Winterizing Adventurer

[akeagle]

When removing the plug to drain the water heater, it's an ideal time to check the condition of the sacrificial anode rod that at least on many (most?) RV water heaters is apart of the plug. Its made of zinc, about 8" long, and is designed to attract corrosion from minerals in the water that would otherwise corrode the WH tank. Our Minnie Winnie is a 2016 and we bought it in 2018. When I pulled that plug/anode rod prior to winterization I found the rod to be badly corroded and in need of replacement (it had done its job). Fortunately the replacements cost only about $7.00.

Even though its a little more work, I prefer to use the RV antifreeze method of winterization. It freezes quite hard here in Alaska and I'm leery of just using air to blow out the system. Our 28 foot Minnie needs only about 2 gallons of RV antifreeze to do the job, but I usually use 3 with the extra going into the grey and black holding tanks. By the way this RV antifreeze is not like toxic automotive antifreeze. It is non-toxic and easily rinsed out of the system. If I remember correctly its a plant-based formulation.

[imnprsd]

Here's two videos on this subject that will give you some pointers in general:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig8ctzIm6Tw

or

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsF4Ql1SGKY

HERE'S HOW I WINTERIZE MY COACH

* It will take 3 gallons, but it's safe to have 4 gallons of anti-freeze on hand.

* If you don't hear the pump or if you loose pressure, you know your gallon anti-freeze jug just ran out. So it helps to have a second person; or I suppose you can start with a 3-5 gallon container of anti-freeze; or you can plan on making several tank swaps.

* I DO NOT purge the system with air because you want to keep the pressure in the lines. This reduces the "spits" of air in the line when winterizing with your 12V pump.

* I DO NOT empty the hot water heater until the last step, because I want to keep the pressure in the hot water line until I am ready to deal with the hot water purge.

* I DO by-pass the hot water heater before I start purging the cold water side.

*** I follow this purge-order, because all my faucets and shower valve use a single handles, and that means you always draw some cold water in when the valve is in the full-hot position. ...And the problem with that, when winterizing, is that your cold water side will back feed into your hot water tank if you do not have any check valves... and I don't because I removed them 2 year ago. (Pesky-beggars! ... these things broke and left me with cold showers for 3 days! So I removed them.)

Anyway, if you want to save anti-freeze, I recommend you start the winterizing process by purging all the cold water lines first... separately... and then repeat the cycle and purge all the hot lines.

PURGE ORDER FOR JUST THE COLD WATER LINE TO START WITH

* Outside shower cold water side only. This is to make sure you see "pink" and you know your syphon is working... as the anti-freeze level will drop.

* Kitchen cold water line only. (When you see pink shut the water off.)

* Shower cold water line only...

* Bathroom sink cold water only...

* Purge only the Shower cold water side...

* Purge the toilet water valve.

* Set the washer to the notch before the HOT water temperature setting... and start a wash cycle. This will mix mostly hot water with some cold. And when you see the tub spin slowly in about 1-minute, turn the wash cycle off. ...Then the washer to "Spin" on the dial and when all of the pink has been drained from the washer you are done. (I don't clean the tank like the video shows, but you can if you want.)

==> You just purged the cold and the hot water in your washer so now you can move on to purging the remaining hot water lines:

*** REPEAT THE PURGE ODER AS LISTED ABOVE ON THE HOT WATER LINE THIS TIME ***

* AND LET ENOUGH "PINK STUFF" OUT OF THE FAUCTS AND SHOWER TO FILL THE P-TRAP. This is very important, but your p-traps don't require that much of the pink stuff so don't waste it.

* Don't forget to purge your water filter if you have one... better still, remove the cartridge. (I really don't like these things... and this is a reminder that I need to remove this thing next season.)

* Don't forget to purge the hot water side of your outside shower!!! ...And since this is the last step in the winterizing process, you can turn the pump off and now open the outside shower hot and cold water valves... and leave them open!!!

* Once you are sure you have winterized your coach, I like to take the extra anti-freeze and pore in onto a flat container lid... and leave one on the tile floor in the front and kitchen and bath area. Why? The anti-freeze does not evaporate and if there are any bugs in your coach (ants, spiders, ???) they will find the anti-freeze and die.

* You can also use "damp-rid" desiccant to achieve better insect killing results and it does a good job preventing musty orders.

FINAL STEPS:

* OPEN ALL YOUR WATER VALVES! ...This is an added precaution that will allow any freezing moisture that may expand in the lines to NOT CRACK the pex water lines.

* I don't like to purge the refrigerator ice maker. Instead I will separate the cold water line and let all the fresh water run out. ...Then I reconnect it.

* NOW I FLUSH THE HOT WATER TANK by releasing the pressure valve first and then the drain plug. Once all the water is out I will put the drain plug back in. ...Don't forget to close the pressure valve.

* AND FINALLY, I dump all the water in my fresh water tank.

THE END!

