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Winterizing water pump question
Yahoo Message Number: 108075
Hi all, I have a quick question, sort of following on the Shurflo thread (since people have been taking the pumps out): when winterizing, LD says to drain the water pump by disconnecting the output hose by unscrewing it. Mine, a 5.7 I think, looks like it has a black "C" clamp (?) that may hold the hose on. Is that what it is or do I need to unscrew the nut on the end of the hose (which looks like it will be a pain to do)? Another way of asking this is how do I disconnect the pump from the plumbing, using the plastic nuts on the end of the hoses or is there a simpler way? If that is a quick disconnect clamp, exactly how does it come off? Thanks.
Ken
Former 2009 MB owner
Re: Winterizing water pump question
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108076
Quote
"Hi all, I have a quick question, sort of following on the Shurflo thread (since people have been taking the pumps out): when winterizing, LD says to drain the water pump by disconnecting the output hose by unscrewing it. Mine, a 5.7 I think, looks like it has a black "C" clamp (?) that may hold the hose on. Is that what it is or do I need to unscrew the nut on the end of the hose (which looks like it will be a pain to do)? Another way of asking this is how do I disconnect the pump from the plumbing, using the plastic nuts on the end of the hoses or is there a simpler way? If that is a quick disconnect clamp, exactly how does it come off?" Thanks.
Ken
Take off the plastic nut - the one on the downstream side.  My LD instructions say "finger tighten".  I usually tighten it a little more than that after I disconnect the compressor and reattach the hose.  I have a Whisper King but I believe the process is the same.

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Winterizing water pump question
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108077
Many of us just pump "pink stuff" antifreeze through the lines rather than going through elaborate draining rituals.  Camping World and other RV supply places offer handy $15  kits to (1) bypass the water heater and (2) pump antifreeze directly via the water pump. They are well worth the one-time installation effort and expense, IMHO. I have also added a hose and valve for draining the water heater, after I got tired of getting soaked and chasing the little plastic plug down the driveway.

Joanne in Boston
Re: Winterizing water pump question
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108095
Quote
Hi all, I have a quick question, sort of following on the Shurflo thread (since people have been taking the pumps out): when winterizing, LD says to drain the water pump by disconnecting the output hose by unscrewing it. Mine, a 5.7 I think, looks like it has a black "C" clamp (?) that may hold the hose on. Is that what it is or do I need to unscrew the nut on the end of the hose (which looks like it will be a pain to do)? Another way of asking this is how do I disconnect the pump from the plumbing, using the plastic nuts on the end of the hoses or is there a simpler way? If that is a quick disconnect clamp, exactly how does it come off? Thanks.
Ken
Ken, if your water pump is a Shuflo 5.7 pump, there are "C" clips that hold the water lines in the pump head. Perhaps you have the manual for the water pump and it will show you how the water lines attach to the pump. I think you can also view this on Shurflo's website.
 If you are determined to remove the water lines, the "C" clip can be easily removed by *gently* prying on one side of the "C" clip so you can slip it over and off the plastic fitting. Then you must pull the plastic fitting out of the water pump. Be ready for water to splash out when you do this.
 There is a "C" clip on both the intake side of the water pump and on the output side of the pump. Pay attention to how the "C" clip is attached, there are two different sides to the clip, one says "fitting" on it.
 Depending on which floorplan you have, it may be a cramped area to work in. On my Midbath, if I was attempting to do what you are going to do, I would unthread the flexible water line from the rigid plastic water line that is probably located near the sink drain.
 I live in Ohio where winter can be harsh so I winterize with the pink RV antifreeze. I don't trust the blow out method to remove all the water or moisture from the system.
 Chris H. referred to the threaded fittings that are on the Whisper King, which is attached to the water lines differently.

Good luck, Steve K
Steve K

2003 Mid-bath
Re: Winterizing water pump question
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108100
Steve, I also have the midbath. This is my 1st winter with it, in Georgia, and the manual suggested both methods of winterizing (blow out and antifreeze). I was thinking the blow out method was sufficient for NE Georgia. The reason for removing the water line was to put antifreeze directly into the pump. What method do you use to put the antifreeze in? Ken
Former 2009 MB owner
Re: Winterizing water pump question
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108114
You can also remove the four screws holding the fuse box/power panel and slide it out slightly giving you more room to work.

