Pump not working to winterize hot water lines

[Woodworker]

I am winterizing our 287BHSW. I turned the valves to bypass the hot water tank. I winterized the cold water lines just fine but when I turn on the hot water faucets the pump does not come on. Dead silence, nothing but crickets.
All the cold water lines including the toilet worked fine, I got antifreeze out of all of them.
Am I missing something here?

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[Grumpy]

Sounds like the bypass valves aren't set right. Do you have 2 or 3 valves? Did you open the center valve if you have 3?

[Woodworker]

The are 2. Each is located at a tee on the incoming amd out goin line. The tee portion connects both lines so I turned them to use that line as the bypass.

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[Grumpy]

With the pump on and a hw faucet open turn them slowly starting with the top. Maybe the valve didn't turn properly.

[Woodworker]

DW off to get more antifreeze then I'll try that.

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[Jagiven]

I would say, you have one valve wrong. The handle should indicate the direction of flow. I suspect the valve at the water heater out put is wrong, otherwise the antifreeze would fill the water heater tank first.

[Woodworker]

I turned the valve at the bottom and the line had pressure and liquid. Turned it back when it stopped making noise. I turned the top one and nothing. DW got back so I set up the jug amd all of a sudden pump starred workin but it was suckin the jug dry so I cut it off. Went outside and antifreeze was pouring out of the drain plug on the water heater. I left bottom valve alone and turned top valve back to where it was before I started this process and now hot water faucets work.
Craziest thing I ever saw. Now I have to go aftwr another gallon to make sure all the hot water lines are protected. Jug ran out by the time I turned on the outside shower.
Thank you for the help,
Happy New Year

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[Woodworker]

Since antifreeze did run through the water heater should I stick a wand in it and flush with fresh water to make sure none is in there?

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[Grumpy]

Won't hurt anything, just flush it good now or in the Spring with the wand.

[Crabman]

Sounds like you have that new 2 valve system others have reported starting in 2016. I'm not clear how that system works I still have the 3 valve setup.

[Grumpy]

Each valve acts like an elbow when in bypass mode.

[Woodworker]

And those valves are not the easiest to get to. Not accessible from under bunk bed so I was halfway inside storage compartment with my arm fully extended blindly finding valves and turning them with 2 fingers.
Just glad all worked out and ya'll responded as quickly as you did. I appreciate that, it was gettin cold out.

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[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by Woodworker

And those valves are not the easiest to get to. Not accessible from under bunk bed so I was halfway inside storage compartment with my arm fully extended blindly finding valves and turning them with 2 fingers.
Just glad all worked out and ya'll responded as quickly as you did. I appreciate that, it was gettin cold out.

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Mine has a very small door under the bunk that you wouldn't even see if you didn't remove the mattress and crawl back there, maybe 6"wide at the most that is directly above the valves. Does yours not have any access from the bunk area at all?

[Woodworker]

The front 1/4 of the bunk is hinged but you can't reach the tank from there. I didn't pull the whole mattress out to inspect further thinkin if I have to do that it isn't worth it.

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[Midnightmoon]

That's basically how mine is laid out except it isn't hinged. The access door for the valves is very close to the front of the bunk directly above the valves.

Unless I'm by myself, I send one of my daughters in there while I hold up the mattress. If I do it myself, it is easier to pull the mattress out.

[Woodworker]

This is located in the very back corner of the trailer. Lookin above it where the mattress is there are slates of wood that have been nailed to the bed frame so other than pulling the mattress out, opening the trap door and climbing down in there you can't reach it without goin thru the side storage door.
Stupid design but who am I to judge

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[Midnightmoon]

And even when you open the access door, nobody over 100# can realistically get their arm down in there.

[Woodworker]

Nope, sure can't.

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[TxLoser]

Sounds similar to my FW. A real hassle to get to those valves. I have to hold the bunk open with one shoulder as I crawl to the back stepping on and around stuff in my storage under the bunk.