Water System Antifreeze

[JCDSAIL]

Its that time of year again. Is there a way to bypass the hot water heater? I generally fill the entire system with anti freeze and it takes about 14 gallons.
I am sure the hot water heater is taking most of this?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

JDSAIL

 

[sailliny]

I purchased this from WM, Haven't installed yetWater Heater Bypass Winterizing Kit CAMCO PRODUCTS 35983 329195

 

[JCDSAIL]

That looks like a good way to eliminate the hot water heater. Please let me know how that works out.

JCDSAIL

 

[Stu Jackson]

Easier way

Buy a short piece of 3/8 inch hose. Disconnect the hoses from engine to the hot water heater at the engine and pump them out then take them off at the heater to make sure all the antifreeze is out - you can keep it for next season. Take the 3/8 inch hose and connect the two places on the engine where the hot water loop connected to. You can run the engine to run antifreeze through it.

Don't forget the fresh water side of the heater.

 

[rpwillia]

There is cheap and easy, and easy and nice - WWPD?

Stu, Your idea is good, but it is pretty attractive to me to get the bypass kit, install it once and thereafter only have to turn two valves once a year. For $25.00 at WM that seems like a nice way to go with the CAMCO kit.

Hmmm, WWPD - What would Paul do?

 

[rpwillia]

One more question

What is the best way to drain the water heater if you use that bypass kit. Is there a drain on it? Has Paul designed some cool gizmo to do it?

 

[valcour]

drain

There is a globe valve at the bottom to drain the water heater.

 

[rpwillia]

More questions (no pics - forgot camera)

I went to West Marine to look at the kit, and the one they have it is different from the kit posted here although they have the same part number. It also looks like I already have a check valve on the output of the hot water heater so I definitely don't need all the junk in the kit. It may just be better to go to Lowe's or the RV store (the kit at WM says it is for RV's) and get just the diverter valve for the intake and a 3 way adapter for the output. I am a bit concerned about hooking these all together directly as they would stick out and be subject to breaking so I may use some adapters and hose to connect.

Also noticed the globe valve for draining. That looks to be a standard water hose size, so I will probably just add a length of hose to that for draining to the bilge. We typically just run the system dry into a sink before we look to draining thing. Pity Catalina did not see fit to put a hinge and latch on that access port to make it just a little easier.

 

[JCDSAIL]

Re: More questions (no pics - forgot camera)

Is it possible to just take the cold and hot water hoses off the tank and just connect them together for the winter? Drain the tank and send the anti freeze thru the rest of the system?

 

[Witzend]

You got it. Make sure you leave it that way and don't take the shunt out all winter or antifreez will migrate back into the HW heater.

 

[rpwillia]

Check this out

This is the same part/kit as the one they have at WM for $30.00. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/quick-turn-by-pass-kit/15717

$12.99 and the part numbers and package are identical.

 

[paulj]

Ray
If you can I need one of your drawings to help me understand all this technical stuff...........

thanks

paulj :troll:

 

[rpwillia]

Here is the drawing

Here is the galley plumbing drawing. The part we are concerned with are the lines labeled to/from water heater on the left.

The way the water heater is situated the aft most fitting on top would be where the intake (or to on the drawing) line connects. The most forward line, which on mine has an installed check valve already, is the return back the hot water faucets in the boat. By bypassing the two fittings with the one 3-way (?) valve on the input to the hw heater and adding a tee after the check valve for the return you can simply switch the valve to bypass and then drain your heater for the winter (and/or in parallel with draining) and winterize the rest of the system. This saves about 10-11 gallons of antifreeze and greatly simplifies the process.

I will post pictures in a day or two of the hw heater to illustrate exactly what we are talking about.

 

[Stu Jackson]

1. Is it possible to just take the cold and hot water hoses off the tank and just connect them together for the winter?

2. Drain the tank and send the anti freeze thru the rest of the system?

That's similar to my suggestion to do that at the engine end.

Not sure I understand #2 - send thru rest of what system?

 

[JCDSAIL]

It worked like charm. Disconnect the cold and hot water lines from the hot water heater.
Splice them together with a coupling and clamps. Drain the water from the lower hot water tank mounted faucet. I poured 6 gallons of anti freeze in the main water tank and opened all the faucets until the antifreeze came through.
Thsi saved about 7 gallons of anti freeze.

 

[peter_ms]

The last 2 years I have used a shop vac to suck the lines dry.
Began as an accident, trying to empty my 15L water heater after disconnecting it before bypassing. I laid the vaccuum hose down near the disconnected supply line and noticed water coming out of it. I just stuck each hose inside the vaccuum line and it sucked the system dry. The only antifreeze I have used for the last 2 years is the head, the shower and reefer drains and the bilge.
Dont forget to open all the fixtures including the swim platform shower, one at a time
Peter