2023 Cardinal Red 31RL Winterization

[rtaylorrf]

Hello, New to forum!

This is my first 5th wheel and i have a few questions about the winterization. Our old one (KZ) had an antifreeze pickup hose back by the water pump. I cannot find this feature on the Cardinal. Also, it has an on demand hot water heater. no washer /dryer, but has the setups, and standard fridge (No water tap).
The videos I've seen say to use an air compressor thru the city water inlet, and that should be good, but others suggest that AND applying the RV Antifreeze. Question is how do you get the antifreeze into the pipes and water heater.??
Thanx for any help!

[R time soon]

I believe in your front compartment behind the pin box there is a piece of closeoff material. Remove that and your water pump and the antifreeze pickup hose should be there.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by rtaylorrf

Hello, New to thread!
Question is how do you get the antifreeze into the pipes and water heater.??
Thanx for any help!

You're going to want to bypass the water heater when you winterize. There should be valves near the intake and outtake of the water heater that you need to turn 90 degrees to redirect the water. You do need to empty the water heater of water.
People who don't have a winterizing valve use an external water or hand pump to put the antifreeze in the pipes.

Welcome to the forum!

[rtaylorrf]

I did find the pickup hose for the antifreeze by the water pump so I'm good there, Thanx for the help!

Another question? This camper has the on-demand water heater. What are everyone's thoughts on allowing the antifreeze to go thru the on-demand system??

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by rtaylorrf

I did find the pickup hose for the antifreeze by the water pump so I'm good there, Thanx for the help!



Another question? This camper has the on-demand water heater. What are everyone's thoughts on allowing the antifreeze to go thru the on-demand system??

You don't say which tankless you have, but most say it doesn't matter as far as antifreeze (no bypass valves). But read your particular owner's manual just to make sure.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

You don't say which tankless you have, but most say it doesn't matter as far as antifreeze (no bypass valves). But read your particular owner's manual just to make sure.

X2
Many tankless models don't care but some do recommend against it. (using antifreeze)

Then again, wasn't there a post here in the spring where someone was trying to find parts for a tankless water heater that advised against using antifreeze so they used compressed air and something still retained a small amount of water and froze and broke.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by rtaylorrf

Hello, New to thread!

This is my first 5th wheel and i have a few questions about the winterization. Our old one (KZ) had an antifreeze pickup hose back by the water pump. I cannot find this feature on the Cardinal. Also, it has an on demand hot water heater. no washer /dryer, but has the setups, and standard fridge (No water tap).
The videos I've seen say to use an air compressor thru the city water inlet, and that should be good, but others suggest that AND applying the RV Antifreeze. Question is how do you get the antifreeze into the pipes and water heater.??
Thanx for any help!

Welcome to the forum!

Depends on where you live. Climates where it only gets cold and there are not days of below freezing weather, then blowing out with air might fit your needs. In other climates where it stays below freezing for months, antifreeze is recommended. It only takes one drop left behind in a toilet valve or faucet to break something.

I have never read where a properly winterized unit using antifreeze had any freeze issues. There have been several reports of frozen/broken items using only the blow-out method.

Even though you don't have a washer, those supply pipes will still need winterized.

Be glad your residential refrigerator doesn't have water to it. While not terribly difficult, the trade off of not having to winterize -vs- using filtered/bottled water and using ice cube trays is priceless to us. Our refrigerator has water in the door and an ice maker but I specified at PDI/Customer Orientation to NOT open the supply valve to it and we never have.