I'm working on winterizing the 21rbs, I have everything drained and the water heater bypassed. I have the hose hooked up by the pump and in the pink fluid. However with the pump on, it is not sucking in the fluid. Feels like I'm missing something simple, but the manual is vague enough to be useless. I don't see a valve or anything I need to turn.
Advise, please!
There's definitely a valve. It's probably on the underside of the T facing the floor. It's like a selector switch. Otherwise you'll always be sucking air through the fresh tank.
If that still doesn't work then the valve might be backwards... hopefully that's not the case.
Hmm! My 16TBS does not have a valve on the suction of the pump, or if it does it is below the floor. And it doesn't have that brass tee. But in any case as tinkeringtechie said you need to shut off the tank side of the tee with or without a valve. If there is no valve then pull off the hose on the other side of the strainer and put your finger on the strainer to block it off. I should suck antifreeze up then.
This is the valve (I can see the camco logo in your picture):
http://www.amazon.com/Camco-36543-Pump-Converter-Winterizing/dp/B0006JJ588
I have the same one, but my pump intake is on the other side, so the lever points up.
I agree with David and Tinkeringtechie. Mine is also on the opposite side so my T valve switch faces up. If it is just a T and not a T with a valve then the switch must be elsewhere or you will have to do as david suggests. If you are drawing air from the other direction you will never draw antifreeze.
[p]Yes, now that I see the Camco part on Amazon it is obvious that it is a three way valve and the selector knob is on the bottom on the OP's unit. Turn it 90 degrees and it should suck antifreeze. Good eye to notice the logo.[/p][p]
[/p][p]But to make it easier this time and forever, unscrew the strainer from the tee, and then unscrew the tee from the pump. Flip it over and reinstall. It was installed poorly in the first place. Should have been installed like tinkeringtechie's with the selector knob up. And it should work the same even if the pump is on the other side.
David[/p]
[quote source="/post/5867/thread" timestamp="1420586641" author="@david"][p]Yes, now that I see the Camco part on Amazon it is obvious that it is a three way valve and the selector knob is on the bottom on the OP's unit. Turn it 90 degrees and it should suck antifreeze. Good eye to notice the logo.[/p][p]
[/p][p]But to make it easier this time and forever, unscrew the strainer from the tee, and then unscrew the tee from the pump. Flip it over and reinstall. It was installed poorly in the first place. Should have been installed like tinkeringtechie's with the selector knob up. And it should work the same even if the pump is on the other side.
David[/p][/quote]
No, this valve cannot be flipped that way. The part that's connected to the pump is special because internally it's more like a "Y" where the valve switches between two inputs. If you flipped it then the switch would connect pump->fresh or fresh->antifreeze (pump blocked).
As I mentioned in my original post, it might indeed be backwards (obviously you could flip it then). But I'm thinking OP didn't see the switch and everything is connected correctly.
I found the lever to switch the valve, thanks!
[quote source="/post/5864/thread" timestamp="1420580726" author="@tinkeringtechie"]This is the valve (I can see the camco logo in your picture):
http://www.amazon.com/Camco-36543-Pump-Converter-Winterizing/dp/B0006JJ588
I have the same one, but my pump intake is on the other side, so the lever points up.[/quote]So I know it's early in the season to start this back up but I have a question. With our 16 DB I used an air compressor and blew out all the lines, bypassed the water heater (kept anode rod out all winter) and poured a gallon of antifreeze down all the drains and toilet. I did lose the toilet valve as I forgot that 1 step in exacuating the system of water with air.
so the question is which is better? Charging the entire system with antifreeze as it appears you are currently doing or making sure the system is clear short of the antifreeze in the black, gray and P traps? We would have a few days to weeks below 0.
I am asking to be prepared if I need to purchase and install these parts before winter hits.
Quote from: @ammobob" timestamp="1439323211" source="/post/14120/thread[quote source="/post/5864/thread" timestamp="1420580726" author="@tinkeringtechie"]This is the valve (I can see the camco logo in your picture):
http://www.amazon.com/Camco-36543-Pump-Converter-Winterizing/dp/B0006JJ588
I have the same one, but my pump intake is on the other side, so the lever points up.
So I know it's early in the season to start this back up but I have a question. With our 16 DB I used an air compressor and blew out all the lines, bypassed the water heater (kept anode rod out all winter) and poured a gallon of antifreeze down all the drains and toilet. I did lose the toilet valve as I forgot that 1 step in exacuating the system of water with air.
so the question is which is better? Charging the entire system with antifreeze as it appears you are currently doing or making sure the system is clear short of the antifreeze in the black, gray and P traps? We would have a few days to weeks below 0.
I am asking to be prepared if I need to purchase and install these parts before winter hits.[/quote]Antifreeze is better because blowing out the lines never gets all of the water. The residual water in the lines can eventually drip to a low point where they could freeze and damage the pipes/fittings. Is it necessary? No, plenty of people just blow out their lines without issue. The best method is to blow out the lines and then fill them with antifreeze so you know you're not just diluting your antifreeze. It really just depends on how paranoid you want to be and how cold your climate gets.
[quote source="/post/14122/thread" timestamp="1439324210" author="@tinkeringtechie"][quote source="/post/14120/thread" timestamp="1439323211" author="@ammobob"]So I know it's early in the season to start this back up but I have a question. With our 16 DB I used an air compressor and blew out all the lines, bypassed the water heater (kept anode rod out all winter) and poured a gallon of antifreeze down all the drains and toilet. I did lose the toilet valve as I forgot that 1 step in exacuating the system of water with air.
so the question is which is better? Charging the entire system with antifreeze as it appears you are currently doing or making sure the system is clear short of the antifreeze in the black, gray and P traps? We would have a few days to weeks below 0.
I am asking to be prepared if I need to purchase and install these parts before winter hits.[/quote]Antifreeze is better because blowing out the lines never gets all of the water. The residual water in the lines can eventually drip to a low point where they could freeze and damage the pipes/fittings. Is it necessary? No, plenty of people just blow out their lines without issue. The best method is to blow out the lines and then fill them with antifreeze so you know you're not just diluting your antifreeze. It really just depends on how paranoid you want to be and how cold your climate gets. [/quote]Makes sense and an easy enough install on the 21BHS with the pump under the kitchen cabinets. Curious about how many gallons on Antifreese you end up using to get the system charged? Sorry I posted this just should have messaged you.
[quote timestamp="1439324628" author="@ammobob" source="/post/14123/thread"][quote source="/post/14122/thread" timestamp="1439324210" author="@tinkeringtechie"]Antifreeze is better because blowing out the lines never gets all of the water. The residual water in the lines can eventually drip to a low point where they could freeze and damage the pipes/fittings. Is it necessary? No, plenty of people just blow out their lines without issue. The best method is to blow out the lines and then fill them with antifreeze so you know you're not just diluting your antifreeze. It really just depends on how paranoid you want to be and how cold your climate gets. [/quote]Makes sense and an easy enough install on the 21BHS with the pump under the kitchen cabinets. Curious about how many gallons on Antifreese you end up using to get the system charged?[/quote]I use two gallons with plenty to spare. Don't forget to blow out the city connection and dump any water in the strainer.
Ammo,
glad you posted this as I'm sure many of us have the same question, but have yet to realize we need to ask it...(hope that made sense)...anyway, thanks for the critical thinking...good learning on the forum today (rofl)
i have only had to replace valves one time, and that was the year i used the antifreeze. i had to replace both the shower and toilet valves. every other year (and every year since), i just blow all of the lines out and leave them dry. since our lines are all pex you can get away with a pretty high amount of air pressure, which reduces the chance of leftover water in the system