Water drain system on 82 FC 35

[Rob Robinson]

The reason to use antifreeze is because compressed air is not enough to
remove all the water in some coaches. For example....the air will push the
water up a deadend (eg expansion tube) and after the air pressure is removed
it flows down to the lowest level. This is not to say that this is the case
for all coaches but certainly some have these hidden spots for water to
hide. IMHO the best method is to blow it out with low pressure and use the
pink stuff.

Rob 94 Pt
Frozen north


On 15/06/06, one_dusty_hoot wrote:
>
> Hey Guys...Am I missing somethig here??
>
> Why?...Why use antifreeze in the water system?
> I know, the obvious answer is to avoid freezing, right?
>
> I have lived in the South for 46 years and believe
> me it can get cold enough to freeze water pipes here,
> especially when the temp is in the teens.
>
> I have a female hose connected to a male npt air hose
> connection. I set the pressure regulator to 40 psi and
> systematically drain all connections including the ice
> Maker.
>
> Hey Guys, 20 years and not a single leak.
>
> This is on the '77, '87 says to use coach air to
> remove all water, THEN use a small amount of antifreeze
> in the "P" traps and holding tanks.
>
> Why contaminate the fresh water system with "pink stuff"
> that has to be flushed out later on?
>
> I carry a portable air compressor and do the same thing
> to vacant rental property in the Winter, it works!!!
>
> Bob '87 FC35 Greenville, SC
> PS: Yes, I have been in Buffalo, NY and Great Falls,MN
> when it was cold enough for the moisture in the exaust
> to "SNOW" on the ground. I believe it will work there too!
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com,
> "pattypape"
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Yikes,
> >
> > I just love the tire debate and the winterization debate.
> > Usually the Pink Stuff debate waits until Fall.
> >
> > I am paranoid about pipes freezing, So, I spend lots of time once
> > per year to winterize, I never want to repair old, non-standard
> > copper. I use 3 to 5 gallon. Hand pump into the city water hook-
> > up. Use the fresh water pump, until pink runs at all outlets,
> hand
> > pump backwards into the faucets to purge the hot lines, I also try
> > to place the mixing valves in the center, and block the faucet
> > outlets, This "MAY" help the antifreeze/air pressure to back flow
> > the hot lines. And Yes, there are other concerns such as Insta
> Hot,
> > ice maker, and more. BLow, Blow, BLow with 40 psi, it is amazing
> how
> > much water the system holds.
> >
> > I also add 235 gallons of diesel to winterize the fuel tank.
> > Michigan is well below freezing in winter.
> > I need all the inputs and everyone ideas, then one must
> > decide what is relative to our own situation.
> >
> >
> > Bill 88 FC Randy does not understand the freeze topic.
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com,
> "Stephen Birtles"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Luck has squat to do with it
> > > you dont have to fill the hot water tank to freeze protect the
> > system
> > > In the same vein do you have to completely fill the fresh water
> > tank
> > > with anti freeze to protect it?
> > > the answer is no
> > > The system is a demand type system it uses the available liquid
> to
> > > flush the system no liquid no pressure it is not necessary to
> fill
> > the
> > > hot water tank with anti freeze to protect the system.
> > > It is a waste of money but if you want to use that much anti
> > freeze be
> > > my guest
> > > If the system is drained and replaced with anti freeze It is
> simply
> > > not necessary to use a "minimum of 12 gallons" to protect your
> > system
> > > Iam sure you could always ask a rv tech to show you economical
> and
> > > proper to freeze protect your water system
> > > They will be more than happy to sell you 12 gallons of
> antifreeze
> > when
> > > 3-4 will adequately do the job
> > > Stephen 77fc35
> > >
> > > --- In
WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com,
> Tom Warner
> > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Simply without a bypass for the hotwater heater there is no
> way
> > you
> > > > can get antifreeze into the hot water lines without
> pressurizing
> > > > (filling it with pink stuff first) the hot water tank. Look at
> > the BB
> > > > drawing for your fresh water system and you will see why. You
> > have
> > > > been lucky so far. I have used the air system to blow out my
> > FC35
> > > > every year but have always been nervous doing it. I want to
> make
> > > > absolutely sure that it is protected.
> > > > Tom Warner
> > > > Vernon Center,NY
> > > > 1985 PT 40
> > > >
> > > > 2006, you wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >we winterize our coach with 3-4 gallons of antifreeze
> > > > >there is a pickup installed on the supply side of fresh water
> > pump
> > > > >avaialble at camping supply store about 10 bucks
> > > > >drain and blow out water system
> > > > >inject antifreeze with fresh water pump going to each faucet
> > and the
> > > > >toilet individually and opening faucet or treadle till
> > antifreeze
> > > appears
> > > > >isolate ice maker and drain
> > > > >you dont want antifreeze in ice maker
> > > > >if the fresh water tank is drained I have not found it
> > necessaary to
> > > > >to put antifreeze in tank, Drain hot water tank and if you
> have
> > a
> > > > >bypass use it
> > > > >We used to use the city water connection but it is easier to
> > use to
> > > > >antifreeze pickup on the pump
> > > > >have not had any problems in 8 years with freeze problems in
> > Niagara
> > > > >Falls.
> > > > >I certainly dont think you need 12 gallons of anti freeze
> > > > >Also Use Prestone rv antifreeze if you can find it does not
> > impart the
> > > > >nasty aftertaste as the cheap pink stuff
> > > > >Antifreeze is Freeze proctection not fluid replacement
> > > > >
> > > > >Stephen
> > > > >
> > > > >--- In
> > > >
> > > > > >
40yahoogroups.com>WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com s.com>
> ,
> > >
> > > > >Tom Warner wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If you go thru the city water connection with antifreeze
> > everything
> > > > > > is NOT protected unless you do the following and even then
> > its going
> > > > > > to take a lot of antifreeze unless you bypass the hot
