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03-21-2019, 10:18 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hillsville
Posts: 74
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Winterized ? Yeah right
So I had my brand new cedar creek fifth wheel winterized by the dealership I bought it from this past October. I go to drain the anti freeze and open up my fresh water valve just for the heck of it and water drains out at a steady flow for about 10 minutes!! I checked the best I could for any possible leaks from the tank and drain line, but no leaks appeared.
Question #1- what are the chances I dodged a bullet and nothing cracked?
Question #2- If I did dodge a bullet, how was that possible?
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03-21-2019, 10:30 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,061
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You're talking about the drain for the FW tank???
If yes, I'm not surprised.
10 minutes of draining indicates the tank was no where near full. Tank had lots of room for ice to expand.
Only thing that could have been damaged is the short section of pipe from the tank to the drain valve and the valve itself.
Similarly, leaving small amounts of water in the grey or black tank shouldn't be an issue. Also, unless you use a vacuum, you never get all the water out of the water heater.
If you are talking about the water lines to sinks, etc., I would check everything very carefully with system filled and pressurized.
__________________
Al
I am starting to think, that I will never be old enough--------to know better.
Tolerance will reach such a level that intelligent people will be banned from thinking so as not to offend the imbeciles. Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, Russian Novelist
S.E. Mich. Flagstaff 26FKWS / 2022 F-150 3.5 EcoBoost SCrew Propride
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03-21-2019, 10:59 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hillsville
Posts: 74
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Thanks for the reply. Yes I was talking about the fresh water tank and the drain line.
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03-22-2019, 12:00 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,855
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No need to put antifreeze in the FW tank, as long as it's been drained.
You don't want RV antifreeze in your FW tank.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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03-22-2019, 04:57 AM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hillsville
Posts: 74
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That’s my concern. It wasn’t drained all the way.
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03-22-2019, 07:40 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Summit Township
Posts: 885
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hillsvillehokie
That’s my concern. It wasn’t drained all the way.
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Possible they just forgot the FW tank. More likely they didn't have the unit level when they drained it. Knowing as long as a majority of the water being gone is good they may not worry about getting all the water out of the FW tank.
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03-22-2019, 07:49 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Waukee, IA
Posts: 566
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SailorSam is right. Your fresh water tank is probably polypropylene (white translucent plastic) and has a lot of "give." To be certain you're OK, fill the tank. If there's no water dripping on the ground, it's all good.
__________________
'19 Chevy Colorado Z71 4x4 Crew Cab
'17 Salem Cruise Lite 232RBXL
Mickey the Rescue Project Schnauzer
Days Camped: '17-39, '18-61, '19-64, '20-38
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03-22-2019, 07:59 AM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hillsville
Posts: 74
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Thank you
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03-22-2019, 08:00 AM
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#9
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,149
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Fresh tanks are very forgiving to damage from ice freezing as there is usually plenty of room in them for the ice to expand and not break anything unless chocked completely full. As mentioned the drain line and whatever valve is on it to drain the tank can sometimes crack.
When whomever did the winterizing, they either forgot to drain the fresh tank or the rig was not level enough to where the tank didn't drain completely. I've seen both.
As mentioned, fill the tank completely and look for any sign of leaks (don't forget, the overflow will piss out when the tank is full so remember that) and if all is good, you are set to go.
If it were me, while filling the tank to check for leaks, I'd also add bleach to sanitize the system. Then once the system is sanitized, drain the bleach water and flush the tank and lines with fresh water. I always add Camco Drinking Water Freshener to my fresh tank when adding water.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2024 Ford F-Series SCREW•7.3L•4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=90
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03-22-2019, 12:59 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Franklin County, MO
Posts: 2,652
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The fact that you had enough water left to run out of the tank for 10 minutes tells me that the drain line and valve are OK. If it would have been cracked over the winter, whatever water was left in the tank would have run out as soon as it warmed up and the ice that cracked the valve had thawed. Next year, if you have the dealer winterize your unit again, when you get it home, open the fresh water drain just in case they left a little water in there again.
__________________
Mike and Yvonne
and Sophie, the little white dog
2017 Columbus 320RSC
2021 Chevy Silverado 3500HD DRW 4X4 Duramax
“It's not how old you are, it's how you are old.” ― Jules Renard
"It's not the years...it's the mileage." - Indiana Jones
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03-22-2019, 04:23 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 185
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SailorSam20500
You're talking about the drain for the FW tank???
