WINTERIZING
Over the years, my Southwind has had some minor modifications to the water system. This brief helps me remember what I need to do to properly winterize my Southwind.
DRAIN THE SYSTEM
- Dump holding tanks and flush them. Preferably do the winterizing while connected to dump station so dump valves can remain open while doing the winterize process.
- Open all drains, low point (hot and cold), Fresh water tank, water heater.
- Open all faucets, kitchen, bath, shower, toilet, water closet.
- Remove the water heater fuses (AC and DC) to ensure it doesn’t get turned on
- Remove drain plug (electric heating element) from water heater,
- Open pressure relief valve on water heater
- Remove the supply and outlet hoses from the water pump.
- Allow the lines to drain completely.
PUMPING ANTIFREEZE
- Close low point drains, close all water faucets.
- Place water heater in BYPASS (Drain is still removed)
- Re-connect water pump OUTPUT hose
- Connect antifreeze siphon hose to water pump INPUT.
- Turn pump on. Watch the antifreeze level, it should take 2-4 gallons to perform the entire process
- Open each hot and cold faucet one at a time, until antifreeze comes out the faucet, close the faucet.
- Shower faucets, and wet bay sprayer faucet
- (I don’t have a washer dryer or ice maker, but do those also if you have them)
- Flush the toilet until antifreeze comes out the toilet.
- Once all facets have antifreeze, briefly open the water heater bypass to get a cup or so of antifreeze into the water heater. Observe antifreeze coming out the drain. Return the valve to BYPASS.
- Install the water heater drain plug (heater core)
- Open the water compartment sprayer nozzle until antifreeze can be seen running out.
- Briefly open the hot and cold low point drains until antifreeze can be seen draining out.
- City Water connection, Open the manual valve until antifreeze comes out there.
- Turn the water pump OFF, remove the INPUT hose.
- Slowly pour antifreeze into the fresh tank until antifreeze can be seen coming out of the drain and the water pump supply hose.
- P-TRAPS – Pour 1 cup of antifreeze into each of the kitchen sinks, bathroom sink, and the shower drain.
- Pour one cup of antifreeze into the toilet and briefly open the flush valve. Pour a little antifreeze into the toilet to cover the bottom.
- If the dump valves will be closed for the winter, dump 1/2 gallon antifreeze into both the gray and black tanks. This will make sure any low points have antifreeze in them.
With the water pump inlet connected to an antifreeze jug, Once antifreeze is in all the lines, the water pump should cycle normally as pressure builds up. This is a good test that there are no leaks.
DE_WINTERIZE / SANITIZE
- Verify Gray and Black dump vales are closed
- Open HOT and COLD low point drains
- Open all faucets
- Close fresh water tank drain
- Insert hot water drain / electric element
- Close hot water pressure relief valve
- Open hot water bypass valve
- Connect water pump IN and OUT hoses
- Add 1 cup bleach to fresh tank
- Add 20-30 gallons water to fresh tank
- Turn water pump ON
- Run each hot and cold water faucet until water flows and the chlorine odor is present. Note that it may take a few moments to allow hot water tank to fill
- Allow the the chlorinated water to remain in the system for an hour or so.
- Drain fresh tank and re-fill with fresh water.
- Open hot and cold facets until chlorine mixture is cleared