Water heater bypass not working

[Rob30044]

I winterized my 89 Excella a few days ago. I turned the handle to bypass on the bypass valve and I still had the first 6 gallons of anti-freeze go into the water heater. I'm not sure if the bypass came on the AS from the factory, but it looks like it may have. It looks like a heavy duty valve. It has one handle to turn for bypass. Can the valve be repaired?

[garry]

Well I don't know for sure but all the bypass setups I have seen have two valves and I think there is one set up that uses three valves. Not sure how it would bypass with just one vlave unless you have a one-way valve at the output of the water heater.


Garry

[wingfoot321]

Rob30044,

My 1987 29' Sovereign has a similar problem. I noticed it last year but, have been too busy to trace the lines.

Mine bypasses the city water connection from the back of the trailer when I am blowing out the lines. When I use the pump in a jug of anti-freeze, it does not bypass the heater???? I just blow/drain out the heater and then pump some anti-freeze into the heater to keep from freezing.

I have not had time to look at the piping schematic to see what is going on.

[TomW]

I too would think three valves are needed.

Tom

[azflycaster]

Mine has two valves, one at the input to the water heater and one at the exit. When in by pass mode the water is directed by these valves to a line that is connected between the two valves. Here is my simple drawing of the water heater hook up.

[nickcrowhurst]

Rob, my Excella also had the single handle by-pass set-up, and it also failed. Inside the metal box to which the handle and pipes are attached is a system of valves that carry out the function required. My enquiries indicated that spares were not available to renew the parts inside the box. I therefore junked it, and replaced it with the usual "two plastic diverter valves and short hose" system available in a package from RV stores for about $14. I would recommend that course of action to you.
Nick

[Rob30044]

Thanks everyone for your input on this topic. My neighbor has a similar bypass valve, with the single lever, on a later model Nomad trailer. My other trailer had three knobs to turn for bypass mode on the water heater. I wonder what kind of bypass AS uses on the new trailers?

[Rob30044]

The problem with anti-freeze getting into the water heater was not caused by a defective bypass valve as I first thought. There is a check valve located on the output water line of the water heater near the bypass valve. This valve was defective allowing anti-freeze to back flow into the water heater.