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Winterizing Problem
My son was trying to winterize my LD with RV antifreeze.  After adding several gallons of RV antifreeze, air got into the water pump and he couldn’t continue.  He has been winterizing my LDs for years and there had never been a problem before.   How do we get the air out?  Any help will be greatly appreciated as it is getting cold here in NJ.

Monica
2017 Mid-Bath
Monica
2017 MB
Re: Winterizing Problem
Reply #1 –
Monica, I don't know if the information at this link will help, but I hope so. You will probably get more input from other 'winterizers'! (So glad I don't have to do this!)

The Lazy Daze Companion: Winterize
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Winterizing Problem
Reply #2 –

The pump is self priming and will pump liquid again if whatever hose it's attached to contains liquid.  The pump will get the air out by itself. 

Trying to fill the entire water system with antifreeze will require 7 or more gallons because you have to fill the water heater. 

Many people install a valve that isolates the water heater from the rest of the system (called a bypass).  With a bypass installed, you can winterize the system in a MB with just less than a gallon of the pink stuff.  I did mine yesterday. 

The other half of a bypass system is the option to pull liquid from a hose instead of the water tank.  I put the hose directly into the antifreeze bottle. 

None of this come installed from the factory because they are smart enough to live in a place that is pleasant year round. 

My routine looks like this in a MB unit without an outside shower:

(1) Drain the main water tank and water heater

(2) flip the water heater bypass valve (installed my me, not from the factory) Amazon.com: Camco 35983 Quick Turn Permanent By-Pass Kit - Lead Free: Automotive

(3) hook the pickup hose to the valve I installed between the pump and the water tank - insert the hose in a full gallon of RV antifreeze.  Amazon.com: Camco Permanent Pump Converter Winterizing Kit- Allows You to...

(4) go to each faucet, sprayer, and toilet and run both hot and cold water until pink comes out.  Make sure the pink runs down the drains to fill the traps.

(5) release the pressure in the system, go outside and depress the city water inlet.  Have someone turn the water pump on briefly until the pink sprays out the inlet. 

(6) I put a sandwich bag over each faucet, secured with a rubber band.  This is optional, but keeps pink from dripping a very tiny bit into the sink/shower over the winter.  It won't hurt anything, but sometimes I have to clean up a bit. 

(7) leave a note for myself reminding me that the water heater drain is open, the water heater is bypassed, and the system is winterized. 

All of this take 15min once you have done it 3-4 times. 

Rich
'03 MB in NC

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
2003 MB
Re: Winterizing Problem
Reply #3 –
Quote from: rvhiker22  - 
How do we get the air out?  Any help will be greatly appreciated as it is getting cold here in NJ.

As Rich said, the pump should be self-priming. However, that only works as long as the vertical lift is sufficiently low. Unless there is a pump problem, two possibilities:

1) the liquid level in the antifreeze container has dropped below the critical level, and the container needs to be raised up, or
2) there is an air leak in the hose connecting the container to the pump.

Steve

2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: Winterizing Problem
Reply #4 –
Thank you, Rich, Steve, and Joan, for your replies.  I had forgotten about The Lazy Daze Companion.  I gave my son your replies and he retried to winterize the LD and it worked this time!   We’re not sure how that happened.  I very much appreciate your help.  In my previous Twin-King LD, I had had bypasses installed.  One time my furnace stopped working and I was told it was as a result of the bypass “squashing” the furnace hose.  I was heading out for a camping trip when it was cold and having this repaired was a big inconvenience.  So, I decided to just use some extra antifreeze with this LD instead of the bypasses.  Yesterday when my son became aware of the air method of winterizing, he suggested that we do this next year.  I wonder if there is more risk winterizing with air than with antifreeze. 
 
Monica
2017 Mid-Bath
Monica
2017 MB
Re: Winterizing Problem
Reply #5 –
Quote from: rvhiker22  - 
One time my furnace stopped working and I was told it was as a result of the bypass “squashing” the furnace hose.

Yesterday when my son became aware of the air method of winterizing, he suggested that we do this next year.  I wonder if there is more risk winterizing with air than with antifreeze. 


The furnace propane line is not plumbed with a 'hose' but with copper tubing, so hard to see how a flexible plumbing run could damage that. Perhaps the gas line was damaged DURING the bypass installation? If using air to blow out the lines, it is important to regulate the air pressure below the plumbing design pressure of about 50 psi. Then, make certain at least one valve is open (probably one-at-a-time) before applying the air pressure.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
 
Re: Winterizing Problem
Reply #6 –
Quote from: rich  - 
My routine looks like this in a MB unit without an outside shower: ...
This is the best instruction I have seen so far - at least for MB's like yours (and mine). Thanks.

Klaus
2001 26.5 Mid-Bath