plumbing questions and problems

[Bre]

Hello,
In my 1996 Hymer B584, the cold water works fine, the hot water doesn't come out.
Also, I noticed yesterday, as I worked on the problem, that some water comes out of what I suppose is a pressure relief or overflow hose that looks like it goes into the water lines.
Water comes out even when running the cold water taps, so it shouldn't be pressure, and there would be not overflow, so I am wondering if a non-return valve is the problem? Or is the pipe work set up correctly? You can see the photo of it.
Under the sink, on the floor, there are water pipe, er, splitters, and there appears to be a sensible air release valve to get rid of air pockets. See attached photo.
I tried that and the hot water moved around in it a bit, but none out of the taps, although the pump is running.
Any suggestions as to the cause of the problem? And solution?

 

[Landy Andy]

Is the water running out of the frost valve?

 

[Bre]

Hi Andy, thanks for the reply. I am not aware of a frost valve, there is a dump valve for the waste nearby, and there is the bleed valve that is in the area of the Truma heater, and that is a 'flip' valve, so I can open that and dump all the water to drain for winter, I would guess, but I have not heard of a frost valve.
I have been out and had a look, and I cannot see anything that might match the diagram you have shown. I would suppose that it would be fairly visible and accessible?

 

[Landy Andy]

You probably don’t have a frost valve then. You tend to have a frost valve ( auto dump) or a manual dump, which you have.

 

[autorouter]

Truma water heaters generally have a drain valve in the pipework but quite close, that opens automatically when the temperature falls below about 3 or 4 degrees. This is supposed to protect the water heater from frost damage.

Turn the hot water tap on, listen for the water pump, then look under the van near the heater for any water running out. If there is, that will be the frost valve doing its job. There's different types, but I think all of them have to be closed manually once they are activated.

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[SandraL]

We have a hymer with both frost valve as in post 2 and a drain valve. The drain valve is a tap type arrangement. Just look for water under the van when pump is running and close the valve above it. On ours the drains are straight down thro floor.

 

[Bre]

We have a hymer with both frost valve as in post 2 and a drain valve. The drain valve is a tap type arrangement. Just look for water under the van when pump is running and close the valve above it. On ours the drains are straight down thro floor.

Hi, thanks, the hose that is right under the water tank, which is in the cupboard next to the door, has water run out of it, not bucket loads, but it does come out, but I cannot see a frost valve there. I wounldn't think that it would be under the tank where it can't be seen or reached?

 

[SandraL]

In second photo there are 2 valves that are arrowed. Are these drain valves? If they are then they should both be closed.
If not what are they?

 

[autorouter]

If the one-way valve to the overflow pipe (the nearest one to camera in picture 1) has stuck open then water will go out of the overflow pipe when the pump is on

 

[Bre]

In second photo there are 2 valves that are arrowed. Are these drain valves? If they are then they should both be closed.
If not what are they?

I opened them and nothing ran out anywhere, so I do not think they are drain valves, the only thing that came out was air, so I assume that they are there to bleed air out of the system.

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[Bre]

If the one-way valve to the overflow pipe (the nearest one to camera in picture 1) has stuck open then water will go out of the overflow pipe when the pump is on

I clamped off the how that goes from that valve, and the water dripping outside stopped, so that valve is not doing its job.
I don't think that will have anything to do with the hot water, but it is something else that needs to be replaced.

 

[autorouter]

The hot water has to fill up the tank in the heater before any water comes through to the hot taps. This may take a minute or two, or even longer. While waiting for this, keep an eye open for any other water coming out of the van underneath. Also listen for any flowing water.

Typically the one-way valves are damaged by frost. You could have more leaks from split pipes or taps. If you're lucky the frost will just push the pipes off the connectors.

 

[Bre]

The hot water has to fill up the tank in the heater before any water comes through to the hot taps. This may take a minute or two, or even longer. While waiting for this, keep an eye open for any other water coming out of the van underneath. Also listen for any flowing water.

Typically the one-way valves are damaged by frost. You could have more leaks from split pipes or taps. If you're lucky the frost will just push the pipes off the connectors.

The previous owner had drained the water system, the dump valve was still open when I bought it, so I don't think it is that.
I took the hose off at the dump valve to see if the water was being pumped to the hose that goes into the boiler, and water does come out.
So I am thinking that there is a blockage in either the hose going in from the dump valve or coming out of the boiler.
There are a lot of electrics in there, so I am not looking forward to finding out if that is the problem.

 

[tonyidle]

The two valves with the blue arrows are to drain the pipework and taps for Winter layup. When you open them water should drain. I have no idea what that strange arrangement on top of the tank is for and it doesn't look original. My (2005) B584 had the pipe from the pump going directly to the boiler & cold supplies and the overflow / air inlet going straight through the floor. I can't imagine why anything different is needed.

 

[Bre]

The two valves with the blue arrows are to drain the pipework and taps for Winter layup. When you open them water should drain. I have no idea what that strange arrangement on top of the tank is for and it doesn't look original. My (2005) B584 had the pipe from the pump going directly to the boiler & cold supplies and the overflow / air inlet going straight through the floor. I can't imagine why anything different is needed.

That is what I thought looking at it, but as I have not seen another Hymer, I didn't want to change it. So now, maybe I will change it to what seems sensible.

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[Bre]

Thanks for all the help, there was a silt blockage in the hose from the dump valve to the Truma, with that cleaned out water now flows from the hot taps. Result!
Also, I have re-done the hose arrangement on top of the water tank, and made it as you mentioned Tony.
So thanks for all the help!