Casita HW Tank Bypass Valve Problem - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-30-2020, 10:18 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Name: Lawson
Trailer: Casita
Colorado
Posts: 5
Casita HW Tank Bypass Valve Problem

I own a 2019 Casita Spirit Deluxe.

I had intended to winterize my Casita myself last fall by blowing out all of the water in the lines. Unfortunately, we had a warranty problem with our electrical panel which took a long time got get resolved, and the Casita was at an RV shop when the first serious cold weather was on the way. I had to pay them to winterize the trailer, and they put RV antifreeze in the lines..

This morning I went out to flush out the lines. The first thing I did was check the bypass valve to set it in the bypass position (it had been left in that position by the RV shop). I hooked the trailer to City water and started flushing the lines. I heard water coming out somewhere and when I looked it was coming out of the hot water heater (I had the anode out) Then, I tried the valve in the opposite position (pointing down) and water still flowed into (and out of) the hot water tank.

Next, I tried putting some water into my fresh water tank, turned on the pump, and water flowed into the hot water heater with the valve in both positions.

Might someone help me figure out what's going on with my plumbing and how I might analyze and fix the problem?
Lawson Drinkard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2020, 01:13 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Name: Greg
Trailer: 2008 Casita 17' SD
Washington
Posts: 1,993
Registry
If anyone ever turned that valve from open to closed, or vice versa, while the piping was under pressure, the seals in the valve seat are ruined. That valve should never be rotated while the system is pressurized, not even once! A replacement is about $15 bucks or so. And be sure to install it oriented so that the valve handle is facing the water heater and not facing out toward the inside if the trailer. It must be oriented that way for hot water flow direction purposes. If you install it with the valve handle facing the interior you will not have a bypass when closed. Also, as an aside, when the valve handle is level horizontally the valve is closed. When the handle points down, the valve is open. It must be open to have hot water flow. It must be closed when winterizing to prevent filling the water heater reservoir with anti-freeze. Personally, I never use anti freeze. I just open all my faucets and blow my lines out with air. If you do blow them out, don't forget to step on the toilet flush pedal, open any outside faucets if you have any, and break the connection at the 12 volt water pump so that air can blow any water out of the pump. (Grab a few paper towels when you do that one.)
Casita Greg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2020, 02:02 PM   #3
Junior Member
 
Name: Lawson
Trailer: Casita
Colorado
Posts: 5
Thank you Greg!

I never touched that valve until this morning so the seal must have been faulty, or blown at the RV place when they winterized the trailer.

Can you tell me what that valve is called and where I can order/purchase one?
Lawson Drinkard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2020, 02:28 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Name: bill
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
The Mountains of North Carolina
Posts: 4,136
Registry
Having spent a career in the chemical industry, 3 way valves were notorious for leaking. And I am talking ones that cost thousands of dollars, not $15. I'd contact Casita for replacements. Theirs should fit right in.
thrifty bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2020, 03:27 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Name: Greg
Trailer: 2008 Casita 17' SD
Washington
Posts: 1,993
Registry
Casita doesn't make them. Casita makes trailers, with components they source all over. This one is a direct "drop-in" replacement for the one that's no good.

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-36543-C...20&sr=8-6&th=1
Casita Greg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2020, 07:03 PM   #6
Junior Member
 
Name: Lawson
Trailer: Casita
Colorado
Posts: 5
Thank you Greg.

The Camco valve shown in the picture in the Amazon link you sent has two male connections and one female connection. The valve in my Casita has three male connections. Is there a similar Camco valve with three male connections?
Attached Thumbnails
IMG-1752.jpg  
Attached Images
 
Lawson Drinkard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2020, 08:13 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Steve Outlaw's Avatar
 
Trailer: Oliver
Posts: 711
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lawson Drinkard View Post
Thank you Greg.

The Camco valve shown in the picture in the Amazon link you sent has two male connections and one female connection. The valve in my Casita has three male connections. Is there a similar Camco valve with three male connections?

Just get a brass nipple and screw it into the female. Here's an example, you need to make sure it's the correct size.


https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt...2279/207176608
__________________
Steve and Tali - Dogs: Rocky and our beloved Reacher, Storm, Maggie and Lucy (waiting at the Rainbow Bridge)
2008 Outlaw Oliver Legacy Elite & 2014 Outlaw Oliver Legacy Elite II
2022 Silverado High Country 3500HD Diesel 4x4
Steve Outlaw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2020, 06:49 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Name: bill
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
The Mountains of North Carolina
Posts: 4,136
Registry
Of course Casita does not make the part, but given the trailer is just one year old, you probably can get a replacement directly from them that is a perfect match. As a minimum, they will know where to get one.
thrifty bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2020, 02:48 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Name: Jann
Trailer: Casita
Colorado
Posts: 1,307
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lawson Drinkard View Post
I own a 2019 Casita Spirit Deluxe.

