Water fill

by Sapper Tue Mar 16, 2021 7:41 pm

Evening all, We bought a new Warwick xl last autumn and this is the first AS we've had so lots to learn. One thing I thought of today is, how do I go about re-filling with water after the winter drain down? I guess it maybe different from all our old vans which had the standard Truma pump system which I would remove over the winter months to get the last of the water out. These vans needed to have the fresh water tank filled and then with the pump on, bleed the system by opening all the taps one at a time until all the air was expelled.

When we got the Warwick it came with the Whale Watermaster exterior pump which I still haven't used. The couple of times we managed to get away last year I put water in with a ten litre can and a funnel. I'm not being lazy by not reading the handbook I always feel the best advice comes from people with experience!

Should I do the enitial fill with my ten litre cans, or should I use the Whale pump and also, how to go about bleeding the system?

I'd really appreciate any help and advice.

Thanks in advance allthumbz

by BobK Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:38 am

I'm surprised you've not had a response yet. Yes, fill it with your water can if you wish, and then, as you state in your first paragraph, switch on the pump and bleed one tap at a time, starting with the one nearest the pump. If water pours out from below, check that you have closed the heater dump valve. Good luck. up!

by Sapper Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:39 am

BobK wrote:I'm surprised you've not had a response yet. Yes, fill it with your water can if you wish, and then, as you state in your first paragraph, switch on the pump and bleed one tap at a time, starting with the one nearest the pump. If water pours out from below, check that you have closed the heater dump valve. Good luck.

Thanks mate you're a champion. up!

by groundhog Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:50 am

Bob has put it in a nutshell! Why not put your whale pump in the can just to see how it works, it is a love it or hate it system but certainly worth familiarising yourself with. I fall in to the love it category though others will disagree I am sure!
Good luck.

by Sapper Wed Mar 17, 2021 3:29 pm

groundhog wrote:Bob has put it in a nutshell! Why not put your whale pump in the can just to see how it works, it is a love it or hate it system but certainly worth familiarising yourself with. I fall in to the love it category though others will disagree I am sure!
Good luck.

I'll certainly give it a go when I come to do the first fill up.

Thanks mate.

by CroftBadger Thu Mar 18, 2021 8:41 pm

I don't think it matters how you fill it - either way and whatever is convenient. Just one note - there are two Wastemaster filling products -

1. A big connecting block with electric connections for the van end and a short length of hose with a pump for dropping into an external water carrier. Switch on the Tank Fill on the van control panel and hey presto the tank fills from the carrier.

2 (which is what I got with my Warwick last year) The same big van connecting block and a 25m hose with a tap Hoselock type tap connector on the other end. This relies on water pressure to fill the tank but you still need to select the Tank Fill on the control panel in the van.

Just in case you do as I did and expected the long hose to do what the short one does but using an internal pump (there isn't one)! hugegrins

by Dbvwt Thu Mar 18, 2021 9:08 pm

Sorry if I’ve missed something but I just stick a hosepipe into the hole on the side of the van at home.

by groundhog Thu Mar 18, 2021 9:11 pm

Dbvwt wrote:Sorry if I’ve missed something but I just stick a hosepipe into the hole on the side of the van.

Only works if you have a hole and a tap though snigger

by Dbvwt Thu Mar 18, 2021 9:14 pm

I thought after about 2015 vans had both fillers. Also, if I read it correctly the question was how to fill after the winter drain down which I assume means a tap is probably available.
I’ve possibly got it wrong, I often do smile!

by groundhog Thu Mar 18, 2021 9:21 pm

If they haven't they should I have no idea allthumbz

by CroftBadger Fri Mar 19, 2021 7:26 am

I think new AS vans have the Wastemaster option and a fill hole so all bases are covered.

by Guest Fri Mar 19, 2021 9:12 am

just one point...nothing to do with the filling process...but however you do it, youll need at least 15 ltrs to be able to bleed the system properly...
the Truma combi takes 10 ltrs and the linking pipework into and out of the hot/cold tanks to the taps in sink/washroom will be another few ltrs...
anything less than this and you wont be able to fill/pressurise the system properly.
good luck with whatever fill system(s) you have.
(I'm a hose-in-the-hole user)

by Sapper Fri Mar 19, 2021 11:36 am

Great lot of advice, thanks buddies.

It's a good forum to be on for help and advice

by pstallwood Fri Mar 19, 2021 4:41 pm

Yes make sure the heater drain is closed. The first time I did a refill I thought I had closed the valve but there is a button to press in as well as the lever. I could not understand why I was loosing water until I read the manual.

by Sapper Sat Mar 20, 2021 4:55 pm

pstallwood wrote:Yes make sure the heater drain is closed. The first time I did a refill I thought I had closed the valve but there is a button to press in as well as the lever. I could not understand why I was loosing water until I read the manual.

Hi Peter,

Where's this button you mention I had a good look this morning but couldn't see one. There just seems to be the turn tap and my book doesn't mention one?

by Peter Brown Sat Mar 20, 2021 5:25 pm

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by Sapper Sat Mar 20, 2021 6:33 pm

Peter Brown wrote:

I'm pretty sure I don't have button that Peter, and the tap on top is different!

My van is a 2020 WXL is this what you have?

by Guest Sat Mar 20, 2021 6:48 pm

take a picture...

by Peter Brown Sat Mar 20, 2021 7:58 pm

You will have a whale water heater and we are not familiar with them yet. You can learn and educate the rest of us.

by Sapper Sun Mar 21, 2021 9:01 am

Peter Brown wrote:You will have a whale water heater and we are not familiar with them yet. You can learn and educate the rest of us.

There's a yellow turn tap on to of the heater that needs turning just 90 degrees, job done.

by Guest Sun Mar 21, 2021 9:22 am

i found this.....if i have the right unit (underfloor?) looks like there is a drain pipe built in and controlling it is done by a setting on the panel??

Protection Against Frost
For the Water Heater to be protected against frost, the water content of the Water Heater has to be fully drained. To drain the Water Heater open the drain valve on the Expanse interface to the open position (see Figure 41). At the same time the taps must be open in the hot position to allow air entering the system to aid with the draining process.
Alternatively, if the system is kept active (12V d.c. supply maintained, electrical mains / gas supply available) frost protection can be ensured by enabling frost protection on the control panel. The operation of the Water Heater in Frost Protection mode must not exceed 3 days.
Periods of Disuse
If the Water Heater is not going to be used for more than 3 days, disable the Water Heater on the control panel, isolate the gas supply by ensuring the gas shut off valve to the Water Heater is closed and that the gas supply is turned off (if no other gas appliances require a continued supply). The Water Heater must be fully drained to avoid the risk of freezing.
Please note: Frost damage will not be covered by warranty.

Fig 41 mentioned above isnt what you would expect and is not relevant..
however, heres a pic of the part of the controls which shows 'frost protection active' and another showing the drain pipe coming out of the unit....but no electro/mechanical device like the Truma one that i can see...
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by Sapper Sun Mar 21, 2021 11:29 am

No that's not my set up and the control panel is different, but thanks.

I've got it all sussed now, I was just a little concerned when Peter mentioned button to press but that's not on mine.

by Guest Sun Mar 21, 2021 12:43 pm

so what does it look like....yellow lever type?

by Sapper Sun Mar 21, 2021 4:13 pm

bolero boy wrote:so what does it look like....yellow lever type?

Hi, Can't take a photo just now, the vans in storage some miles away.

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