Trying one more time

[raptor0818]

Wondering if anyone out there has a Suburban tankless water heater. I have been trying to find out how to drain the heater. I have a 2021 Alpine 3850 RD and need to ensure that the unit is drained before freezing temps are here. There has to be someone with this knowledge. I have previously asked this question under the topic of fifth wheels. Is it possible to just use compressed air to force water out and then bypass the heater?


2021 Alpine 3850 RD
2019 Ram 3500

[chuckster57]

According to this you should be good to -34 degrees F.

https://suburbanrv.com/water-heating...-water-heater/

It looks like they are in the process of updating a bunch of documents, and refer you to contact an authorized service center. You might try contacting them for a local shop.

[bsmith0404]

I would think compressed air would do the trick. Tankless heaters don’t hold much water. The only reason for WH bypass on regular heaters is so you don’t pump 6-12 gallons of antifreeze into the water heater. Since that isn’t a concern with the tankless, not bypassing it (I don’t even know if they have a bypass) and blowing air through the lines should clear it.

[Mr. Rusty]

On my Girard tankless heater there is no bypass valve and according to the manual you can winterize it with either compressed air or antifreeze like the rest of the water lines. There is also freeze protection built into the heater but you would need both the electric and propane on for it to work.

[ChuckS]

If you will read page 8 of this service manual it tells you how to drain the IW60. You have the IW60RL with recirculation pump and MUST make sure the water is removed from this pump or you WILL freeze and crack it

https://www.rvupgradestore.com/v/vsp...W60-Manual.pdf

[ChuckS]

Here are a few pics of the recirculation pump located inside the front panel

Second and third images are from an Alpine owner that cracked the lump due to incorrect winterize from the dealership

[ChuckS]

Well trust your one more time got the answers you were looking for to properly winterize the IW60RL unit

[raptor0818]

Thanks Chucks, found the FW drain near the axles, some 15 feet away from the fill valve. The manual for the water heater says there is a drain behind the heater, but the heater has to pulled from the rv. I called Suburban spoke with a woman, she said if I blew out the lines I should be ok. I am not so sure, so I by-passed the heater and started filling with anti freeze. Once all lines were full, I turned off by-pass so some antifreeze would go to heater and then I turned on heater and turned on recirculating pump at heater to ensure (hopefully) the pump gets antifreeze. Not sure if this will work. Can't believe there isn't a easier/better way. If you know of a better way I'm all ears. Thanks Mike

[ChuckS]

From the actions taken it sounds to me that you’ve done an excellent job.. especially getting the water dispersed out of the RL pump..

Just make certain next spring that you purge the system very thoroughly to get the RV antifreeze out of the entire recirculation pump and RL PEX lines

Also if you have washer hookup don’t forget to take care of that as well, along with ice maker if installed

[ChuckS]

Two more pics for you..one shows the typical crack the RL pump can experience if not properly winterized

The other shows you there is in fact a tank inside the IW60RL

[BigBobIa]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

Also if you have washer hookup don’t forget to take care of that as well, along with ice maker if installed

How do you winterize the ice maker? I can blow out the cold water dispenser in the fridge which should clear the lines to the fridge and then pump antifreeze there. But how do I clear the last foot into the ice maker?

[ChuckS]

Originally Posted by BigBobIa

How do you winterize the ice maker? I can blow out the cold water dispenser in the fridge which should clear the lines to the fridge and then pump antifreeze there. But how do I clear the last foot into the ice maker?

I dont believe you can simply blow out either the cold water dispenser or the ice maker..

You need to actuate the cold water dispenser with water removed and air pressure applied to the city water connection

Why? there are separate solenoid valves for the water dispense and ice maker that need to be opened to allow the air being applied at city water connection to pass thru..

The ice maker will need to be cycled manually with air pressure applied to allow air to displace water trapped between ice maker and solenoid valve on fridge

[BigBobIa]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

The ice maker will need to be cycled manually with air pressure applied to allow air to displace water trapped between ice maker and solenoid valve on fridge

I have a GE residential fridge and understand blowing the cold water dispenser. But how do you MANUALLY cycle the ice maker? I have the fridge on and the ice maker while set to off probably has ice cubes made. Do I just need to turn it on, let it dump the made ice and then try to refill? Hopefully hear air running and turn the fridge off to close the solenoid? Would that do it or do I need antifreeze too?