Attachment: pdf for your records

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by akeagle

Even though its a little more work, I prefer to use the RV antifreeze method of winterization. It freezes quite hard here in Alaska and I'm leery of just using air to blow out the system. Our 28 foot Minnie needs only about 2 gallons of RV antifreeze to do the job, but I usually use 3 with the extra going into the grey and black holding tanks. By the way this RV antifreeze is not like toxic automotive antifreeze. It is non-toxic and easily rinsed out of the system. If I remember correctly its a plant-based formulation.

Alaska?

I think the term "Winterization" is used loosely or misapplied

I live in Dallas so needs are different as I plan to use coach year around. As long as they call RV Antifreeze "RV Antifreeze" I will never use in my water supply lines. I do use in P Traps and allow to go to holding tanks when I re-use the coach. But I don't get sub zero temperatures. I do use my RV a day or two after temperatures may have hit upper 20s. I just drain tanks, blow out, and put the RV Antifreeze in P Traps until freeze passes by.

Need ideas on Winterization terminology, I will use a few states to help with the regions and point of my intent or emphasis. Something like this will help us to have standard procedure or best practice by Region which would help with some of different views. If I were in Montana, I would think entirely different.

1. Alaska / Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois

Permanent Storage Winterization


2. Colorado / Massachusetts / New York

Hard Storage Winterization


3. Missouri / Arkansas / Tennessee

Provisional Storage Winterization


5. North Texas / New Mexico / Northern California

On Demand Winterization


6. Southern California, Florida, Arizona, South Texas

Winter checkup

[eldermike]

on our Adventurer (2019 35F) the water pump, outside shower and water manifold are all inside the water compartment with the black and grey tank drains. At home in central NC we plug in and run gas heat on 55deg using an extend a stay valve and 30lb cylinders. I run a drop light into the water compartment with 150 watt incandescent bulb. I use an outdoor thermometer sensor inside the water bay so I can see the temps from inside the house. 150 watts yields 35F over ambient in this space. The only thing we winterize is the half bath because it has a pump. I pour 1/2 gal pink stuff in the half bath toilet (its empty before I start) , open both valves and pump until I see pink. I close the valves and we dont use that bath until spring.

[rarebear.nm]

Originally Posted by dkoldman

Alaska?

I think the term "Winterization" is used loosely or misapplied

I live in Dallas so needs are different as I plan to use coach year around. As long as they call RV Antifreeze "RV Antifreeze" I will never use in my water supply lines. I do use in P Traps and allow to go to holding tanks when I re-use the coach. But I don't get sub zero temperatures. I do use my RV a day or two after temperatures may have hit upper 20s. I just drain tanks, blow out, and put the RV Antifreeze in P Traps until freeze passes by.

Need ideas on Winterization terminology, I will use a few states to help with the regions and point of my intent or emphasis. Something like this will help us to have standard procedure or best practice by Region which would help with some of different views. If I were in Montana, I would think entirely different.

1. Alaska / Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois

Permanent Storage Winterization


2. Colorado / Massachusetts / New York

Hard Storage Winterization


3. Missouri / Arkansas / Tennessee

Provisional Storage Winterization


5. North Texas / New Mexico / Northern California

On Demand Winterization


6. Southern California, Florida, Arizona, South Texas

Winter checkup

I live in New Mexico. The winterization needs differ greatly from the southern areas to areas in the northern regions. There's a good 3,000 ft difference in elevation and that makes a big difference in our winters. I do not see a simple state schedule like posted above being realistic at all.

I typically use a hybrid process where I flush all lines with antifreeze followed by blowing the antifreeze out with air. This way I'm sure of getting all of the water out and not having antifreeze sit in the lines all winter.

[Wyatt]

Originally Posted by dkoldman

Alaska?

I think the term "Winterization" is used loosely or misapplied

I live in Dallas so needs are different as I plan to use coach year around. As long as they call RV Antifreeze "RV Antifreeze" I will never use in my water supply lines. I do use in P Traps and allow to go to holding tanks when I re-use the coach. But I don't get sub zero temperatures. I do use my RV a day or two after temperatures may have hit upper 20s. I just drain tanks, blow out, and put the RV Antifreeze in P Traps until freeze passes by.

Need ideas on Winterization terminology, I will use a few states to help with the regions and point of my intent or emphasis. Something like this will help us to have standard procedure or best practice by Region which would help with some of different views. If I were in Montana, I would think entirely different.

1. Alaska / Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois

Permanent Storage Winterization


2. Colorado / Massachusetts / New York

Hard Storage Winterization


3. Missouri / Arkansas / Tennessee

Provisional Storage Winterization


5. North Texas / New Mexico / Northern California

On Demand Winterization


6. Southern California, Florida, Arizona, South Texas

Winter checkup

Here, even in northern CA, we pay a HEAVEY weather tax called our “mortgage”. Only good thing...none of this applies...

[creativepart]

Originally Posted by eldermike

The only thing we winterize is the half bath because it has a pump. I pour 1/2 gal pink stuff in the half bath toilet (its empty before I start) , open both valves and pump until I see pink. I close the valves and we dont use that bath until spring.

What about the pipes in your thinly insulated walls? When one of those bursts you will have a much bigger problem than in your water bay.