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Winterizing

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9X

17
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: Used
PurchDate: Nov 13, 2014
Model: 2551
ModelYear: 2008
Slide: Yes
Location: Maryland

Winterizing

« on: November 02, 2015, 08:19:06 am »

Sharon and I have completed our first season in our PC. We have enjoyed the camping experience at soaring contests this summer. We are busy planning our 2016 season.
As first time owners, this is the first time I will be going through the winterizing process and i hopped to eliminate costly mistakes. I have read everything I could find on our Forum on the topic. I had number of off line e-mail exchanges with Tom Hanlon clarifying the process. I then generated a checklist to ensure that i would not miss any critical step during my first winterization. Tom Hanlon was kind enough to review my checklist and reorder a couple of steps to ensure that all the water would be drained from the plumbing; added other good to do maintenance items. Tom also suggested that I post my check list here
I want to give Tom Hanlon a very special thank you. He has always been available by e-mail and telephone to help this neophyte RV'er with lots of questions as Sharon and I were learning the PC and its systems. THANK YOU TOM!
As our season is over I expect to winterize our PC this week. Below is my checklist for your review. Any additions and corrections will be incorporated and appreciated:

Winterize Check List
10/29/15

1.   Dump and clean black and gray tanks;
2.   Remove hot water heater plug and drain hot water heater;
3.   Turn off hot water heater circuit breaker number 6;
4.   Open low point valves;
5.   Close low point valves;
6.   Close water heater by pass;
7.   Drain potable water tank;
8.   Attach pressure relief to city water inlet;
9.   Attach blow out fitting to pressure relief;
10.   Blow out plumbing system with compressed air – 40 pounds of pressure;
a.   Kitchen sink – both hot and cold tap;
b.   Bathroom sink – both hot and cold tap;
c.   Shower – both hot and cold tap;
d.   Commode;
e.   Outside shower – hot and cold tap;
11.   Pour three gallons of antifreeze into potable water tank;
12.   Turn on water pump and let pump run anti freeze through systems;
13.   Open all faucets until antifreeze comes out of tap – see 8 above;
14.   Pour antifreeze into trap in both sinks, shower and commode;
15.   Pour antifreeze into black and gray tank;
16.   Open both gray and black tank valves and pump antifreeze through macerator pump and hose;
17.   Close gray and black tank valves;
18.   Wash and dry the awning;
19.   Wash the outside of RV;
20.   Remove everything that could freeze from RV;
21.   Clean interior’
22.   Put fuel stabilizer in the tank;
23.   Change oil in generator;
24.   Change oil in Ford engine and have any required maintenance accomplished

My thanks to everyone who posts to the Forum. The information is invaluable!

David

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Doneworking

450
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: Used
PurchDate: September 2013
Model: 2350 Ford
ModelYear: 2013
Slide: Yes
Location: Oklahoma City

Re: Winterizing

« Reply #1 on: November 02, 2015, 08:40:45 am »

Excellent! Thank you so much and thanks to Tom to helping on this list.

I might add as a corollary to 10 (a) that I tend to forget the kitchen dish sprayer hose and head. I don't know why, but I always seem to have a woops moment about the third time I check everything after completing the entire winterizing process.

Again, thanks. I will print out this list and keep it in the manuals in the rig.

Paul

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Barry-Sue

1165
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: New
PurchDate: 10/17/11
Model: 2551
ModelYear: 2012
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Cherry
ExtColor: Classic Umber
Location: Michigan

Re: Winterizing

« Reply #2 on: November 02, 2015, 09:10:28 am »

David

This is a very comprehensive list that will be most helpful. Thanks to you and Tom for putting it together.
Also, may I add a corollary to item 16. I also blow out the flush lines in the San-Con.

