Johnmichael,
So 1st I hook up city water, open the faucets and
flush the toilet till water runs clear... one at a time open each faucet, including the outside shower, and the toilet, and run until clear.
.
do I keep the hot water heater on bypass during this, or change the valves and fill the tank after? Probably doesn't matter, but to make sure you don't inadvertantly get any antifreeze in the water heater, I'd wait until after.
Does hooking up to city water automatically fill the fresh water tank? No. There'll be a separate location for filling the fresh tank. It's probably what's known as a "gravity fill" which means it's not a screw-on hose connection. The hose from the faucet is loosely inserted into the opening and you fill slowly. Avoid overfilling and never do anything that could pressurize the fresh tank.
When disinfecting the system with a bleach solution, is that added into where the city water hose is connected? Here's what Heartland says:
To assure complete sanitation of your potable water system, the following procedures are recommended for a new system. For one that has not been used for a period of time and for one which may have become contaminated:
1. Prepare a chlorine solution using one (1) gallon of water and one-quarter (1/4) cup of household bleach (5% sodium hypochlorite solution). With tank empty, pour one (1) gallon of solution into the tank for each fifteen (15) gallons of tank capacity.
NOTE: As an option, several commercial solutions are available and should be used as directed on the package.
2. Complete filling of tank with fresh water. Operate all faucets to release trapped air. Pressuring entire system with pump, if available, and turn off pump.
3. Allow to stand for three (3) hours.
4. Drain and flush with fresh potable water.
5. To remove excessive chlorine taste or odor which may remain, prepare a solution of one (1) quart vinegar to five (5) gallons water and pour into tank. Allow solution to agitate in tank by vehicle motion (several days, if possible).
6. Drain tank and flush with fresh potable water.
The tank referred to is the Fresh Water Tank and "drain" would be to drain it through the drain hose.
There are two drain hoses underneath, in addition to grey and black water drains - do those drain the fresh water and hot water tanks? There'll be a 1/2" hose with a small valve to drain the fresh tank. If there's another similar hose with valve, it may be a low-point drain to empty the pex lines when winterizing. The Hot Water Heater Tank is usually drained by removing the anode rod (
see our Water Heater Usage Guide).
You may want to download an
owners manual from the Heartland website.