[A/S] Re: Potable anti freeze

["Maurice Riggins" <roadkingmoe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

You can buy one of those "kits" that install on the intake side of 
your water pump.  It comes with a valve that lets you switch whether 
the pump is sucking from the fresh water tank, or from a short piece 
of hose you stick in an anti-freeze jug.  You didn't even install the 
valve.  I couldn't, without redoing the plumbing and relocating my 
pump.  So I just disconnect the plumbing from the pump intake and 
connect the hose part to the pump input.  All this hose part amounts 
to is about 2-1/2 feet of the female end of a garden hose. If you 
have one of those, that's all you need.  Also get a "blow-out" plug 
if you have an air compressor.

Let's take it from the top.  Dump your black and gray water tanks.  
Open the grey tank drain.  Turn the water pump off.  Go around and 
turn on all the faucets (and shower) as if you wanted warm water.  
Don't forget to open the outside faucet if the trailer has one.  Get 
under the trailer and open three valves.  The fresh water tank drain, 
and the two petcocks known as the "low-point point drains."  Use a 
wrench to remove the drain plug from the water heater.  Go inside and 
close the two valves on the input and output of the water heater, and 
open the valve in the pipe that runs between them.

While the draining is going on, go back to the kitchen sink, hold the 
sprayer up high and push the button so air can be sucked in and water 
drain out of it.  Go to the toilet, hold the sprayer up high, step on 
the water pedal and push the button so it can do the same.

If you have an air compressor, connect the blow-out plug to the city 
water connection and apply 60 psi.  Nothing but air should be coming 
out of the faucets and showerhead.  Go back and do the same thing as 
before with the galley sink sprayer and toilet sprayer.  Remove the 
air hose and blow-out plug and cap the city water intake.  

GO BACK AND CLOSE THE LOW-POINT DRAINS AND THE GREY WATER TANK DRAIN, 
AND REINSTALL THE WATER HEATER PLUG.  Remove any cartridges from 
water filters, including the galley faucet, and throw them away.  Buy 
new ones for the spring.

After using a compressor, many people just put antifreeze in the 
drain traps.  I go further.  Disconnect the pipe on the input of the 
water pump (a garden hose type connection).  Connect the short piece 
of hose.  Go around and turn off all the faucets and shower.  Turn on 
the water pump and go outside to turn off the outside water faucet.  
It should be flowing pink by that time you get there.  

Go back in and turn each faucet on cold until it flows pink.  While 
the kitchen faucet is on, also press the button on its spray head 
until it turns pink.  Go to the toilet and press the water pedal 
until pink is flowing into the bowl.  Aim the sprayer into the bowl 
and press the button while the water pedal is down until pink is 
flowing from the sprayer.  Fill the toilet bowl with pink, then flush 
to get some in the black tank to protect the valve.  Then go back 
around and do the hot water faucets.  As you do each sink and the 
shower, make sure you're running enough antifreeze into the drain to 
displace all the water there, as well as put antifreeze in the grey 
tank to protect its valve.  Throughout this time, you may have to 
change antifreeze bottles on the water pump input as they run empty.  

There is no need to put antifreeze in the little bit of water 
remaining in the fresh tank.  If you do, you may never get the taste 
out.  Let me add...

Look in every nook and cranny of the trailer for anything that MIGHT 
freeze or any food, that could attract mice, and remove it.  If the 
refrigerator has been running, turn it off, let it defrost, sop up 
the excess water, wipe it out with a bleach/water solution and prop 
the doors open.  Make sure the batteries have plenty of water, and 
plug the trailer in, if possible. Make sure you don't add much water 
right before a night of freezing.  If that's needed, add a little at 
a time, give a coupla days to charge, then repeat.

Before it gets very cold, vacuum, shampoo, and revacuum the 
upholstery and carpets.  Vacuum all the window shades.  This is a 
good time to dust and use furniture polish on the wood.  Dust, dirt, 
and skin oils on upholstery feed mildew.  The cold air is drier, so 
the wood needs moisture.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.  I'm sure someone 
else can point out anything I missed.

--
Maurice
WBCCI 5446