Winterizing Revisited

[HEYBOSS]

Here's a few tricks/tips I picked up from a winterizing seminar.



1. drain black water tank

2. drain gray water tanks

3. drain fresh water tank

4. open hot/cold faucets to release pressure.

5. drain water heater

6. open or drain any low point drain tubes (higher end units) and close them

7. close previously opened faucets

8. by pass water heater

9. disconnect inlet hose (from fresh water tank to pump) at pump.

10. install an adapter to inlet on water pump with a clear hose into RV anti-freeze and turn on pump.

11. open all faucets one at a time, cold and hot until pink anti-freeze runs from them, don't forget to do shower and toilet, run them long enough to fill any p-traps under sinks etc.

12. turn off pump.

13. open hot/cold water faucet to release pressure, take a plastic tie strap and push in valve at inlet fresh water connection outside of RV and with strap holding valve open, close previously opened faucets and turn on pump until anti-freeze runs from fresh water connection. Turn off pump and remove tie strap. **NOTE** it is very important to release pressure from the system prior to sticking tie strap into city water connection valve, by not releasing pressure when the valve is pushed in the spring inside will get sucked in and brake.

14. return water heater bypass valves to summer operation and turn on water pump one last time to get some anti-freeze in water heater. Turn off pump, disconnect hose adapter and reinstall hose from fresh water tank.

15. Put some tape over pump switch so it doesn't accidentally gets turned on and introduce fresh water into system.



Now it is not recommended that you put any anti-freeze in fresh water tank because the inlet hose going to pump sits about an inch or so from the bottom of tank and it will be very hard to flush it out when comes time to reuse it. The bit of water left in it will not harm it.



One more item, if you have an atwood water heater, it has a plastic drain valve, do not replace it with an anode rod used in suburban heaters, it will not be useful. If you have a suburban water heater the anode rod is your drain valve, when you remove it to drain heater if the rod is worn down to the wire at the base only, replace it because if it is reused it will brake and you'll have it rattling inside the tank and crack the lining in the tank.



Three gallons of RV anti-freeze should be enough for the job.

Also if you have dishwasher and washer machines, ice makers ect, you must run them through all cycles to winterize them, good luck.

 

[TowPro]

I can vouch for 13. If you have pressure on the system, there is an o ring on the back pressure valve of the city water inlet that will jump off its seat then leak.



I found if you use this little device that screws into the fresh water inlet, that has a tire valve stem in it. Hook up a little air pressure to the tire valve stem and blow the water out of the line, then run the pink stuff through it.

Originally posted by HEYBOSS

Here's a few tricks/tips I picked up from a winterizing seminar.



13. open hot/cold water faucet to release pressure, take a plastic tie strap and push in valve at inlet fresh water connection outside of RV and with strap holding valve open, close previously opened faucets and turn on pump until anti-freeze runs from fresh water connection. Turn off pump and remove tie strap. **NOTE** it is very important to release pressure from the system prior to sticking tie strap into city water connection valve, by not releasing pressure when the valve is pushed in the spring inside will get sucked in and brake.

 

[HEYBOSS]

Yes that's true and that's how I usually do it, blow out all the lines with air and then run the pink stuff through it. For the guy that doesn't have access to air I guess he can do it as in step 13

 

[HEYBOSS]

One item I forgot to add to the list is if the unit is equipped with water filter to remove it before winterizing. This one step last year was a nightmare for me as the filter kept the anti-freeze clean and looked like water was coming from lines because it was clear, yes these filters work that well

 

[Batman]

Hey Fred, how many gallons of antifreeze did it take you last year???? Wasn't t something like 14

 

[ImagesThatSing]

Thank you for posting this exhaustive list. Jodi & I will find it useful this weekend. I would have forgotton to remove our water purifyer for sure.

 

[HEYBOSS]

Originally posted by Batman

Hey Fred, how many gallons of antifreeze did it take you last year???? Wasn't t something like 14

Actually 21 gallons

 

[HEYBOSS]

Images; I also run AC for 5 minutes, check tire pressure, spray some WD-40 on folding steps, slide out pistons landing gear legs rear stabilizer jacks etc. Charge and remove battery and store it in a warm place. This year I ordered RV cover for it.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

If you have that outside shower, don't forget to drain it like someone I know forgot.

 

[HEYBOSS]

Oh yeah, can't forget that shower, I don't have one so no worries for me

 

[Straight6Jeff]

no shower on the outside Freddie? What did you cheap out on that, or do you just hop in the sink and use the faucett?



I tell ya, the first time I heard you tell the winterizing story, I was crying laughing.

 

[HEYBOSS]

I know they gave me all the goodies except outside shower but it's ok because I don't like taking showers in public, I rather hop in the sink:-laf



That wasn't too fun winterizing it that time, would've been cheaper to take it to the dealer and pay them.

 

[HEYBOSS]

For tickles and giggles I found that thread.



How Not to winterize

 

[Mtngoat]

I drain the tanks, and have installed a valve between the pump and fresh water tank. When i winterize, I run a line directly into a antifreeze bottle, turn on the pump and then go around and open faucets and run the toilet until pink runs out. Oh, and I have shutoffs to keep the antifreeze out of the hot water heater. It takes about 1 3/4 gallons of antifreeze. Doesnt take long. I had a friend that had a line freeze and split, it was a b*tch finding it and even worse fixing it. .



Robin