Hot Water Heater ByPass |
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CanvasCamperMatt
Groupie Joined: 02 Jan 2014 Location: PA Online Status: Offline Posts: 44 |
Topic: Hot Water Heater ByPass Posted: 04 Jan 2016 at 9:06am |
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Hello, It's time for out annual R-pod / CanvasCampers Winter trip. While I was over here posting on that thread I figured I'd share my Hot Water Heater ByPass Mod that I just did. R-Pod, Travel Trailer, Pop-up, they all use similar Hot Water Heaters. I just copied my thread from CanvasCampers to share with the R-Pod group.
Last weekend I finally got around to winterizing my camper. I needed to install a Hot Water Heater bypass so I didn't have to waste 6 gallons of RV antifreeze. I also needed to add a siphon hose to my water pump to suck up the antifreeze. I am not a fan of dumping antifreeze in the fresh water tank. The HWH bypass cost $30 at my local RV store. They threw in the fitting for the water pump and I had some hose in the garage. In total I think I spent 30-45 minutes doing this. I only used 1 adjustable wrench and some Teflon tape that came with the HWH bypass kit. Here is the back of the HWH before the bypass. I simply unscrewed the existing water lines and installed these T valves (I'm not a plumber, there may be a more specific name for it) Then I just screwed the original water lines to the new fittings and the little bypass hose. For the water pump I just unscrewed the water inlet line I put the hose onto the fitting Screwed the siphon hose to the water inlet and put the other end in the jug-o-antifreeze |
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 04 Jan 2016 at 10:22am | |
2 things..
1.... all pods come with a bypass system from the factory. 2.. you need to add a shut off valve in the crossover hose, or come spring you will get a "short circuit", and lukewarm water, if that. |
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 04 Jan 2016 at 10:31am | |
Looks like the valves he used are "either/or". If so, no additional shutoff needed. If not, you're right. |
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 04 Jan 2016 at 11:37am | |
Ahh.. Yes, that could be the case.. He did say he bought a kit, not bodged together the way I would.. LOL.. so no doubt that is the type of valve used. |
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CanvasCamperMatt
Groupie Joined: 02 Jan 2014 Location: PA Online Status: Offline Posts: 44 |
Posted: 04 Jan 2016 at 11:47am | |
Yes, I bought a kit. The T valves that came with it will shut off the crossover hose when opening up for the HWH
I don't know why all HWH don't come standard with bypass kits. That's cool that Rpods do come standard with the bypass. |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 05 Jan 2016 at 9:29pm | |
Interestingly the bypass system on my camper only has one valve. That threw me at first but after thinking about it, it makes sense since it is like the valves in Matt's system, diverting the flow either to one outlet or the other. The other end of the bypass hose just has a regular T fitting like the black one at the top of the pic, above. I'm surprised more campers don't have just that one valve since it should be cheaper.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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jato
Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3257 |
Posted: 11 Jan 2016 at 6:55am | |
I guess I am missing something here. Wouldn't it be a whole lot simpler to just blow out the system with an air compressor? I have done this every year since 2012 and it takes about 20-30 seconds and you are done. No anti-freeze to fuss with, except for the traps.
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God's pod
'11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 11 Jan 2016 at 10:28am | |
In my experience, both can go wrong, and both can work. Using pink stuff insures there is no water left collected in a valve or fitting. I personally can do pink stuff in a couple minutes on our pod, while not all interactive time, it takes a half hour or so before I am comfortable when I have done just air. I do one valve at a time and let it flow at 30psi until nothing comes out besides air. Also, many people don't own a compressor.
Unfortunately, come spring, we will see several water pump filters, a few water pumps, toilet valves, and on newer pods, outside showers, all broken from not getting winterized fully, and my observation last year, most were people who used air. Now, as far as the "why do people?" I will never understand people that hook up and drag the trailer to a dealer and pay $75-300 to have it done. Regardless of what method they might use at home.. |
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 11 Jan 2016 at 10:30am | |
and less confusing. 1 valve, it's either right or wrong. We see so many owners with the three valve confusions here.. usually the center one throws them. But having one would sure simplify getting a new owner to get it right when they have no hot water, or sporadic hot water.. |
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 11 Jan 2016 at 11:46am | |
It seems that the single valve approach can still let some antifreeze into the WH, especially if the WH is already empty. I'm assuming the singe valve is an either/or valve on the inlet side. Pressurized red stuff on the bypass route can flow back into the WH through the unblocked outlet side. Yes?
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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