Dewinterizing 2019 3100

  Last winter we had problems winterizing due to some seemingly incorrect handle installs under the sink on our 3100. I believe the previous owner had no need to winterize since he lived in Mississippi. Finally sorted it out with help from some folks here on the Forum..Tks.

  The question: In the 2015 PC Video narrated by Earl the winterize mode under the kitchen sink is center handle parallel (open) and 2 side valves  are vertical (closed). But In our winterize mode all three handles are parallel to the water lines in other words the two side handles are 90 dgs off). To avoid further gnashing of teeth when I dewinterize - should I assume I can turn all three handles 90 dgs and all is good for travel? Sounds way too simple. And no, I did not take a picture of valves last year in travel mode - senior moment.

Thanks,

Hank
2019 PC 3100
Custer SD
50 Amp Version

Generally, whenever the valve lever on those shutoffs is parallel to the line it is on, the valve is open.  On our unit, when we are using it, the two side levers are parallel to the lines they are on and the valve in the middle is 90 degrees to the line.  When we winterize, the side levers are 90 degrees to their respective lines and the middle lever is parallel to the cross line.
Gary

As Gary has said, the 2 lines are "cold in" and "hot out" while the middle line is bypass.  In normal use, the cold in and hot out are on (parallel to pipe) to allow cold water to go into the heater and hot water to come out.   The bypass is off (across the pipe) to prevent cold water from bypassing the heater and going immediately to the hot out line.

For winterizing the 3 valves are just the opposite.   The cold in and hot out lines are shutoff while the bypass is open.  That way, no water goes into or out of the water heater, but rather bypasses the heater.

For winter, hopefully it is obvious you must drain the water heater by removing the white plastic plug which is near the left bottom of the water heater when you open the outside door of the water heater assembly.  You also need to completely blowout the water lines and drain the fresh water tank. Instead of blowing out the water lines, you can instead suck in RV Antifreeze as the video shows.

To dewinterize, after you set those 3 valves to their normal position you fill your fresh water tank, turn on the water pump  and open a hot water faucet to allow cold water to refill the 6 gallons the water heater tank holds (and you drained our when winterizing) and then flow strongly out of the faucet.  I use the kitchen sink faucet for that.   Once I get a good flow out of the kitchen faucet, I turn it off then go back to the bathroom and open the shower hot water line and get a good flow, shut the shower off and open the bathroom sink hot water line.

If you have filled the pipes with RV Antifreeze you MUST fully flush both hot and cold water lines BEFORE you switch those 3 valves and fill the water heater.  RV Antifreeze is not poisonous, but tastes HORRIBLE and you never want any in your hot water heater... Never!

Thanks to both of you for the feedback - much appreciated. Hard to believe I have rv'd since 1970 and still befuddled by "simple" stuff. But, as a newbie to our PC I am sure I will still get confused occasionally. Safe Travels.

Hank

About 1/4 turn ball valves.  This applies to water and gas valves.

They are the best type of valve.  They are less prove to leaks and do not restrict water flow.

An open ball valve has the handle in-line with the pipe like this.


A closed ball valve has the handle turned 90 degrees (1/4 turn), perpendicular to the pipe.

If the valve handles were removed by a previous owner, then later turned the valve with a wrench, it is conceivable that you could install new handles 90 degrees out of position, creating a whole lot of confusion.