I had intended to winterize my Casita myself last fall by blowing out all of the water in the lines. Unfortunately, we had a warranty problem with our electrical panel which took a long time got get resolved, and the Casita was at an RV shop when the first serious cold weather was on the way. I had to pay them to winterize the trailer, and they put RV antifreeze in the lines..

This morning I went out to flush out the lines. The first thing I did was check the bypass valve to set it in the bypass position (it had been left in that position by the RV shop). I hooked the trailer to City water and started flushing the lines. I heard water coming out somewhere and when I looked it was coming out of the hot water heater (I had the anode out) Then, I tried the valve in the opposite position (pointing down) and water still flowed into (and out of) the hot water tank.

Next, I tried putting some water into my fresh water tank, turned on the pump, and water flowed into the hot water heater with the valve in both positions.

Might someone help me figure out what's going on with my plumbing and how I might analyze and fix the problem?
Have you tried to put the anode rod in and put the valve in the bypass position. We've had problems if the anode rod is out. Don't ask me why as it makes no sense but that is what we've found out. We always use anti-freeze because if a little low spot has water in it you'll have a broken line if it freezes. Don't ask how we know. But it isn't pretty. We drain our tanks, remove line into pump (make sure you have a towel under the connection when removing the line), attach an extra piece of tubing with a connector on it to the pump, put hose in anti-freeze and turn on pump. Works best with 2 people so one can turn pump on and off along with the faucets and the other one can make sure anti-freeze doesn't run out or the tube can't fall out. To get rid of anti-freeze make sure bypass is still in bypass mode, hook to city water and open faucets. Also make sure the city water is not to high of pressure. That could damage pipes or bypass possibly. We always leave a faucet open when turning on city water or put a water pressure reducer on the hose. Our pump has slip on connections so it is easy to take off the line.
Jann Todd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2020, 11:47 AM   #10
Member
 
Trailer: 16 ft Casita
Posts: 73
Bypass valve

That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard of it is not going to ruin the seals in the valve I have turned the valves with pressure in the lines for years and have never had a valve go bad sounds like to me you are turning the wrong valve.
johnlochbuie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2020, 01:25 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Name: Ed
Trailer: Casita 17 ft SD
Colorado
Posts: 206
Bypass valve for Hot water

Yesterday I DE winterized my trailer and set it up for camping this summer.

The question in my mind is did the people who winterized your Casita us a pliers to turn the valve and shear the stop pin?

My valve turns one quarter of a turn. If yours turns more than a one quarter of a turn then the stop pin has been sheared. In that case replacement is required or turn it a one quarter of a turn and see it it holds. You should be able to purchase a new one at a local hardware store or camping trailer store for about $15.00. Replacing it in will take some dexterity and some fiddling.
ehoepner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2020, 03:39 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Civilguy's Avatar
 
Name: Mike
Trailer: Escape 21 & Jeep GC 5.7 (Previous 2012 Casita FD17 & 2010 Audi Q5)
Puget Sound, WA
Posts: 1,775
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lawson Drinkard View Post
The Camco valve shown in the picture in the Amazon link you sent has two male connections and one female connection. The valve in my Casita has three male connections. Is there a similar Camco valve with three male connections?
Yes, NPT (national pipe thread) is the same as MPT (male pipe thread) in this case.

JR Products 62255 3-Way Brass Diverter Valve - 1/2" MPT x 1/2" MPT x 1/2" MPT

https://www.amazon.com/JR-Products-6...s%2C306&sr=8-6
__________________
~ “It’s absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.” Oscar Wilde ~
~ “What the human being is best at doing is interpreting all new information so that their prior conclusions remain intact.” Warren Buffett ~

Civilguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
casita


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
city water valve problem WDavidG Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 14 04-11-2018 08:52 AM
How to winterize without HW bypass valve?? Joe & Cherie Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 21 11-08-2016 09:06 AM
Waste Water Valve Problem Lawrence W Plumbing | Systems and Fixtures 11 06-10-2013 07:07 AM
dump valve - leak at knife valve DogHaus Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 3 09-29-2011 11:30 AM
Hot water tank pressure release valve Steve Nentwig Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 3 04-08-2007 04:38 AM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:43 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.