De winterizing

[swimmer_spe]

Spring has finally sprung here in Northern Ontario. The TT is now moved from it's winter parking spot to the driveway, ready for the season. Now it is time to de winterize it.

Here is my list:
-fill water tank
-pump out antifreeze from lines
-put plug in water heater and switch valves for in service.
-fill water heater
-Turn on propane and test all appliances to see if they still work.
-turn on AC to make sure it works.
-Check all lights

Is there anything I am missing?

[swimmer_spe]

schlep1967 wrote:

swimmer_spe wrote:

schlep1967 wrote:

swimmer_spe wrote:

schlep1967 wrote:
I do things a little different than you.
1. Go inside and open all faucets.
2. Go outside and open low point drains to get as much of the pink stuff as possible to drain out. Close low point drains.
3. As others have said, bleach. Hook up every hose you intend to use this year to your tank fill port (could be gravity or a hose connection) and pour bleach into the hose furthest from the camper. Now hook the hose up and fill the tank. This way everything gets some bleach to kill the bad stuff.
4. Pump bleach water through system to get the pink stuff cleaned out.
5. Turn off the pump. Close/open (depends how you look at it) the bypass for the water heater. Turn on pump to give a short flush of the water heater. Turn off pump and put plug in water heater. Turn on pump and open a hot water valve/faucet to fill the water heater with bleach water.
6. Let sit overnight. Next day. Repeat numbers 1 & 2 plus drain your holding tank and water heater.
7. When ready, fill with fresh water and enjoy.

This is a good list. The only issue I have is the draining of the pink goo on the ground. I would rather it in my holding tank.

The pink goo is biodegradable. If it wasn't, we wouldn't put it in a system we might drink out of.

I know it is biodegradable. However, that does not make it good to put on the ground where a local pet could drink it.

Besides, my holding tank is empty and putting it all in there is not an issue for me.

You could always put a bucket under the low point drains and save the pink stuff for next year. The problem with not draining the low points is there will be residual pink stuff in those drop down lines that will continue to mix with your fresh water for quite a while until it all works out of the system.
P.S. It would be harmless to any pets or wildlife. Just like it is to humans.

I have one drain line and it is at the pump. I do not plan to reuse it. What I do is put fresh water into the fresh water tank. Turn pump on and start opening taps till no pink.

[schlep1967]

swimmer_spe wrote:

schlep1967 wrote:

swimmer_spe wrote:

schlep1967 wrote:
I do things a little different than you.
1. Go inside and open all faucets.
2. Go outside and open low point drains to get as much of the pink stuff as possible to drain out. Close low point drains.
3. As others have said, bleach. Hook up every hose you intend to use this year to your tank fill port (could be gravity or a hose connection) and pour bleach into the hose furthest from the camper. Now hook the hose up and fill the tank. This way everything gets some bleach to kill the bad stuff.
4. Pump bleach water through system to get the pink stuff cleaned out.
5. Turn off the pump. Close/open (depends how you look at it) the bypass for the water heater. Turn on pump to give a short flush of the water heater. Turn off pump and put plug in water heater. Turn on pump and open a hot water valve/faucet to fill the water heater with bleach water.
6. Let sit overnight. Next day. Repeat numbers 1 & 2 plus drain your holding tank and water heater.
7. When ready, fill with fresh water and enjoy.

This is a good list. The only issue I have is the draining of the pink goo on the ground. I would rather it in my holding tank.

The pink goo is biodegradable. If it wasn't, we wouldn't put it in a system we might drink out of.

I know it is biodegradable. However, that does not make it good to put on the ground where a local pet could drink it.

Besides, my holding tank is empty and putting it all in there is not an issue for me.

You could always put a bucket under the low point drains and save the pink stuff for next year. The problem with not draining the low points is there will be residual pink stuff in those drop down lines that will continue to mix with your fresh water for quite a while until it all works out of the system.
P.S. It would be harmless to any pets or wildlife. Just like it is to humans.

[schlep1967]

JaxDad wrote:

swimmer_spe wrote:

JaxDad wrote:

swimmer_spe wrote:

JaxDad wrote:

MudChucker wrote:
So... I think you are close, perhaps you are a bigger picture person and so have missed some details...

Leave hot water tank bypass in bypass configuration.
Partially fill fresh tank and dump a couple of times.
Fully fill fresh tank and ad a cup or 2 of unscented bleach.
Turn on water pump and pump mixture through all lines till pink stops pumping out.

Drink a beer.

Drain fresh tank.

Drink another beer while tank drains.

Fill fresh tank and pump through lines till bleachy water is gone.

Turn off pump



Done.

That the best reason why I like using air instead of that pink goo.

Besides, at my age I’m asleep after two beer.....

I am further north than you, so the goo is good.

It never gets cold enough for air to freeze and burst a pipe. LOL.

I am assuming you have never heard of a hydro lock. In our winters, that would become an ice cube. That ice cube could break a water line.

