Water Heater Bypass

[tempsho]

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!!!!

[hankpage]

I have never seen a Water heater installed that way. Especially with the multiple hose clamps in the upper left corner on the hot line. There does not appear to be any connection between the hot and cold other than the tank. The bypass is usually in a vertical tube between the inlet and outlet of the heater.

[tempsho]

I had to install those additional hose clamps because that crimped fitting (at the top left) was leaking a week after I bought it and I had nothing else to fix it. It worked, but there is still no bypass installed that I can see. Time to cut some lines, install a couple T fittings and a valve between the cold and hot line. Still shocked there was no bypass installed from the day it was built.

[hankpage]

This is the way it should look although Keystone now uses only one valve and the check valve in the tank outlet. Where you put the hose clamps appears to be some kind of check valve but can't be sure from photo. If you are still under warranty let a dealer fix it or you may void the warranty on the heater.

[alien_scones]

inquisitive people want to know - why are you winterizing now?

Is the Hudson already freezing over?

[tempsho]

Originally Posted by hankpage

This is the way it should look although Keystone now uses only one valve and the check valve in the tank outlet. Where you put the hose clamps appears to be some kind of check valve but can't be sure from photo. If you are still under warranty let a dealer fix it or you may void the warranty on the heater.

Where I put the hose clamps (because of the leaking crimp), its only a T fitting. I've heard of keystone using a check valve and an open/close valve on the newer units. In my trailer, if that valve is closed, I get no flow at all on the hot water taps, if it's open, my hwt will fill with antifreeze which I would prefer not to waste money on.

And I have to winterize it already because I live in northern manitoba, and my summer vacation is done. Time to go back to work and store the trailer until next year. It gets down to -40f where I live, so it has to be winterized 100%

[hankpage]

-40°F ???? So I guess you don't believe in "Global Warming" ???

Let us know how you make out but, I still would let a dealer do it. But then again I guess by the time you get to use it again the warranty will be up. Good luck, Hank

[tempsho]

-40 is even cold for us Northern Canadians. Not much moves when its that cold! I ended up installing my own bypass line and valve. Wasn't a big deal, but it would have been nice to not have to do. If that's the only issue I have with the trailer then I am laughing. Hope for the best over the winter and enjoy it again next summer.

[GMcKenzie]

I remember being in -40. Don't remember if it was F or C

As a kid I ice fished at that temp.

No way do I want to do that anymore.

[tempsho]

-40F is -40C It usually doesnt get quite that cold, but once in a while it does.

Here are a couple cold days for us last winter!!

[GMcKenzie]

Originally Posted by tempsho

-40F is -40C

Hence, the smiley.


Gillam, huh. Furthest north I've been in MB is when my family had a cabin at Wanipigow Lake. Just West of Bisset.

How do you get to Gillam?

[tempsho]

There is a 300km gravel road from Thompson to Gillam. Thats as far north as you can drive in Manitoba. I you want to get to Churchill (polar bear capital of the world) near Hudson Bay, it's either by plane or train.
My travel trailer stays in Southern Manitoba though.