Water heater bypass

[Bobbo]

I just bought a 2017 Flying Cloud 23FB and will be picking it up in about 2 weeks. They are getting a solar panel to put on the roof. (They had to add that to clinch the deal. )

While looking at it on the lot, I could not see where the valve or valves are to bypass the water heater when winterizing. Can anyone tell me?

Also, under the trailer at the kitchen, I see what looks like low point drains. I can't find the valves to open them either. Anyone?

Thanks

Bobbo

[OTRA15]

You can read your owner's manual online:

https://www.airstream.com

Under the Service tab at the top right, click on manuals in the drop down menu, and find your year and model. The PDF can be saved and printed.

There are plenty of bypass threads here and the new search function at the top works well, with the solid blue border.

"Water heater bypass 23FB" results:

https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=011403...3fb&gsc.page=1

[Bobbo]

Thanks for the link to the manual. I will take a look at it.

The other link pulls up a lot of threads, none of which is the 2017. I don't feel it's safe to assume that the 2017 is the same as the prior years, so I was looking for 2017 locations.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Bobbo

Thanks for the link to the manual. I will take a look at it.

The other link pulls up a lot of threads, none of which is the 2017. I don't feel it's safe to assume that the 2017 is the same as the prior years, so I was looking for 2017 locations.

The general concept of the bypass is pretty uniform through recent models and years, so the earlier threads might still be helpful. Also, with "23FB" in the search parameters, the results will be good to read, even if the 2017 setup is slightly different. If it is different, the question then becomes "why" which can in turn educate us.

Not quite "seen one, seen them all" but you get the drift.

Have fun with the new trailer!

Peter

[Bobbo]

Thanks for the response. Your link to the manual allowed me to locate the bypass valve, which was my question. "Where is it"? It is behind a pull off panel below the curb side wardrobe.

I had tugged on that panel, but since I had not yet signed the papers to buy the trailer, I didn't tug too hard. I didn't want to risk breaking their trailer if it wasn't designed to be removed.

It also told me where the low point drain valves are. Behind another pull off panel in the galley.

[OTRA15]

When you own the trailer, you will know every nook and cranny!

Part of the fun of ownership is being able to diagnose and fix problems as they arise through the decades. We had a used 25' AS in the 1990's which needed a variety of work over the decade we owned her. Each new challenge was a learning experience, and fun to overcome. Like a, er, mobile home of such a small scale that problem solving is manageable.

[George0726]

We just picked up our new AS last week and the dealer (CanAm RV in London ON) informed me there is no water heater bypass valve in these units. My 2003 Intl had one. What gives?

[Bobbo]

This is what the Flying Cloud manual says about the water heater bypass on the 25' model:

"25 ft. - under the bathroom lavatory.
25 ft. Front Bed - through the curbside front exterior
access door."

[George0726]

Thanks Bobbo, I'll have another look. I have the front bedroom model and I have had the exterior access door to the water heater open (to operate the relief valve when I first filled the WH tank) and I didn't see any water lines or valves but then again I wasn't looking for them. BTW, access to the back of the WH is by removal of the curbside twin bed plywood platform (approx 34" x 60"). Might have to modify that!

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by George0726

Thanks Bobbo, I'll have another look. I have the front bedroom model and I have had the exterior access door to the water heater open (to operate the relief valve when I first filled the WH tank) and I didn't see any water lines or valves but then again I wasn't looking for them. BTW, access to the back of the WH is by removal of the curbside twin bed plywood platform (approx 34" x 60"). Might have to modify that!

If you have a bypass valve on the back of the water heater, your owner's manual should provide some guidance on its location. There is a link in Post #2 to get an online version. Our old 25' had the water heater under the bed too, and we had to take the bed platform apart to fix a leak from improper winterization.

Good luck,

Peter

PS -- BTW you and Bobbo might want to be more specific about the floor plan you have in your signatures. For instance FC25FB would indicate the front bed. Let's everyone compare apples to apples . . .

[aftermath]

If you are going to pick up your new trailer in a couple of weeks let the dealer answer all these questions on your walk through. Make a big list, take it with you and check off each one as your get answers.

The fact that you are thinking of all of these things right now is a good sign. I am amazed at the number of stories I read about owners who don't have a clue how the basic systems work. No hot water? Now what?

You will be an expert in no time. Have fun with the new trailer.

[Bobbo]

We have been RVing for the last 10 years in a Winnebago Class C. We are downsizing and moving from a MH to a TT. The broad subjects I understand, it is the details of this unit that I am lacking. It is killing me to not be able to just go outside and poke around in the trailer.

[OTRA15]

Understandable, won't be long!

[George0726]

The bypass valve for winterizing is not what I expected, based on past experience with a 2003 22 Intl AS (3 valves - hot cold and bridge). On this new system all that is required to winterize is to close the intake valve, forcing the water directly to the mixing valve (new), bypassing the water heater, assuming the mixing valve won't let water enter the now empty tank. Quite clever except that the opening in the bed deck is about 5" in diameter and the valve is about 16" down and behind a hose and a pipe. Good luck with that.


As to the signature, I wanted to enter more specifics but there didn't seem to be a way to do it, at least not using the drop-down list. Manual entry?

[Bobbo]

Originally Posted by George0726

As to the signature, I wanted to enter more specifics but there didn't seem to be a way to do it, at least not using the drop-down list. Manual entry?

I figured out how to add a signature. Go to "User CP" near the top, then click on "Edit Signature" on the left side. You can see below where I did that.

[OTRA15]

Well done! I think you can also edit the trailer etc. info. to the left under your user name, to make everything consistent. Not sure where?