly flush any 'pink stuff' out of the hot water tank and piping in the spring before firing it up or the water will stink.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Oct 25, 2016
    If you have only one valve system then you have a 'check valve' in hot out
    (valve handle parallel with cold water line---allows cold water to go into water heater / valve handle perpendicular to cold water line----bypasses water heater *connects cold line to hot line*)

    So either valve is not turning and allowing anti-freeze in thru cold inlet
    OR
    Check valve in hot out is leaking allowing anti-freeze to back flow into water heater

    I prefer a 3 valve system (Cold/Bypass/Hot) and NO check valve

    The RV anti-freeze is not toxic so a good strong rinse/flush come spring
    Might have to do it again after 1st heating cycle
  • JaysonD's avatar
    JaysonD
    Explorer
    Oct 25, 2016
    Thanks for the quick responses. I'll make sure my RV center check the valve in the spring. I suspect a faulty one. I will get a 3 valve system installed before we get back on the road, it make more sense to me.

    thanks again!

    JD
  • sch911's avatar
    sch911
    Explorer
    Oct 25, 2016
    Just be sure to flush out the WH with clear water before firing it up in the Spring.
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    Oct 25, 2016
    Once you're done getting antifreeze around, you can get the majority of it out of the water heater (assuming it was more or less filled) by removing the drain plug from the heater. I guess it's unimportant whether you do this now or in the spring, but I would surely suggest draining it before rinsing it as it means a lot less stuff to rinse out.

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