Yes, I know all too well what a hydrolock is, it’s when for instance, there is sufficient liquid in a cylinder to end the piston's stroke before it can reach TDC. Since liquids are nearly incompressible the piston cannot complete its travel and so either the engine must stop rotating or a mechanical failure must occur, or both.

I don’t understand what a locked up engine has to do with RV plumbing.

If you’re trying to imply that the liquid in the pipe would stop the air flow, no, it can’t do that. Not unless you have a tap shut and never open it during the blowing out process.

If you did that however, the same thing would occur using antifreeze too.

This argument has been hashed out many times on this forum. Lets just leave it at "Do what works for you" and move on.

[JaxDad]

swimmer_spe wrote:

JaxDad wrote:

swimmer_spe wrote:

JaxDad wrote:

MudChucker wrote:
So... I think you are close, perhaps you are a bigger picture person and so have missed some details...

Leave hot water tank bypass in bypass configuration.
Partially fill fresh tank and dump a couple of times.
Fully fill fresh tank and ad a cup or 2 of unscented bleach.
Turn on water pump and pump mixture through all lines till pink stops pumping out.

Drink a beer.

Drain fresh tank.

Drink another beer while tank drains.

Fill fresh tank and pump through lines till bleachy water is gone.

Turn off pump



Done.

That the best reason why I like using air instead of that pink goo.

Besides, at my age I’m asleep after two beer.....

I am further north than you, so the goo is good.

It never gets cold enough for air to freeze and burst a pipe. LOL.

I am assuming you have never heard of a hydro lock. In our winters, that would become an ice cube. That ice cube could break a water line.

Yes, I know all too well what a hydrolock is, it’s when for instance, there is sufficient liquid in a cylinder to end the piston's stroke before it can reach TDC. Since liquids are nearly incompressible the piston cannot complete its travel and so either the engine must stop rotating or a mechanical failure must occur, or both.

I don’t understand what a locked up engine has to do with RV plumbing.

If you’re trying to imply that the liquid in the pipe would stop the air flow, no, it can’t do that. Not unless you have a tap shut and never open it during the blowing out process.

If you did that however, the same thing would occur using antifreeze too.

[swimmer_spe]

schlep1967 wrote:

swimmer_spe wrote:

schlep1967 wrote:
I do things a little different than you.
1. Go inside and open all faucets.
2. Go outside and open low point drains to get as much of the pink stuff as possible to drain out. Close low point drains.
3. As others have said, bleach. Hook up every hose you intend to use this year to your tank fill port (could be gravity or a hose connection) and pour bleach into the hose furthest from the camper. Now hook the hose up and fill the tank. This way everything gets some bleach to kill the bad stuff.
4. Pump bleach water through system to get the pink stuff cleaned out.
5. Turn off the pump. Close/open (depends how you look at it) the bypass for the water heater. Turn on pump to give a short flush of the water heater. Turn off pump and put plug in water heater. Turn on pump and open a hot water valve/faucet to fill the water heater with bleach water.
6. Let sit overnight. Next day. Repeat numbers 1 & 2 plus drain your holding tank and water heater.
7. When ready, fill with fresh water and enjoy.

This is a good list. The only issue I have is the draining of the pink goo on the ground. I would rather it in my holding tank.

The pink goo is biodegradable. If it wasn't, we wouldn't put it in a system we might drink out of.

I know it is biodegradable. However, that does not make it good to put on the ground where a local pet could drink it.

Besides, my holding tank is empty and putting it all in there is not an issue for me.

[swimmer_spe]

JaxDad wrote:

swimmer_spe wrote:

JaxDad wrote:

MudChucker wrote:
So... I think you are close, perhaps you are a bigger picture person and so have missed some details...

Leave hot water tank bypass in bypass configuration.
Partially fill fresh tank and dump a couple of times.
Fully fill fresh tank and ad a cup or 2 of unscented bleach.
Turn on water pump and pump mixture through all lines till pink stops pumping out.

Drink a beer.

Drain fresh tank.

Drink another beer while tank drains.

Fill fresh tank and pump through lines till bleachy water is gone.

Turn off pump



Done.

That the best reason why I like using air instead of that pink goo.

Besides, at my age I’m asleep after two beer.....

I am further north than you, so the goo is good.

It never gets cold enough for air to freeze and burst a pipe. LOL.

I am assuming you have never heard of a hydro lock. In our winters, that would become an ice cube. That ice cube could break a water line.

[schlep1967]

swimmer_spe wrote:

schlep1967 wrote:
I do things a little different than you.
1. Go inside and open all faucets.
2. Go outside and open low point drains to get as much of the pink stuff as possible to drain out. Close low point drains.
3. As others have said, bleach. Hook up every hose you intend to use this year to your tank fill port (could be gravity or a hose connection) and pour bleach into the hose furthest from the camper. Now hook the hose up and fill the tank. This way everything gets some bleach to kill the bad stuff.
4. Pump bleach water through system to get the pink stuff cleaned out.
5. Turn off the pump. Close/open (depends how you look at it) the bypass for the water heater. Turn on pump to give a short flush of the water heater. Turn off pump and put plug in water heater. Turn on pump and open a hot water valve/faucet to fill the water heater with bleach water.
6. Let sit overnight. Next day. Repeat numbers 1 & 2 plus drain your holding tank and water heater.
7. When ready, fill with fresh water and enjoy.

