Winterizing question...

[K2Kevin]

Originally Posted by kandl

That's normal and is what I referred to as "residual moisture." It will not damage the plumbing or the fixtures.

A full day after that residual moisture was spiting, I was able to get a lot of water out of the sink and toilet when I ran my compressor again. Water must settle somewhere in the lines or fittings. It’s just so much easier for me to simply spend the $2.50 for a gallon of antifreeze.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by K2Kevin

A full day after that residual moisture was spiting, I was able to get a lot of water out of the sink and toilet when I ran my compressor again. Water must settle somewhere in the lines or fittings. It’s just so much easier for me to simply spend the $2.50 for a gallon of antifreeze.

Did you drain via the low point drains BEFORE blowing air?

[BriaBeck]

My Question:


How do you get the water out of the line that runs from the FW tank up to the pump?


Everything else I understand about winterizing I think... but this one has me stumped... and I'm sure it's probably so easy, I'll never think of it

[kandl]

Originally Posted by K2Kevin

It’s just so much easier for me to simply spend the $2.50 for a gallon of antifreeze.

[K2Kevin]

Originally Posted by BriaBeck

My Question:


How do you get the water out of the line that runs from the FW tank up to the pump?


Everything else I understand about winterizing I think... but this one has me stumped... and I'm sure it's probably so easy, I'll never think of it[emoji57]

Pull the drain plug on the FW tank and open your faucets. That’s my step one when I winterize. Open all low point drains and open all faucets.

[BriaBeck]

Originally Posted by K2Kevin

Pull the drain plug on the FW tank and open your faucets. That’s my step one when I winterize. Open all low point drains and open all faucets.

Well, that will drain the FW tank... but not the water line, which exits out the bottom of the tank. There will seemingly always be water trapped between the elbow coming out of the bottom of the FW tank, and the pump... The pump might pull a bit of it out, but once it gets air, no more help from the pump... and more than enough water will be trapped in there to crack a CPVC fitting.

[K2Kevin]

Originally Posted by BriaBeck

Well, that will drain the FW tank... but not the water line, which exits out the bottom of the tank. There will seemingly always be water trapped between the elbow coming out of the bottom of the FW tank, and the pump... The pump might pull a bit of it out, but once it gets air, no more help from the pump... and more than enough water will be trapped in there to crack a CPVC fitting.

The tank is below the pump, when you open the drain it should pull that water (if there’s actually water in that line). Normally that line is empty when the pump is not pulling from the tank. Remember, the tank is not pressurized.

[BriaBeck]

How is draining the tank going to pull the water that is in the line back up into the tank?


It isn't possible.

[K2Kevin]

Originally Posted by BriaBeck

How is draining the tank going to pull the water that is in the line back up into the tank?


It isn't possible.

Not sure how your tank is plumbed. All the tanks I’ve seen have the plumbing above the FW drain. Your saying the plumbing is below your drain plug? That’s odd.

[BriaBeck]

Yes, it comes out under the tank.


I'll get some pics of it tomorrow.

[kandl]

Originally Posted by BriaBeck

Yes, it comes out under the tank.

I'll get some pics of it tomorrow.

[K2Kevin]

Originally Posted by kandl

If you have water lines that run BELOW your low point drains, that to me would be a manufacturing error. Anyone else chime in on this?

[llr]

Originally Posted by K2Kevin

The tank is below the pump,

Not on all units

[K2Kevin]

Originally Posted by llr

Not on all units

I guess not. What units have a water pump and lines below the tank? I’ve seen many with the pump at the same level, but not below.
That would mean the water pump will always have fluid in it, or a drain is even lower then that?

[BriaBeck]

OK, I just took some pics of my FW tank...


How are you supposed to get the water out of that line, without either:

(1.) cutting the line, and putting a coupler in it so that you can get it to drain that way, or...

(2.) Removing the line at the pump, and blowing it out with compressed air...


First Pic, you can see all three, Tank Drain, FW supply to the Pump, and FW tank overflow.


2nd pic is the supply to the pump,



3rd pic you can see the supply line running to under the kitchen where it goes up inside the camper and then to the pump.


As you can see, the water pump is above the tank, but the line to the pump comes out UNDER the tank... Draining the tank will not empty that line.

[K2Kevin]

Picture IS worth a 1000 words!

I’d put a call in to the manufacture and ask them if that is factory plumbing and how they recommend winterizing it.

If that was my setup, I would try running the pump when tank is empty, but only for a few seconds at a time, to see if that will clear the line. It seems a drain valve should be on the pipe where that elbow is.

Seems like a problem just waiting to happen. I have never seen that setup on a FW tank, I can see why you are concerned.

Maybe someone with more experience will chime in on this.

[kandl]

Originally Posted by BriaBeck

As you can see, the water pump is above the tank, but the line to the pump comes out UNDER the tank... Draining the tank will not empty that line.

THAT's interesting! As K2Kevin alluded to, I'd be splicing a drain into that supply line.

[BriaBeck]

See, Y'all thought I was nutz!!!


It has to be factory plumbing, as the camper was bought brand new.


I got on the Forest River site today and sent a message from the "contact Us" page... we'll see what they say.

[kandl]

Originally Posted by BriaBeck

See, Y'all thought I was nutz!!!

Not at all - we is learning stuff! BTW... what in tarnation is that other pipe (foreground) fer? That a low point drain?

[BriaBeck]

Hmmm... not sure which one you are referring to... which pic, which pipe?