Rockwood Signature 361RLS Refrigerator

[Tomdrink]

I have a 2025 Rockwood Signature 361RLS. It came with a Magic Chef 18 cu ft. fridge, with ice maker. The user manual was worthless. I need to know how to winterize the ice maker, so it doesn't burst a water line. Called dealer, they weren't knowledgeable. Any ideas?
Tom

 

[GolfingDave]

Good question. The refrigerator most likely has a electric valve on it to let water into the icemaker. Seen plenty of them crack in freezing temps or on dishwashers along outside walls. Most are accessed from the back but a few(rare) from the toe plate at the bottom. Need access to that valve to let the water drain out of both sides to be safe.
I would guess draining the low point drains would take care of the lines going to the refrigerator which would take care of the entry side of the valve. Even with the exit side being open to the icemaker fill tube I would not trust it being open to take care of any expansion once the water freezes.

 

[GolfingDave]

Having never winterized I was thinking of antifreeze method but forgot people use the air pressure method.
Do that and just save the ice maker for last. Keep the refrigerator on but the ice maker turned off. Once all the other lines are clear turn the ice maker on. It should cycle right away.

Most ice makers hold less than a cup of water. Good chance one cycle will clear the lines and be good. If not let it cycle twice. Maybe an hour at most for the water to freeze and cycle again.

If you want to watch it cycle you may have to press in on the door switch for the freezer if it has one.

 

[Tomdrink]

Having never winterized I was thinking of antifreeze method but forgot people use the air pressure method.
Do that and just save the ice maker for last. Keep the refrigerator on but the ice maker turned off. Once all the other lines are clear turn the ice maker on. It should cycle right away.

Most ice makers hold less than a cup of water. Good chance one cycle will clear the lines and be good. If not let it cycle twice. Maybe an hour at most for the water to freeze and cycle again.

If you want to watch it cycle you may have to press in on the door switch for the freezer if it has one.

Good thinking! I'll give it a try.
Thanks

 

[Asrabbit]

You should look at the location of the water valve, (solenoid). If it is at the bottom of the refrigerator, the water is pushed up the line by pressure each time water is called for to fill the ice maker. This means, letting it run a cycle with the water off will not clear the line of water.

I might suggest to open the line above the solenoid and allow it to drain. Of course, you will need some air in the line so that it will drain. Also, there will still be water in the solenoid. You do not have to worry about the part of the ice make contained within the freezer as it is normally kept below freezing by design.

One could open the solenoid by applying current to it, which would allow it to drain if you have removed the supply line.

The concern would be the supply line, the solenoid and the line going from the solenoid into the freezer/ice maker.

I am sure someone has done this before and knows the proper procedure.

 

[GolfingDave]

This means, letting it run a cycle with the water off will not clear the line of water.

That is why you have air pressure on the water line and do it last with all the other faucets closed. It should force the water out through the icemaker fill tube. One way to verify is no more water coming into the icemaker tray or hearing the air come out through the fill tube at the icemaker.

Same as with any faucet except instead of turning a valve to open you have to cycle the icemaker so it opens the valve.

 

[Asrabbit]

That makes sense. Air pressure should indeed clear it.

 

[swolf-FRF]

I have attached instructions received from Rockwood, for our 372RL 5th wheel.