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Old 12-06-2017, 09:42 AM   #1
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Drying her out

So, if you pull the plug to empty the water heater, empty the filter reservoir, dump the tanks and open the low drain points, does that dry the Columbus up? What else might there be? I read the winterizing stuff and from memory, I think that covers it, aside from adding anti-freeze, which I am not doing. Just trying to mitigate freezing risk and will look those instructions up again.

I will have the heater will be on as it gets pretty cold this weekend but again, let's get the water out of it.
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Old 12-06-2017, 09:47 AM   #2
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Draining as you've mentioned does not address any water in the water pump.
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Old 12-06-2017, 10:15 AM   #3
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Draining as you've mentioned does not address any water in the water pump.
Ok, that's valid.
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Old 12-06-2017, 10:27 AM   #4
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It also doesn't empty the traps in the drains. I know you said that you'll have the heater on, but what if the heat fails? I think I'd dump a little anti-freeze in the traps just for insurance.
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Old 12-06-2017, 10:38 AM   #5
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Draining as you mentioned won't always get the water out of the toilet valve.......... nor the outside shower... may not drain the inside shower hose, either.
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Old 12-06-2017, 10:46 AM   #6
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Without pumping air or anti-freeze, it doesn't clear all the water from the lines.
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Old 12-06-2017, 11:26 AM   #7
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There are usually several low spots in the plumbing and they will not be drained bu opening the low point drains. At a minimum you need to blow the lines well. The extra hour and $10 to add antifreeze is certainly much better and less expensive than a plumbing repair in the spring.
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Old 12-08-2017, 08:56 AM   #8
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There are no traps in a Columbus, they use trap-less drains. To be on the safe side, I would still blow out the entire water system including the toilet and bidet hose and still pink juice the system for piece of mind and also to winterize the pump.
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Old 12-08-2017, 08:59 AM   #9
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There are no traps in a Columbus, they use trap-less drains.
Then how do they keep tank stink out of the cabin?
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Old 12-08-2017, 12:45 PM   #10
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Then how do they keep tank stink out of the cabin?
They have these, Hepvo Waterless Drains.
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Old 12-08-2017, 01:10 PM   #11
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If you're determined to not doing the antifreeze part I would minimally blow the lines out, then pull the valve off the back of the toilet.
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Old 12-09-2017, 11:08 AM   #12
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If you're determined to not doing the antifreeze part I would minimally blow the lines out, then pull the valve off the back of the toilet.
Pull the water pump too.
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Old 12-09-2017, 11:51 AM   #13
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Advice on toilet valve is good.
The one cold snap my rig was not in Florida yet, I just blew out the lines and walked away happy.....until I hooked up again. The toilet valve will leak quickly and badly. All else was fine. That valve is not cheap either.
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Old 12-10-2017, 09:20 AM   #14
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There are usually several low spots in the plumbing and they will not be drained bu opening the low point drains. At a minimum you need to blow the lines well. The extra hour and $10 to add antifreeze is certainly much better and less expensive than a plumbing repair in the spring.
My unit does not sit until spring. It goes out every couple weeks so I would spend the same on propane of AF every couple weeks. It's certainly not the $, it's dealing the constant pink stuff. I'll just keep her on warm.
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Old 12-10-2017, 09:55 AM   #15
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Advice on toilet valve is good.
The one cold snap my rig was not in Florida yet, I just blew out the lines and walked away happy.....until I hooked up again. The toilet valve will leak quickly and badly. All else was fine. That valve is not cheap either.
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I never use the pink stuff in my water lines, just blow them out. The toilet valve is the only place I've ever had trouble. It never occurred to me to unhook it, think I'll start doing that.
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Old 12-10-2017, 09:57 AM   #16
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My unit does not sit until spring. It goes out every couple weeks so I would spend the same on propane of AF every couple weeks. It's certainly not the $, it's dealing the constant pink stuff. I'll just keep her on warm.
Warm up the Black tank flush nozzle area and the pre filter in front of your water pump and make sure your shower valve outlet is facing the Down position and make sure your plumbing lines have no Dip/Low spots in a location where a Plastic fitting is located,these will also bust! Most just use A/F and sleep well on a COLD night others Worry about Next Spring! Youroo!!
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Old 12-10-2017, 09:59 AM   #17
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I sleep well knowing my water lines aren't being marinated with antifreeze.
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Old 12-12-2017, 06:07 AM   #18
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I sleep well knowing my water lines aren't being marinated with antifreeze.
What type of water lines do you have that allow "Marinating/Leaching"? Do you also throw away "Tupperware" after 1 use? Youroo!!
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Old 12-12-2017, 06:28 AM   #19
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We take ours out every month for at least 8 to 10 days/nights on the road, so the hassle of flushing pink stuff each month has never appealed to me. And, we don't have that much really cold weather here in North Texas.

I've lost the expensive toilet valves twice...lesson learned.

Otherwise, I do blow out the lines if a freeze is coming and this past week when the temperature dropped into the teens I kept the furnace going inside set at 44 degrees as well as the tank heaters after I blew out the lines...including opening the toilet valve and blowing it out and the outside shower.

That's always worked for me - hopefully it will continue to work fine.
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Old 12-12-2017, 08:19 AM   #20
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I sleep well knowing my water lines aren't being marinated with antifreeze.
You get more chemicals from an insulated Hot/Cold beverage container than you'll get from RV antifreeze.
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