Refilling Atwood Jolly Boiler tank

[David Guthrie]

Hi
I have a 1990 Ducato campervan with an Atwood Jolly Boiler. This I drained before last winter and here I am wanting to get the system running again. (Long story why delay.)
Do I simply connect to a water supply tank and run the hot tap?
Or is there an arcane method? (I wonder whether the pump might burn out and there's a priming method I should use.
Also, what do I do about the vent at the top of the tank?
Image shown.

Any and all suggestions welcome

 

[movan]

@Indy259 and @Bessie600 don't one of Flora have one of these, who may be able to help?

 

[Indy259]

@movan I have a 2002 Duetto not Ducatto I'm fairly sure my system is very different, sorry unable to help.

 

[movan]

Thanks Ch

@movan I have a 2002 Duetto not Ducatto I'm fairly sure my system is very different, sorry unable to help.

Thanks ChRis ... what does Penny have ... sure I have seen one somewhere on our meets.

 

[jollyrodger]

I have similar (French version) I assume when draining was there a drain valve /lever to lift up located on the floor ?
Mine has this ,simply lay lever flat ,after putting sufficient water in tank open furthest hot tap /shower and run till a steady flow ,do this with all taps ,system bled .
I have a pressure system ,not submersible pump.

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[David Guthrie]

Thank you, Jolly Roger.
There is what looks like a drain valve (slightly obscured in the photo I posted above but to be seen in this photo - it's a red handle). This I did not use; what had happened was that the clear pipe became detached and emptied the contents accidentally. So the drainage job was done for me! I have now secured that pipe with a hose clamp.
It looks like my concern about dry-running the pump is maybe unnecessary, but oh I am nervous about it!
Any more guidance still welcome!
David

 

[jollyrodger]

Make sure you have sufficient water in your tank and you should be fine,imo

 

[Duck Truck]

Boilers are designed to be emptied and refilled
So do Not panic.
1) ensure the drain valve from the boiler is closed.
2) Ensure the fresh cold water tank in your motorhome is full of fresh water
3) switch on the pump on the control panel
4) open the cold tap nearest the fresh water tank and run until the water runs out then close the tap. usually happens within a minute or two depending on how strong your pump is
5) Open the cold water tap furthest from the fresh water tank and when water runs out close the tap
6) Do the same with the shower set to cold.
7) now do the same with the hot tap nearest the boiler (it may take a fair bit longer becasue the boiler has to fill first before the water runs out of the tap. Close the tap
8)Do the same thing with the hot tap furthest from the boiler.
9) Finally the same thing with the shower set to hot.

it may be a little trial and error
don't panic if the water splutters a lot its just purging air from the system
Take your time have a cup of tea or coffee
and dont panic

 

[Duck Truck]

When all the taps are pumping water smoothly switch the boiler on to heat up and just check around for any water leaks generally

 

[David Guthrie]

Whhoah! Thanks a million, Duck Truck! That settles it.
Oh, one small point - should the air vent at the top of the tank (white label: 'presa venta svuotamento boiler') be opened to assist filling (maybe to avoid a pressurised body of air in the top of the tank?)

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[Duck Truck]

sorry missed this
mine doesn't have a vent on the top that you can alter
so I am not sure
sorry