Barry

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Barry and Sue
Current 2012 2551 w/Slide
Previous 2008 2350 w/Slide

Ron Dittmer

5647
Ron and Irene
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: New
PurchDate: June 2007
Model: 2350 Ford
ModelYear: 2007
Slide: No
IntColor: Cherry Green&Gray
ExtColor: Full Body Gray
Location: N/E Illinois

Re: Winterizing

« Reply #3 on: November 02, 2015, 09:35:22 am »

Given our PC is stored in our heated garage, I don't winterize it. But I do my best to remove all water. I have a steep driveway that I take advantage of. I drive the rig up on an angle such that the remaining fresh water in that tank finds the drain valve, so more water is removed. I also open the 3" waste cap in back and get the last of the water sitting in there which is about a 1/2 inch deep given the Sanicon inlet design. Of coarse I do that after I sanitize the sewage system.

I could but don't bother to blow out the 3 traps. I really should do that in case I ever need to pull the rig out of the garage during the winter.

Just so everyone here knows. After you drain your hot water tank, there is still 1/2 gallon of water inside it. This is by design to protect the 110v heating element from burning out if accidentally turned on while plugged in. The manufacture of the hot water tank claims it is designed to freeze with the heating element inside it but that just does not sit right with me. This is simply an FYI. I have no suggestion to offer.

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Ron (& Irene) Dittmer

TomHanlon

Re: Winterizing

« Reply #4 on: November 02, 2015, 10:24:48 am »

David between steps 3 & 4 you need to open all the valves to allow the water to run out. By all I mean sinks, both inside and outside showers and the toilet.

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Barry-Sue

1165
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: New
PurchDate: 10/17/11
Model: 2551
ModelYear: 2012
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Cherry
ExtColor: Classic Umber
Location: Michigan

Re: Winterizing

« Reply #5 on: November 02, 2015, 10:54:02 am »

David

We were traveling home in late fall the first year we started RV'ing and would need to winterize soon after we got home. Since I had never winterized our travel trailer before I needed some help/direction as to what to do. I was fortunate enough to park next to a very helpful owner of a RV dealership. This gentleman gave me some very good information and very valuable insight into what needed to be done. He showed me the Camco winterizing kit that was installed on his unit and explained it use. I installed the winterizing kit after we got home and have used one ever since. The installation was simple and straightforward.

Our 2008 2350 did not have the winterizing kit installed but I was pleased to see it came standard on our 2012 2551.

Here is a link to a couple of sites that sell the kit. Using a winterizing kit such as this eliminated the need to put antifreeze in the fresh water tank. On our 2012 2551 we winterize for less than a gallon and one half.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Camco-Pump-Converter-Winterizing-Kit-36543/205808441?keyword=36543+Pump+Converter

http://www.amazon.com/Camco-36543-Pump-Converter-Winterizing/dp/B0006JJ588/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1446476809&sr=8-6&keywords=winterizing+kit

Barry

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Barry and Sue
Current 2012 2551 w/Slide
Previous 2008 2350 w/Slide

donc13

1358
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: New
PurchDate: 03/2015
Model: 2551
ModelYear: 2015
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Nightscape/Hickory
ExtColor: White/Nightscape
Location: Colorado

Re: Winterizing

« Reply #6 on: November 02, 2015, 08:55:39 pm »

Quote from: Barry-Sue on November 02, 2015, 10:54:02 am

David

We were traveling home in late fall the first year we started RV'ing and would need to winterize soon after we got home. Since I had never winterized our travel trailer before I needed some help/direction as to what to do. I was fortunate enough to park next to a very helpful owner of a RV dealership. This gentleman gave me some very good information and very valuable insight into what needed to be done. He showed me the Camco winterizing kit that was installed on his unit and explained it use. I installed the winterizing kit after we got home and have used one ever since. The installation was simple and straightforward.

Our 2008 2350 did not have the winterizing kit installed but I was pleased to see it came standard on our 2012 2551.

Here is a link to a couple of sites that sell the kit. Using a winterizing kit such as this eliminated the need to put antifreeze in the fresh water tank. On our 2012 2551 we winterize for less than a gallon and one half.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Camco-Pump-Converter-Winterizing-Kit-36543/205808441?keyword=36543+Pump+Converter

http://www.amazon.com/Camco-36543-Pump-Converter-Winterizing/dp/B0006JJ588/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1446476809&sr=8-6&keywords=winterizing+kit

Barry

Those Camco winterizing kits are also available at most RV supply stores (in areas where it freezes) and at WalMart.