If yes, I'm not surprised.
10 minutes of draining indicates the tank was no where near full. Tank had lots of room for ice to expand.
Only thing that could have been damaged is the short section of pipe from the tank to the drain valve and the valve itself.
Similarly, leaving small amounts of water in the grey or black tank shouldn't be an issue. Also, unless you use a vacuum, you never get all the water out of the water heater.
If you are talking about the water lines to sinks, etc., I would check everything very carefully with system filled and pressurized.
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Leaving water in the black or grey tanks is not good. It will settle in the low point which is the drain pipes and freeze, splitting the pipe before the valves. It is a job to replace those pipes. Don't ask me how I know.
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03-22-2019, 04:35 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 672
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Since your FW tank did not have any freeze damage at the drain it is very unlikely that any interior water lines suffered any freeze damage.
The drain cap/valve would be exposed to the coldest temps.
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03-22-2019, 05:50 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Summit Township
Posts: 885
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TSman
Leaving water in the black or grey tanks is not good. It will settle in the low point which is the drain pipes and freeze, splitting the pipe before the valves. It is a job to replace those pipes. Don't ask me how I know.
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That is why it is a good idea to completely drain both. Then when winterizing run a little extra antifreeze through lines and toilet. I try and.put a gallon in both tanks.
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03-22-2019, 06:05 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Kalamazoo
Posts: 2,139
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Movement always makes my camper drip more. I can leave the gate valves open for days. If I tow down the road and reopen more water always comes out. May not be bad as you think.
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03-22-2019, 07:21 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Midland, MI
Posts: 954
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I'd also be concerned about the line between the fence tank and the pump. I always blow air from the pump back to the FW tank. I would suggest that you consider winterizing your 5th wheel your self. Even if you don't think you have that capability for that job, it is not difficult to learn and you will get plenty if help from this Forum or YouTube. You will sleep better next spring when it's time to wake up your unit.
__________________
Cathy & Jeff
Midland, Michigan
2020 Cedar Creek 34IK / 2019 Ram3500 CID
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03-22-2019, 07:23 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Midland, MI
Posts: 954
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SimchaSabre
I'd also be concerned about the line between the fence tank and the pump. I always blow air from the pump back to the FW tank. I would suggest that you consider winterizing your 5th wheel your self. Even if you don't think you have that capability for that job, it is not difficult to learn and you will get plenty if help from this Forum or YouTube. You will sleep better next spring when it's time to wake up your unit.
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fence tank=fresh water tank.
__________________
Cathy & Jeff
Midland, Michigan
2020 Cedar Creek 34IK / 2019 Ram3500 CID
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03-22-2019, 07:48 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 9,621
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Me either!
Quote:
Originally Posted by TSman
Leaving water in the black or grey tanks is not good. It will settle in the low point which is the drain pipes and freeze, splitting the pipe before the valves. It is a job to replace those pipes. Don't ask me how I know.
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Don't ask me either! Now I leave the gray water valve open all winter, draining into a Blueboy.
Larry
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03-22-2019, 08:46 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Warsaw,NC
Posts: 7,184
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The drain line from the fresh water tank is probably pex lines and it will expand some. Maybe it didn’t get cold for to long.
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03-22-2019, 10:14 PM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hillsville
Posts: 74
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Thank you all for the great responses. Yes I think if I have learned anything from this is to just winterize it myself.
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03-23-2019, 09:06 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Longueuil QC Canada
Posts: 224
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hillsvillehokie
Thank you all for the great responses. Yes I think if I have learned anything from this is to just winterize it myself.
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Good decision to do it yourself the right way.
Read post on forum, look at videos on Youtube, get yourself this kit:
https://www.amazon.com/Camco-Permane.../dp/B0006JJ588
follow the instruction to install.
Remember... Never, never put antifreeze in FW reservoir.
Pink antifreeze goes in the water lines behind the water pump, but the Water Heater that has to be bypassed. Put some in drain traps and Black and Grey tanks.
It's so easy and the investment will be recovered the very first year compare to the cost charged by an RV Box.
__________________
2012 Lexington 265DS
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