Re: [A/S] Winterizing

[Charlie/Betty Burke <cbburke@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Peg,

Here is the drill for winterizing a coach of that era.

It is best to use clean compressed air to blow the water out of the lines
in the beginning. An RV accessory store will/should have an adapter that 
fits into the city water connection at the rear roadside of the coach. 
Using this and applying 50-60 PSI of clean compressed air blow the air out 
starting with the drain on the outside of the water heater. If original it 
will be a small petcock in the lower left hand corner behind the outside 
access door. If it has been replaced it may be a white plastic plug in the 
same location. Open the drain and apply air. The air will bubble and 
scavenge the tank of mineral deposits that have separated from the water 
when heated. The harder the water the more deposits. If you see a lot in an 
older heater it would suggest the heater is past it's service life and may 
start leaking in the not to far future. Once you have drained the water 
heater, remove the air, plug the water heater drain and reapply the air. 
Go inside to the galley sink, cover it with a rag, and open first one 
faucet and then the other allowing as much water as possible to be 
released. Work your way back through the coach opening faucets. Be sure to 
include the toilet water valve.
Blowing the system out removes nearly all the water. Unfortunately with 
copper systems a short dip in the layout of the line will allow water to 
remain and the air will simply blow through it. In copper that would be all 
it would take to split the line.
To be 100% certain, or if you don't have compressed air you may do the 
following:
Using the low point drains in the rear compartment and/or galley cabinet 
sub floor area drain all the water possible from the plumbing. Once 
draining, flush the toilet to allow the water to be pulled out of the water 
valve and then open all faucet to pull as much water as possible out of them. 
Insure the fresh water storage tank is drained as much as possible. Use the 
front jack post to tilt the trailer fully up and then down allowing more 
water to drain.
Once all possible water is removed close off all drain valves and faucets. 
Remove the draw side connection to the water pump.(the line between the 
storage tank and the pump). Attach a short length (3-4') of hose to the 
pump and drop the other end into a jug of RV antifreeze.
It would not have been typical for a coach of that age to have a water 
heater bypass. If it does there will be from 1 to 3 valve on the back or 
side of the water heater. The valve are commonly 90 deg turn valves. 
Across the line is closed, parallel the line is open. Insure a single or 
double system valve is turned 90 deg.. In a 3 valve system the 2 valves 
nearest the tank fitting should be across the lines and the 3rd one 
parallel. This will ensure the antifreeze will not enter the water heater 
tank.
With the pump setup to draw from the jug turn on the pump and go to the 
galley faucet and turn on either cold or hot side of the faucet. Cover the 
faucet with a rag again. Allow it to run until you get a steady stream from 
each side. Shut off the pump and change the jug as the first will be near 
empty. Turn the pump back on and repeat at all the remaining faucets and 
the toilet. Once you have done this you may either leave as it is (most do 
because RV antifreeze shrinks when it freezes) or you may open the low 
point drains and let the antifreeze drain out.
If Mark has already pumped four gallons into the system, either you don't 
have a bypass or the valves are not in the correct position.
Most of the time it is best to avoid getting RV antifreeze in the water 
heater, especially if you can not blow out the mineral deposits. The 
antifreeze settles into the deposits and the hot water will smell pretty 
bad next year.
There is a reverse pump available that attaches at the faucet and can be 
used to force antifreeze backward through the system. Good except for the 
toilet Under no circumstance put RV antifreeze in the fresh water storage 
tank, period.
Hope this helps.

Charlie