Antifreeze NOT Bypassing Water Heater

[Sped]

I got the red valve on bypass and the blue valve on winterize. It’s sucking up the pink juice and spitting it out the water heater drain on the outside of the camper.

These valves seem so basic, plastic, and sort of bombproof….
Can these valves break go bad?

Am I missing something obvious?


Dan

[stevenal]

My camper has a two way and a three way valve to route around the WH. I found the three way was installed backward from the factory. I turned it around, and all works as it should now.

[Mike_Tassinari]

Evening Dan.

So here is what is happening.
If I read your post correctly,
1- You have the by/pass valve open that switches the water pump suction side from its normal operation of taking water from your fresh water tank, and now suction anti-freeze thru a hose stuck in a bottle of Anti-Freeze
2 - You have the second by/pass valve close to stop anti/freeze from entering the cold water inlet side of your water heater, and when in that position allows anti/freeze to enter the hot water piping of your R/V
3 - What most people do not know, is what the heck is stopping the anti/freeze from entering the hot water outlet in your water heater

That because to save money - instead of putting a third valve to stop the anti/freeze from entering the hot water outlet of your water heater--------There is a check valve and I am guessing your check valve is junk and letting anti/freeze into the water heater via the hot water outlet pipe.

FYI - Looking at that outlet nipple that threaded into the hot water side of your water heater - it looks just like a 2" or so nipple - NOPE, there is a check valve inside that puppy.
Lastly go with a brass check valve instead of the plastic one.

Mike Tassinari

[Slymer]

That is a little weird. Over the years we have had 1, 2, and also 3 connections to do a proper HWTank bypass. I have no clue as to why some are different. With our Arctic Fox 811, there is just one, so it could not be easier. Good luck. I would put the pink stuff away until you sort it out. Maybe hookup a city water line & close all taps but open the hot water tank & you can play with the valves until water stops running out of the tank. Then you’ll know where you’re at.

[towpro]

https://rv101withmarkpolk.com/2019/10/24/understanding-rv-water-heater-by-pass-systems/

[valhalla360]

markowwes wrote:
There should be 3 valves to turn, close the cold going into the tank and the hot going out and open the bybass. that will circulate around the tank.

There could be multiple configurations.
- 1 two way valve to stop water entering a the tank and route it to the bypass with a check valve at the tank exit, so water can't go into the tank thru the exit.
- 2 valves. A two way valve to stop water entering the tank and route it to the bypass with one at the exit, so water can't enter the tank.
- 3 valves. One on the entrance, one on the exit and one in the bypass line.

We've had all 3 configurations over the years.

The 3 valve option had an issue in that the rubber valve seal would come loose from the handle, so I had to pull it apart and reattach it or it wouldn't work right.

[Geo_Boy]

jimh425 wrote:
On second thought, I have two. One at the water pump at the front of the TC and pickup from the RV Antifreeze bottle and one to bypass the water heater inside.

X2

[ticki2]

I have two valves , one a
t the bottom to let cold water enter the water heater and one at the top for hot water to exit . The handles of the valve face the water heater when it’s in use . To bypass the heater both handles face inline with the horizontal pipes . This shuts off the water tank but allows cold water to flow in both hot and cold faucets .

[jimh406]

On second thought, I have two. One at the water pump at the front of the TC and pickup from the RV Antifreeze bottle and one to bypass the water heater inside.

[bukhrn]

jimh425 wrote:
Mine only has one valve. I guess it's possible to be bad. Mine is not plastic.

Mine also has 1 valve, and it Is plastic.

[jimh406]

Mine only has one valve. I guess it's possible to be bad. Mine is not plastic.

[markowwes]

There should be 3 valves to turn, close the cold going into the tank and the hot going out and open the bybass. that will circulate around the tank.