> water
> > heater.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 1. Activate the sporlan valve so the antifreeze will go
> into
> > the
> > > > > > fresh water tank first, then after a few gallons the water
> > pump can
> > > > > > pick it up and force it to the fixtures so when you turn
> on
> > each
> > > > > > individual faucet, toilet fixture etc the line will be
> > purged and
> > > > > > antifreeze will be added to that line. When you open a hot
> > water
> > > > > > faucet the antifreeze will go into the hotwater tank first
> > until it
> > > > > > is filled and then will go to each hot water line until
> > antifreeze
> > > > > > comes out of that fixture when you open it. That is why
> you
> > need a
> > > > > > bypass. If not you must pump approximately 12 gallons of
> > antifreeze
> > > > > > into the system before you will get any distributed thru
> the
> > hot
> > > > > > water pipes to the kitchen sink, bath sink and shower.
> Hmmmm.
> > > > > > 2. Purge the water from the instant hot and then pump
> > antifreeze
> > > > >into it.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 3. Pour a cup or so of antifreeze into each water trap in
> > the sinks,
> > > > > > and shower.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 4. Purge the water in the ice maker if you have one and
> then
> > pump
> > > > > > antifreeze into it.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Pray.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > tom warner
> > > > > > Vernon Center,NY
> > > > > > 1985 PT 40
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > At 02:55 PM 6/14/2006, you wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > >Yes,
> > > > > > >If you go thru the city water hook-up, I think everything
> is
> > > > > > >protected. Rig an air compressor fitting to the city hook-
> > up.
> > > > > > >I do not exceed 40 psi, Then rig up a pump line into the
> > same city
> > > > > > >water hook-up, all fittings available at HomeDepot/
> > Hardware Store,
> > > > > > >Etc. The drain was accessable for the HWT, your 82 may be
> > > > > > >different.
> > > > > > >Drilled a hole into the floor, I think it was plywood
> then
> > a steel
> > > > > > >sheeting, On our 88 Fc, if you keep drilling you are into
> > the fuel
> > > > > > >Tank, Go carefully and slow with the drill bits.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Bill 88 FC Michigan
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >--- In
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > > 40yahoogroups.com> > > > > >
%40yahoogroups.com>WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com ps.com>
> ,
> > > > >
> > > > > > >"davidkerryedwards"
> > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I like the idea of a drain on the hw heater. Where is
> the
> > > petcock
> > > > > > >for
> > > > > > > > that drain, I can't see one on mine.
> > > > > > > > I was thinking of some kind of overkill system like
> you
> > use. How
> > > > > > >do
> > > > > > > > you pump in the antifreeze thru the city pressure
> hookup?
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Kerry
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > --- In
> > > > > > >
> > > >
> > > > > > 40yahoogroups.com> > >
40yahoogroups.com>WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com s.com>
> ,
> > > > >
> > > > > > > "pattypape"
> > > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Kerry,
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > On our 88 FC, there was no HWT bypass nor a HWT
> drain.
> > > > > > > > > All water in the pipes are drained by the internal
> air
> > > pressure
> > > > > > > > > system, the fresk tank drain and the outside faucet.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Not trusting this method, I drilled a hole in the
> > floor to
> > > drain
> > > > > > >the
> > > > > > > > > HWT thru the drain cockpet. I now use the BB air
> > system to
> > > blow
> > > > > > >the
> > > > > > > > > pipes out, then use a shop compressor to blow-blow-
> > blow more
> > > > > > >water
> > > > > > > > > out.
> > > > > > > > > Then pump in the pink the stuff, thru the city water
> > > hookup into
> > > > > > >the
> > > > > > > > > plumbing and fresh tank. Run the pump, look for pink
> > stuff at
> > > > > > >each
> > > > > > > > > faucet, toilet etc, Then, I blow it out again. I
> feel
> > this
> > > is a
> > > > > > >bit
> > > > > > > > > overkill, But inline with the entire Wanderlodge
> > Overkill.
> > > > > > > > > We get really hard freezes and the time spent is
> > worthwhile.
> > > > > > > > > No fresh water is added until we head South for
> Winter.
> > > > > > > > > Frozen pipes are always a worry, but this has worked
> > for us.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Bill 88 FC Michigan
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > --- In
> > > > > > >
> > > >
> > > > > > 40yahoogroups.com> > >
40yahoogroups.com>WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com s.com>
> ,
> > > > >
> > > > > > > "davidkerryedwards"
> > > > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Having just repaired freeze breaks in my plumbing
> I'd
> > > like to
> > > > > > >get a
> > > > > > > > > > conceptual grasp of how the drain system works for
> > the
> > > > > > >plumbing. I
> > > > > > > > > > know there's a manual drain under the vanity and
> an
> > external
> > > > > > > > > faucet
> > > > > > > > > in
> > > > > > > > > > the propane compartment. I also see three cable
> > operated
> > > > > > >valves
> > > > > > > > > near
> > > > > > > > > > the hw heater and tank in the back but I don't
> > > understand how
> > > > > > >they
> > > > > > > > > > work. How do the hot water heater and water tank
> > drain and
> > > > > > >does
> > > > > > > > > > anyone have an easy way of retrofitting a system
> > which gets
> > > > > > > > > antifreeze
> > > > > > > > > > into the system? Since there are no bypass
> fittings
> > on the
> > > > > > >water
> > > > > > > > > > heater it seems virtually impossible to get
> > antifreeze
> > > in the
> > > > > > >hot
> > > > > > > > > > water pipes.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Kerry
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
>
>



--
Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson
94 WLWB


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