No hot water after dewinterizing

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No hot water after dewinterizing

June 14, 2023, 08:28:40 pm

I just dewinterized my LD. Cold water works fine but nothing on the hot water side on all faucets. The hot water tank has water in it. Same thing happened last year. I called LD and had it fixed in minutes but can't remember what I did. I think I accessed the hot water tank through a drawer but can't remember what I did next. There are two entries into the tank, a lower one and a higher one. Any help?
Rick Lechner 2015 27' mid bath

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #1 – June 14, 2023, 09:34:39 pm

Hey Rick,

How did you winterize your plumbing? Any chance you used a water heater bypass system?

If you did bypass the water heater, perhaps you didn't open the valve to allow water to flow from the tank into the hot water lines? I have a midbath and I access the bypass valves through the bottom drawer of the wardrobe. The water heater bypass was not a factory option; I installed a two valve bypass system shortly after picking our rig in 2003.

I hope you figure out the problem and post a follow up report.

Steve K

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #2 – June 14, 2023, 10:09:06 pm

Is the water pump operating when you open the hot water side of the faucet? If it is operating then there’s a good chance it’s filling up the water heater which can take a surprisingly long time.

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #3 – June 15, 2023, 09:53:36 am

I did not install a bypass system. I winterized using an air compressor to blow out all lines. Maybe pressuriziing the system did something. I wonder if i disconnect the lines to the heater will help. I'm worried about water leaking all over the place. If i drain the water heater then open the lines maybe that would work? It is really difficult to access those connectors through the drawer space. The pump did shut off so I think the heater tank is full.

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #4 – June 15, 2023, 10:13:19 am

Open the pressure relief valve on the water heater and see what comes out - if a lot of air, then the heater would not allow much water to flow.

Steve

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #5 – June 15, 2023, 11:01:35 am

Hi Rick; Steve is right about letting air out of the tank using the prv. If water doesn't come out eventually, it is possible that when you were blowing out the water lines, the check valve (mentioned recently in another post) could have been forced closed more forcefully and is now stuck shut. That situation would let cold water flow normally but not allow water into the heater tank. You want to make sure there is water before you light it up. (don't ask me how I know about that!) RonB

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #6 – June 15, 2023, 02:20:06 pm

Rick Lechner, when you solve it, write yourself a note (or post it here) so you can refer to it next time/year etc. I learned to document procedures so a stranger could follow it - knowing that in 6 months that 'stranger' could be me.

Best wishes for safe travels with warm waters
joel

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #7 – June 16, 2023, 11:39:23 am

I like the idea of the air bubble in the HW tank. Also this would be a good time to remove the drain plug and flush the HW tank so the grit does not plug the faucet screens.

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #8 – June 16, 2023, 05:34:53 pm

Hit the check valve with a hammer?

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #9 – June 16, 2023, 05:50:25 pm

I got it figgured out and now have hot water!! What I ended up doing was turning off the pump and draining the Hot water tank. Then I went inside to access the tank. I tried through the drawer but couldn't get a wrench in. So I took off the back couch, unscrewed the "floorboard" under the mattress to access the tank easier. I started by unscrewing the top connector on the tank, tried the pump, nothing. then I unscrewed the bottom connector. Small amount of water but not more then a cup as I emptied the tank. Started the pump and water came out! Turned it off quickly. Then disconnected the next threaded piece on the bottom. Turns out this is the one way valve! It was stuck closed. I soaked it in vinegar to dissolve any mineral build up, blew it open and made sure it was opening and closing properly, reconnected everything and now have flowing hot water!! It was a hassle to access but worth it as the closest RV repair shop is 150 mile away! ( I live in Wyoming) Much cheaper too.

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #10 – June 16, 2023, 06:24:06 pm

Is this the location of the check valve (lower piping)?

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #11 – June 16, 2023, 06:25:55 pm

Glad to learn you got it working Rick.

It wouldn't hurt to use a water heater rinsing wand inside that tank to rinse out any sediment you may have accumulated. Some of the of those deposits might have blocked that check valve.

Steve K

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #12 – June 16, 2023, 08:11:02 pm

The picture is exactly right. I took the same picture but couldn't figure out how to post it here. It is the lower portion, middle fitting.

I'll remember to rinse it out next fall when I winterize. Don't want to do this again if I can avoid it.

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #13 – June 16, 2023, 08:54:14 pm

I installed a bypass on ours. Access was near impossible so I did as you and removed the couch base. I did double up on one of the 1" X 2" supports and cut the base panel accordingly so that I would have better access without removing everything. Now I have 8 screws and a good 12" access. I think the only function of the check valve is to keep the hot and cold water from mixing. I couldn't make up my mind what I wanted to do so I left it installed and plumbed accordingly. Glad you got yours figured out.

Jon

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #14 – June 16, 2023, 11:52:50 pm

Glad to hear you figured it out, Rick!

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #15 – June 17, 2023, 10:31:10 am

Thanks for all your help in figuring this out.

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #16 – June 17, 2023, 11:36:57 am

Hi JonS; Not owning a MidBath, I'm having trouble picturing the modifications you made to improve future access to your water heater. My recollection of the MB is that the water heater was located under the closet or behind some drawers. Could you provide a photo of your situation? Thanks. RonB

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #17 – June 17, 2023, 02:16:14 pm

Ron, I'll have to get you a picture when I'm over at the building. But, when I removed the sliding portion of the couch I had a plywood
top to the storage area and the top of the water heater. I removed the entire top panel which gave me access to the water heater and to the storage area. There are 1" X 2" cross slats that form the supports for the top panel. The cross slat closest to the water heater, I doubled up with another slat and glued and screwed it together. Then I cut the top close off so that I had a seam where I had doubled the support and screwed everything back down. Now to access the back of the water heater I just have to remove the small top panel instead of going through a drawer opening. Most of you guys wouldn't need the access to the back of the water heater but I have the bypass for the winter which means I need in there at least twice a year. I'll get a couple pictures and it'll help explain.

Jon

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #18 – June 17, 2023, 04:27:31 pm

I happened to have a couple of shots of the midbath water heater handy, so here ya go. It's located under the forward end of the passenger's-side couch, extending partway beneath the wardrobe.

(By the way, there's a good amount of wasted space there. I cut a rectangular hole, about 8" x 8", in the front of the couch wall to allow access to that area.)

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #19 – June 17, 2023, 06:29:02 pm

Ron & Andy this is what I did to ours, sure made life easier. No cat in ours Andy. I had to modify the sliding portion of the couch a bit but it's fine.

Jon

Re: No hot water after dewinterizing

Reply #20 – June 18, 2023, 04:40:52 am

Thanks Jon and Andy; I didn't realize that the water heater was so far aft. It does make it easier to have a three part panel instead of the two part that I have in the 'TK. Just storage for me. The water heater is under the refrigerator. Access by removing a drawer. RonB

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