Trouble Winterizing the Hot Water Side of Plumbing

[bunjin]

Very well done! Your pictures and explanation are very helpful.

Thanks.

I may try to do this this fall/winter myself.

Toilet valve replacement first order of business when I receive it. If I had been thinking, I would have ordered bypass at same time.

[JohnB]

Hi 2manystoves,

Looks like you have your baypass all in place. Great! and good job.

H'mm question, those 2 white valves leading up to the heater, can you lift the pipe up off the carpet and that they are for sure shut off valves?

Reason I ask is those look like low point drain 3 ways valves. If you go under the camper and look at at the location of the 2 valves and there are 2 plastic pipes stinking down in the open, if so then those are 3 way valves to gravity drain the system to help get much (not all) of the water out.

John

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by MACK C-85

At the end in 2007, Sunline offered the "Winterizing Kit" and the "Bypass Kit" as options. (we ordered both)

Definitions for those who may have never run across them:

Winterizing Kit consisted of a three way valve in the line from the fresh water tank and the intake side of the water pump, with about a four foot long piece of plastic hose attached to the valve. It allows you to flip the valve, stick the hose in a bottle of anti-freeze and pump it through the plumbing using the water pump.

The bypass kit consisted of a check valve (lets water out only) in the "hot" line coming out of the water heater, a tee in the hot side with a piece of pipe that conected to a three way valve in the cold line going into the water heater.

Mack

As FYI, both of my 2004 units had the bypass installed from Sunline. The pump antifreeze suction kit was not on either. I added one to the T2499. The T310, I use air all the time as we do winter wet camping.

[awellis3]

Originally Posted by Sunline Fan

Some Sunlines never came from the factory with bypass kits, and the full winterizing kit was always an option because those in the south really don't need it. Winterizing kits/bypass kits really didn't come about until maybe 20 years ago IIRC.

My 1995 T-2653 didn't have a bypass. I'm not far enough south so I installed one. My Rockwood came with a bypass and an AF pickup on the exterior. There's a diverter valve on the pump. Plus they put it all in the same storage compartment, accessible from the outside (standing on my feet, no less).
Here's a picture. Note the WH is on the left of the door and the tank fill, AF pickup and city water are stacked to the right. The little, black round thingy above the honey cart is the black tank flush.

It seems as if the Forest River designers are reading these RV forums and seeing the complaints and resulting mods. I remember standing on my head, reaching through holes, lifting a bed to do my Sunline for the winter.
This year will be sooooo easy.

Teach

[Sunline Fan]

Originally Posted by awellis3

It seems as if the Forest River designers are reading these RV forums and seeing the complaints and resulting mods.

I'll believe that when pigs fly.

[awellis3]

Originally Posted by Sunline Fan

I'll believe that when pigs fly.

Oh now, let's not be so cynical. You'll wind up in a Geico commercial.

Teach

[2manystoves]

Originally Posted by JohnB

Hi 2manystoves,

Looks like you have your baypass all in place. Great! and good job.

H'mm question, those 2 white valves leading up to the heater, can you lift the pipe up off the carpet and that they are for sure shut off valves?

Reason I ask is those look like low point drain 3 ways valves. If you go under the camper and look at at the location of the 2 valves and there are 2 plastic pipes stinking down in the open, if so then those are 3 way valves to gravity drain the system to help get much (not all) of the water out.

John

Aha! That is another mystery solved. I should've put 2 and 2 together. I had the caps off of the two low point drains but I didn't actuate the valves because I did not think that they were 3 way. Indeed, this makes alot of sense. I just assumed (stupidly) that these were some sort of shutoff valve for isolating (but not entirely) the heater. Thyne wisdom hath been imparted unto a simple noob. Thanks!

[bunjin]

2manystoves,

Don't feel to bad. I too thought they were just isolation valves. It's funny as I have talked about isolating and when you posted, I thought...ok I'm not alone in this quest, thus didn't give it any more attention. The other thing is that, that is one of the location points I had considered doing it at.

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by 2manystoves

Aha! That is another mystery solved. I should've put 2 and 2 together. I had the caps off of the two low point drains but I didn't actuate the valves because I did not think that they were 3 way. Indeed, this makes alot of sense. I just assumed (stupidly) that these were some sort of shutoff valve for isolating (but not entirely) the heater. Thyne wisdom hath been imparted unto a simple noob. Thanks!

GREAT!!! Posting pic's bring many returns.... Plus we too learn about more Sunline history and how other floor plans where made. We all win!

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by Sunline Fan

I'll believe that when pigs fly.

LOL Now that's funny....

However that said.... I am seeing more of the aftermarket upgrades installed as new features. It may be the competion is getting all that much harder now and hanging a few more trinkets on at pennies cost for the OEM may sound like a big deal to a new customer.

[GWildey]

When I installed a bypass kit on my 6 gallon hot water heater, I purchased the 'short kit' with the shorter bypass hose. When I installed it there was a kink in the hose. So I went to my local hardware store and tried to find a shorter Stainless Steel braided hose and could not, so I bought a longer one and installed it with a loop. This does not retrict the flow.

[Sunline Fan]

Originally Posted by awellis3

Oh now, let's not be so cynical. You'll wind up in a Geico commercial.

Teach

I would be a badass gecko any day over Flo!

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by Sunline Fan

I would be a badass gecko any day over Flo!

H'mm, I thought Flo was with Progressive?? Did the lizard and Flo trade places?

[Sunline Fan]

You're right, I was just saying, I'd rather be the gecko over Flo.