I'm working on installing the Camco WH bypass. I've researched this site, watched the videos etc and the one thing I'm currently stuck on is this:
how to remove the brass nipples from the WH hot and cold inlets? They are in TIGHT! I've lubed them and tried. Pulling out my husband's man-strength next.
They are hex unions. I'm headed to the hardware store now for a pipe wrench, internal pipe wrench and as a last resort - couplers to just leave them in and attach the bypass kit that way. The only downside of that is that I think it leaves the potential for some water left in the new couplers that could freeze and burst.
It also occurred to me that instead of installing the kit on the WH, now that I have unscrewed the lines, it is "bypassed". Just attach a length of hose between the two lines. Reverse in the spring. The problem with that is the access is a pain. Right now I have to remove the sofa to get to it and was hoping to make a little access panel for future access, which if I made it as small as I had planned may make this difficult. I was planning for one-handed access to the valve but this would require two handed access to hook/unhook the hoses. I could go larger I suppose.
But back to my original question - has anyone removed the nipples from the WH successfully and if so, how?
Thanks!
It seems odd the WH didn't come with bypass hoses/valves from the factory? When I removed the drain and anode on the WH last week for winterizing, I found it really tight with threads that were a bit corroded. Fortunately, that fitting accepts a socket wrench and it came out with some "encouragement". If those fittings you're attempting to remove are corroded, they may be pretty well welded in there. Couplers might be a gentler fix than a big wrench?
As a data point, our 2014 21BHS has a water heater bypass arrangement (3 valves, IIRC). Two to close off the water heater, one to open the bypass.
[quote source="/post/16237/thread" timestamp="1445551670" author="@mojospeople"]I'm working on installing the Camco WH bypass. I've researched this site, watched the videos etc and the one thing I'm currently stuck on is this:
how to remove the brass nipples from the WH hot and cold inlets? They are in TIGHT! I've lubed them and tried. Pulling out my husband's man-strength next.
They are hex unions. I'm headed to the hardware store now for a pipe wrench, internal pipe wrench and as a last resort - couplers to just leave them in and attach the bypass kit that way. The only downside of that is that I think it leaves the potential for some water left in the new couplers that could freeze and burst.
It also occurred to me that instead of installing the kit on the WH, now that I have unscrewed the lines, it is "bypassed". Just attach a length of hose between the two lines. Reverse in the spring. The problem with that is the access is a pain. Right now I have to remove the sofa to get to it and was hoping to make a little access panel for future access, which if I made it as small as I had planned may make this difficult. I was planning for one-handed access to the valve but this would require two handed access to hook/unhook the hoses. I could go larger I suppose.
But back to my original question - has anyone removed the nipples from the WH successfully and if so, how?
Thanks![/quote]Yes, I did remove them when I upgraded from propane to propane/electric and they were tight, but eventually came off. I had the unit out of the trailer so I could man handle it a bit. Are you sure that there aren't bypass valves somewhere else close by (there should be three)? That seems really odd not to have it at all.
Thanks all!
Nope - no bypasses anywhere. There is just a short amount of line under the sofa - no valves - before going under the floor. I even looked underneath as a possible bypass option so I wouldn't have to get under the sofa.
Here's the setup on our 21BHS:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5785/22230058598_f637bf862b_c.jpg)
Mojo: Both of my trailers had/have the 3 valve bypass installed as pictured above. Any chance you can take a picture of the back side of your water heater for us?
[quote source="/post/16572/thread" timestamp="1447210431" author="@tlbones"]Mojo: Both of my trailers had/have the 3 valve bypass installed as pictured above. Any chance you can take a picture of the back side of your water heater for us? [/quote]Hey, here is the pic - no bypasses on my WH or WP. I have since added bypasses to both and winterized. I will post "after" pictures once I'm finished with the extended project this started. Besides putting in the bypasses I have created an access panel on the front wall under the sofa so that in the future I won't have to pull the sofa off to get to the WH bypass. Secondly, I'm working on closing in the top of the front storage compartment under the sofa (and next to the WH compartment). I found during the past season that we never access it from the inside and that leaving the outside door open allows more bugs and potentially other small critters direct access to the interior of the trailer. On top of that, it is easy to lose items into those two compartments from above. Especially when using the sofa as a bed which I do often.
Thanks for your interest! Oh and in case you notice and are curious - the azdel under the sofa is covered with shelf paper. My attempt to keep from scuffing it up when we load our bicycles in that space.
(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x420/mtbmojo83/22eff3b6-8608-455a-8181-ada012718d1c.jpg)
(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x420/mtbmojo83/84becd4c-71f8-4d77-9121-8aeec496ddfd.jpg)
I wonder why they didn't plumb the bypass in... that's a bummer. It sounds like you figured it out though! Camp on! :)
Here is my work. 1st the WH bypass. Not perfect - I should've shortened the hoses but was afraid to get into it. Now that I know better how it all works I would.
I struggled to get the brass nipples out of the WH and had to ask for help from DH. Several things I did needed man-strength.
(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x420/mtbmojo83/0b9dedbe-e545-46fc-9eb7-1b4321730ee5.jpg)
(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x420/mtbmojo83/56076a04-f3bd-4ec7-a880-203569eea3df.jpg)
(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x420/mtbmojo83/0da98195-f4b1-4643-bc94-a699fe70ef45.jpg)
(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x420/mtbmojo83/755b1ebc-4d14-4713-86fb-e27e7827210a.jpg)
(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x420/mtbmojo83/b706c5a3-2ab6-4c52-9ebf-1ccff6458da6.jpg)
(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x420/mtbmojo83/886874cd-e97b-4ade-bd25-a21551ecd528.jpg)
(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x420/mtbmojo83/ca63d300-00c9-4565-b0c5-5740f86d1870.jpg)
(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x420/mtbmojo83/7b736be2-34c9-4e79-b947-af14d2650428.jpg)Obviously I'm not the best craftsman but given this was my first ever plumbing project using tools I've rarely used and nothing leaks - I'm pretty happy with it. We'll see how it all holds up and what re-work I have to do. Until then....I'm ready to go camping one more time this year!