During winterizing no water coming out of hot water tank

jalars8

Just finished winterizing my 2018 320S.  When, in that process, I opened the Alde relief valve to drain the hot water tank, no water came out of the drain tube.  Not sure why that would be.  I will say I've never had success in getting consistent hot water out of the system, so maybe it just means I had not gotten water into the tank?  All I've ever gotten out of the system when I turn on the hot water at kitchen sink, are brief, minimal amounts of hot water.  Or does the lack of water coming out of the drain tube mean something more nefarious?  

ScottG

Had you previously opened the regular cold water drain? I believe that will also drain the Alde hot water tank.

jalars8

Yes, I did previously drain the cold water.  A simple answer I was hoping for.  Thanks.

Denny16

On the non Nautilus TaB’s, the hot snd cold water low point drains will drain the Alde hot water tank.  But it is still a good indie to lift the yellow pressure relief valve and drain any roaming water in the tank (if any) and the overflow lines and yellow valve.  If there is still water in the yellow flipper valve, it can freeze and be possibly damaged, since it is a low point also.  Always a good idea, and is part of the Alde winter prep instructions, to lift this valve as a double check.
 Cheers 

BrianZ

@ScottG, isn't there a check valve between the Alde drain valve & the cold water lines that would prevent backflow of Alde water supply line into the cold water drain line?
Here's our 2018..

ScottG

@BrianZ, while I originally thought that was a check valve, I now understand it is just a reducer fitting that allows the 1/2" PEX to connect with the slightly smaller diameter PEX stubbed out of the Alde.

BrianZ

Ahh, thank you, @ScottG!
Makes sense now.
I also noticed the hot water line that crosses nearby appears to have the same connector arrangement, so therefore could not be a one-way valve, or else the hot water output from the mixing valve would be blocked.

ScottG

Years ago I did have a situation where I thought the HW tank had not drained when I opened the yellow relief valve. I thought at the time that some sort of vacuum was preventing flow, but in hindsight it's possible I had opened the CW drain first in that instance.

One way to be certain you have drained the Alde HW water tank is to first close the CW supply to the Alde, open a HW tap to break any vacuum, then open the yellow relief valve. About 2.5 gallons should drain from the relief valve, confirming that you have emptied the Alde HW tank.

Unfortunately there is no way to visually confirm the contents of the HW tank since it is deeply buried inside the guts of the Alde.

Passport

I drained my Alde after the unit had sat unused for 1 1/2 months and very little  water was released.  I figure that it may have evaporated or I partially drained it with other valves.