Alde reservior overflow

TommyK
TommyK Member Posts: 8
in Heating/Plumbing & Winterizing
I was getting ready for a trip, flushed the system and put the water in camping mode.  The Alde system was off and when I turned on the water pump I noticed glycol running from the overflow tube.  When I bypassed the hat water tank it stopped.

Comments

  • mgreen2
    mgreen2 Member Posts: 89
    Did you use antifreeze to winterize? I'd think that was antifreeze since glycol doesn't mix into with the plumbing system. Which overflow tube was it coming from?
  • TommyK
    TommyK Member Posts: 8
    It was glycol and it was coming from the clear tube from the reservoir 
  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,677
    edited June 2022
    As @mgreen2 noted, the domestic water and the Alde glycol are completely separate systems. Theoretically, the only way that running the pump could force glycol out of the reservoir is if there was a breach between the Alde's HW tank and glycol chamber. In such a case, water from the tank would be forced under pressure into the glycol system, forcing the glycol to overflow at the reservoir.
    A similar question came up very recently in another discussion.
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
  • TommyK
    TommyK Member Posts: 8
    I get it. What would be causing the glycol to leave the system and only when I’m filling the tank
  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,035
    @TommyK - how full is the glycol reservoir?  I know you said the Alde was off, but a high Alde pump speed will cause churning and some potential overflow, or a backup into the reservoir can cause an overflow (large air leak into the glycol loops).  

    What year and model TaB?  Nautilus?
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • Bayliss
    Bayliss Member Posts: 1,519
    edited June 2022
    Following up on @Sharon_is_SAM's post, the glycol reservoir level should only by about 1/2" above the "MIN" (minimum) mark.  If the tank is overfilled, I could see it exiting out the overflow tube, which is what it is for.

    2019 T@B 320 S Boondock Lite ~ 2025 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 4x4
    Greg & Marlene (Tucson, AZ)

  • TommyK
    TommyK Member Posts: 8
    The tab is 2020
  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,035
    edited June 2022
    A 320?  The last photo below is helpful.  Where is the leak exiting?  



    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,677
    TommyK said:
    I get it. What would be causing the glycol to leave the system and only when I’m filling the tank
    If the leak was between the water and glycol chambers inside the Alde, bypassing the Alde HW tank would remove the pressure that is forcing glycol out at the reservoir.
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,677
    Here is a schematic of the Alde core that may help explain what I was describing above.


    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
  • TommyK
    TommyK Member Posts: 8
    Is this a common problem 
  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,430
    No, I have only heard of two issues like this caused by a leak in the boiler unit, and both were early models.
     Cheers 
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,677
    Agreed. the discussion I linked to above involved a 2021 400, but that problem never got confirmed. Prior to that, I don't recall any discussion here about failed boiler cores.
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
  • TommyK
    TommyK Member Posts: 8
    Sharon it is coming from H. It is a clear tube
  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,035
    @TommyK -
    how did you confirm that it was glycol?  
    Is it possible that the new onset pump pressure pushed some water out of the hot water tank overflow and you are seeing water exiting under the TaB from that large black exit port?  There are 3 drains that exit that black port.
    The glycol reservoir overflow exits the top of the reservoir - can you expose the reservoir and observe for a rise in the glycol level to the overflow while the pump is running?  I would confirm this before assuming you have a breach of the Alde tank.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,430
    Sam has a good point, and I agree, you should check to reservoir and watch what the glycol level is doing whilst the pump is working.
     Cheers 
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
  • TommyK
    TommyK Member Posts: 8
    So I spoke with Adele and added to the reservoir. When I opened the valves to put everything in camping mode and turned on the water pump the glycol rose and went out the overflow. The pump on the Adle is set at 2 like they told me. Any suggestions 
  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,035
    edited June 2022
    Sounds like you have a connection between the Alde water tank and the Alde glycol tank.  Contact a dealer.

    You aren't alone: https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/186132#Comment_186132
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio

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