-Dave '06 MB, Indianapolis
Re: Winterizing water pump question
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108119
Quote
Steve, I also have the midbath. This is my 1st winter with it, in Georgia, and the manual suggested both methods of winterizing (blow out and antifreeze). I was thinking the blow out method was sufficient for NE Georgia. The reason for removing the water line was to put antifreeze directly into the pump. What method do you use to put the antifreeze in? Ken
Ken, I've been using a kit from Camping World, catalog #6279, currently on sale for around $10. They have the kit illustrated on the Camping World website.  I remove the braided water supply line from the LD water tank, thread on the brass 3 way valve, connect the clear plastic hose from the "winterizing kit" to the 3 way valve, turn the lever on the 3 way valve to one of the ports of the 3 way valve. Insert the other end of the clear plastic hose into a jug of RV antifreeze and turn on the pump. This method keeps the pink juice out of the water tank. I leave that valve on the water supply line all winter and don't connect the braided supply line back onto the water tank until I de-winterize. This is easier to do than to explain.
 I should tell you that I installed a water heater bypass kit on my rig, so I pump the RV antifreeze through all the water lines. The bypass kit prevents the water heater from getting filled with RV antifreeze. ( I drain the tank and drive the rig to try to slosh the last bit of water out of the heater tank). I can winterize the whole rig with less than 2 gallons of RV antifreeze.
 It sounds like you just want to put RV antifreeze in your water pump and that may be OK in your warmer climate, as long as you blow the water out of your water lines. You can then use the rest of your RV antifreeze to displace the water in your drain traps.

Good luck, Steve K.
Steve K

2003 Mid-bath
Re: Winterizing water pump question
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108134
I just want to point out that the more typical way to use that kit is to install it and leave it
Re: Winterizing water pump question
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108142
Quote
Steve, I also have the midbath. This is my 1st winter with it, in Georgia, and the manual suggested both methods of winterizing (blow out and antifreeze). I was thinking the blow out method was sufficient for NE Georgia. The reason for removing the water line was to put antifreeze directly into the pump. What method do you use to put the antifreeze in? Ken
 Ken, I've been using a kit from Camping World, catalog #6279, currently on sale for around $10. They have the kit illustrated on the Camping World website.  I remove the braided water supply line from the LD water tank, thread on the brass 3 way valve, connect the clear plastic hose from the "winterizing kit" to the 3 way valve, turn the lever on the 3 way valve to one of the ports of the 3 way valve. Insert the other end of the clear plastic hose into a jug of .
Put 10 gal of antifreeze in empty water tank, turn on pump. and open faucets until you get pink.  Don
Re: Winterizing water pump question
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108143
From: lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com
 [mailto:lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of ace9ball2006 Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 10:42 PM
 To: lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com
 Subject: [LD] Re: Winterizing water pump question

Quote
Steve, I also have the midbath. This is my 1st winter with it, in Georgia, and
the manual suggested both methods of winterizing (blow out and antifreeze).
I was thinking the blow out method was sufficient for NE Georgia. The reason for removing the water line was to put antifreeze directly into the pump.
What method do you use to put the antifreeze in?

Quote
Ken
 Ken, I've been using a kit from Camping World, catalog #6279, currently on
sale for around $10. They have the kit illustrated on the Camping World website.  I remove the braided water supply line from the LD water tank, thread on the brass 3 way valve, connect the clear plastic hose from the "winterizing kit" to the 3 way valve, turn the lever on the 3 way valve to one of the ports of the 3 way valve. Insert the other end of the clear plastic hose into a jug of .

Put 10 gal of antifreeze in empty water tank, turn on pump. and open faucets until you get pink.  Don
 OR, pay the $10 for the kit, and use ONE gallon of antifreeze, and not have to flush out your fresh water tank next year.

Dick
 
Re: Winterizing water pump question
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108146
Quote
I just want to point out that the more typical way to use that kit is to install it and leave it in place, and then just turn the bypass valve on when winterizing. I turn the bypass valve off when I'm done installing the pink stuff, so I don't have to access the pump again when I dewinterize.
Joanne in Boston
Joanne,
 I remove that brass valve from my water line because I don't want to have something restricting the water flow near my water pump. When I first started having water pump issues, the folks at SHURflo would ask about elbows and anything that may restrict water flow or allow air in the system.
 Removing the brass valve only adds a couple minutes to my winterizing and dewinterizing process. YMMV Regards, Steve K
Steve K

2003 Mid-bath