This is a good list. The only issue I have is the draining of the pink goo on the ground. I would rather it in my holding tank.

The pink goo is biodegradable. If it wasn't, we wouldn't put it in a system we might drink out of.

[JaxDad]

swimmer_spe wrote:

JaxDad wrote:

MudChucker wrote:
So... I think you are close, perhaps you are a bigger picture person and so have missed some details...

Leave hot water tank bypass in bypass configuration.
Partially fill fresh tank and dump a couple of times.
Fully fill fresh tank and ad a cup or 2 of unscented bleach.
Turn on water pump and pump mixture through all lines till pink stops pumping out.

Drink a beer.

Drain fresh tank.

Drink another beer while tank drains.

Fill fresh tank and pump through lines till bleachy water is gone.

Turn off pump



Done.

That the best reason why I like using air instead of that pink goo.

Besides, at my age I’m asleep after two beer.....

I am further north than you, so the goo is good.

It never gets cold enough for air to freeze and burst a pipe. LOL.

[swimmer_spe]

schlep1967 wrote:
I do things a little different than you.
1. Go inside and open all faucets.
2. Go outside and open low point drains to get as much of the pink stuff as possible to drain out. Close low point drains.
3. As others have said, bleach. Hook up every hose you intend to use this year to your tank fill port (could be gravity or a hose connection) and pour bleach into the hose furthest from the camper. Now hook the hose up and fill the tank. This way everything gets some bleach to kill the bad stuff.
4. Pump bleach water through system to get the pink stuff cleaned out.
5. Turn off the pump. Close/open (depends how you look at it) the bypass for the water heater. Turn on pump to give a short flush of the water heater. Turn off pump and put plug in water heater. Turn on pump and open a hot water valve/faucet to fill the water heater with bleach water.
6. Let sit overnight. Next day. Repeat numbers 1 & 2 plus drain your holding tank and water heater.
7. When ready, fill with fresh water and enjoy.

This is a good list. The only issue I have is the draining of the pink goo on the ground. I would rather it in my holding tank.

[JimK-NY]

Here is what I have done so far this year:
added Timbrens to improve the ride and stop the sagging
added an upgraded battery charging system
cleaned inside
added an additional coat of ZEP outside
cycled the batteries and charged at 14.4 v.
When I get closer to using the rv, I will drain and bleach the water system. I also have 2 boxes of liquids and other stuff that will need to come up from the basement and stored in the rv.

[schlep1967]

I do things a little different than you.
1. Go inside and open all faucets.
2. Go outside and open low point drains to get as much of the pink stuff as possible to drain out. Close low point drains.
3. As others have said, bleach. Hook up every hose you intend to use this year to your tank fill port (could be gravity or a hose connection) and pour bleach into the hose furthest from the camper. Now hook the hose up and fill the tank. This way everything gets some bleach to kill the bad stuff.
4. Pump bleach water through system to get the pink stuff cleaned out.
5. Turn off the pump. Close/open (depends how you look at it) the bypass for the water heater. Turn on pump to give a short flush of the water heater. Turn off pump and put plug in water heater. Turn on pump and open a hot water valve/faucet to fill the water heater with bleach water.
6. Let sit overnight. Next day. Repeat numbers 1 & 2 plus drain your holding tank and water heater.
7. When ready, fill with fresh water and enjoy.

[swimmer_spe]

JaxDad wrote:

MudChucker wrote:
So... I think you are close, perhaps you are a bigger picture person and so have missed some details...

Leave hot water tank bypass in bypass configuration.
Partially fill fresh tank and dump a couple of times.
Fully fill fresh tank and ad a cup or 2 of unscented bleach.
Turn on water pump and pump mixture through all lines till pink stops pumping out.

Drink a beer.

Drain fresh tank.

Drink another beer while tank drains.

Fill fresh tank and pump through lines till bleachy water is gone.

Turn off pump



Done.

That the best reason why I like using air instead of that pink goo.

Besides, at my age I’m asleep after two beer.....

I am further north than you, so the goo is good.

[Dick_B]

I pour 3/4 cup bleach into the supply hose then pump both the freshwater tank and water heater full of bleach water, let set for at least three hours, then dump. If you dump overnight you don't have to drink so many beers. Then fill everything with fresh water and run as previously advised to get the bleach/pink stuff out of the system.

For those who use air does the pump and accumulator (if used) get all the water out?

[Roman_Duck]

98 % complete, everything already mentioned plus; pull air filters from a.c. and clean them, check all seals, gaskets,and caulk . Then I apply petroleum jelly to rubber seals. I also like to check the burn tubes on water heater and refrigerator, make sure no debris, spider webs and such. While I'm doing that I also take a look at the color of flame, making sure that it's burning properly. Then I'll remove all mothball trays that I had placed at beginning of storage. Last thing after that is to inform the DW that it's ready for her turn... enjoy the coming season