Plumbing Questions | KZ Family Forum

rhodycampers
Newbie RV’er

Posts: 27

Plumbing Questions May 3, 2015 19:51:06 GMT -5

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Post by rhodycampers on May 3, 2015 19:51:06 GMT -5

Hi Anyone:
We're brand new to owning our 2015 Spree 262 and planning our first trip in 1.5 weeks! As our orientation wasn't complete, I've been trying to understand all of the camper's systems and have a couple of confusing items in my head:

1. Hot water heater bypass and valves: I understand that if the cold and hot valves are in-line with the main blue and red tubing, then water will flow through the heater. I also understand that if the valves are pointed up and down along the bypass tube, then the heater is bypassed. How do those valves actually mechanically work?- so, what happens if one valve is arranged in-line in the main supply to the heater or outflow from the hot side, but the other valve is along the bypass tube? Would you ever have it set this way?

2. At the end of the trailer, just below the water heater there are TWO emptying spigots, right next to each other with one slightly higher than the other. I've figured out that the higher one must be for the HW heater since when I put some water into the HW heater then try to drain it, only the higher spigot empties the water. What's the other one do? Interestingly, if I bypass the HW heater using the bypass tubing and hook up a hose to the city water inlet, I can get water out of both/each of those spigots- Hmmmmm?

Confused in Rhode Island,
Thanks,
Ken

paroadking1
Seasonal RV’er

Posts: 135

Plumbing Questions May 3, 2015 21:14:22 GMT -5 via Tapatalk wheatboy likes this

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Post by paroadking1 on May 3, 2015 21:14:22 GMT -5

If I am understanding correctly, the two bypass valves bypass the water hearted and the fresh water tank. This way your pump will draw the RV antifreeze out of the bottle when winterizing the unit.

The two valves underneath are the drains for the lower section of your plumbing. They need to be drained prior to winter too. You should also have a drain for the fresh water tank.

I drain the heater by taking the anode out.

johnr
Professional RV’er

Posts: 1,298

Plumbing Questions May 4, 2015 9:15:02 GMT -5 wheatboy likes this

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Post by johnr on May 4, 2015 9:15:02 GMT -5

Hi Ken,

For #2, these are called your "low point drains". One is for hot water lines and the other is for cold water lines. You open those and open your faucets to drain water from the camper. It will pull water from your hot water tank, but as paroadking says, it's much easier to remove the anode rod from the hot water tank. Usually on the last trip of the year, I open the low point drains and the hot water plug and drive home (I think it helps to get more of the water out).

When you use the city water inlet, it fills both hot and cold lines, which is why you get water out of both low point drains at that time.

For #1, I would venture to say that you either want the bypass on or off, not a mixture of the two. The valves turn off the cold water inlet and the hot water outlet, and pushes the water or antifreeze through a third section of tubing. If you left one of the valves open, water would find its way back into the hot water tank.

I don't winterize my hot water tank with antifreeze because I've been told it's harmful to the components, so I always put the bypass on before filling with antifreeze. I don't know how true it is, honestly. Just something I've done from day 1, I leave the anode rod out all winter and put it back in on the first camping trip.

Hope this helps.

2013 Durango 325RL; 2006 Turbo Diesel Dodge Ram 3500 Dually;