I considered them essential with my prior RVs but PC has taken care of that in my 2015 PC by adding a 4 way valve at the city water hookup.

Personally...I would NEVER pour RV antifreeze into the fresh water holding tank. You pretty mich have to run a full tank full of fresh water through the system in order to flush the antifreeze out of the tank and lines. No, RV antifreeze is not toxix, but it sure tastes yucky!

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---
Don and Patti

9X

17
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: Used
PurchDate: Nov 13, 2014
Model: 2551
ModelYear: 2008
Slide: Yes
Location: Maryland

Re: Winterizing

« Reply #7 on: November 03, 2015, 05:05:32 pm »

Thanks to everyone for comments. I have added these to my checklist. Several of you commented about the Camco water pump by pass kit. I have one and was reluctant to install it because the documentation I have from Sureflo (pump manufacturer for the pump in my PC) suggested that restricting the input side to the pump was not a good idea. I looked at the nice brass valve and it looked very restrictive to me, so I did not install the kit until I learn more about the water pump.

I did winterize today taking advantage of the unseasonably warm temperatures in the Mid Atlantic states. The process went very well.

Thanks again to everyone for your comments.

David

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2 Frazzled

1434
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: New
PurchDate: May 2013
Model: 2552
ModelYear: 2013
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Sunlit & Cherry
ExtColor: Sunlit
Location: On the road full time (prev. Maryland)

Re: Winterizing

« Reply #8 on: November 04, 2015, 05:56:32 am »

That is quite a comprehensive list. Thank you for posting it. John does not want to put pressure on the system by blowing out the lines so we follow the winterizing video Earl has on the Phoenix site. This will be the first long freeze time that we are not in the rig so I guess time will tell if our system works. We have stored up to a month of freezing weather and have been living in her for shorter freeze times where we do a partial winterization to protect the Macerator and tanks.

We also pull out our more delicate electronics and all little batteries - weather radio, walkie talkie, GPS, remote thermometer, battery charger with batteries, little solar charger, etc. We have a little bin they live in until they go back in place.

And I pull the mattresses a couple inches from the wall to avoid condensation there and open one vent a bit.

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John, Holly, and sometimes Chloe.
Travel Blog: Spiritofthewoods.net

GoPhoenix

285
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: New
PurchDate: 12/2010
Model: 3100
ModelYear: 2011
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Slate grey/Cherry
ExtColor: Full body grey
Location: Ohio

Re: Winterizing

« Reply #9 on: November 04, 2015, 09:45:15 am »

I too always opened one vent a little. Never a problem until last year when wasps decided it was a great place for a nest, in spite of a Maxxair cover. The nest was attached to the bottom of the vent lid and above the screen. It was a mess to remove.

« Last Edit: November 04, 2015, 06:49:41 pm by GoPhoenix »

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I remember very few of the things that I’ve spent money to buy, but I remember all of the places that I’ve spent money to see.

RheaNL

220
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: New
PurchDate: October 4, 2012
Model: 2100
ModelYear: 2013
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Dusk
ExtColor: Dusk lower
Location: Colorado

Re: Winterizing

« Reply #10 on: November 08, 2015, 10:31:32 pm »

We have a 2013 and it came with the Camco winterizing connection. I love it. We never blow the system, just lots of RV antifreeze.
First two winters we stored above 9,000 feet with temps sinking to -35 and nothing froze including the water left in the hot water heater. So, no worries Ron.
A few more items...
If mice/rodents are a possibility, remove all food and food-like items (i.e. scented candles) and use some form or rodent deterrent. There is a separate discussion thread about choices. We use the pine oil packets. Only purchased once and then refresh with pine oil each year.
Remember to winterize the outside shower if you have one.
I rubber band a piece of paper towel inside a baggie over all faucets, sprayers, shower heads to keep pink drips under control. Saves on clean-up later

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