Hi guys, I fouled up while winterizing yesterday, and can't figure this out!
2016 Keystone Passport TT. I drained water heater and low point water drains & fresh water tank, then turned water heater bypass valve. I then put the antifreeze to the pump to start pushing it to the faucets. HOWEVER , and this is where I think I really messed up, I forgot when draining to open up the faucets to release pressure and let the lines drain back from the faucets. So what happened is that when I began pushing the antifreeze with the pump and started opening up faucets, I was getting weak flow. I happened to stop and go back outside and found pink water running out of previously drained water heater. I verified that water heater bypass was on, so I'm stumped.
The only thing I can think of is that since I didn't open up the faucets while draining water heater and low point drains, that once I did open them they started running backward into the water heater, creating a siphon that pulled all the antifreeze backward into the water heater and out onto the ground.
The only thing about this theory is that I would think that the water heater outflow had a 1-way valve to prevent backflow (wild guess) or else how would you not normally get antifreeze back into the water heater from the hot water lines past the bypass backing into the water heater on the water heater outflow side? Also, if there was a one way valve, then opening up a hot faucet when draining water heater wouldn't do anything....
I just drained everything again, and am going to just start over and see what happens, but I'm just stumped on figuring out what happened and want to understand it
Probably something obvious, but curious what you pros think?
Thanks!
2016 Keystone Passport TT. I drained water heater and low point water drains & fresh water tank, then turned water heater bypass valve. I then put the antifreeze to the pump to start pushing it to the faucets. HOWEVER , and this is where I think I really messed up, I forgot when draining to open up the faucets to release pressure and let the lines drain back from the faucets. So what happened is that when I began pushing the antifreeze with the pump and started opening up faucets, I was getting weak flow. I happened to stop and go back outside and found pink water running out of previously drained water heater. I verified that water heater bypass was on, so I'm stumped.
The only thing I can think of is that since I didn't open up the faucets while draining water heater and low point drains, that once I did open them they started running backward into the water heater, creating a siphon that pulled all the antifreeze backward into the water heater and out onto the ground.
The only thing about this theory is that I would think that the water heater outflow had a 1-way valve to prevent backflow (wild guess) or else how would you not normally get antifreeze back into the water heater from the hot water lines past the bypass backing into the water heater on the water heater outflow side? Also, if there was a one way valve, then opening up a hot faucet when draining water heater wouldn't do anything....
I just drained everything again, and am going to just start over and see what happens, but I'm just stumped on figuring out what happened and want to understand it
Probably something obvious, but curious what you pros think?
Thanks!