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RichP21 · 03-31-2015, 10:57 AM

Does anyone have a recommendation for YouTube video on how to de-winterized your airstream? Many thanks.

HowieE · 03-31-2015, 12:49 PM

Not sure you need a video.

I fill the fresh water tank with CITY water while the fresh water tank drain is open. This cleans the tank. While the tank has water in it turn the pump on and go to each faucet, hot and cold, and run till clear water comes out. This purges the antifreeze from the lines.

Connect the city water to the city hook up. Now slowly open, just leave it cocked a bit, the bypass on the hot water heater and fill with water. You will have to open a hot water faucet while doing this to let the air in the tank out. I say to use city water for this because there may be some antifreeze in the piping from that connection to the rest of the system.

You have now added about 2 gallons of water to the gray tank and that can wait till your first trip to dump or you can drain it while flushing the system.

Nothing needs to be done at this time for the black tank.

I let the fresh water tank drain completely before turning off the drain cock.

AnnArborBob · 03-31-2015, 01:50 PM

Make sure you replace the inline filter under your kitchen sink if you have this feature after you have purged the lines of the anti-freeze.

This would also be a good time to sanitize your fresh water tank.

Use about 1/4 cup of liquid chlorine bleach per 15 gallons of capacity, fill the fresh water tank, run water from the fresh water tank into each faucet/shower/outlet using the pump and turn off when you smell the bleach at each outlet. Let it sit for around 4 to 6 hours. Then drain the fresh water tank and you are good to go. Some people object to the lingering chlorine smell in the fresh water tank and will flush it a couple of times. Baking soda helps to remove the chlorine odor more quickly.

RichP21 · 03-31-2015, 02:30 PM

Very helpful - thank you!

Sbb · 03-31-2015, 03:05 PM

Do we have to put anoid in? I did not winterize. My hot water thingy under back side bed so just have to turn hot water until inline? I have to hold mattress up and reach un at same time....no time for a selfie trying to do that!!

AnnArborBob · 03-31-2015, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sbb

Do we have to put anoid in? I did not winterize. My hot water thingy under back side bed so just have to turn hot water until inline? I have to hold mattress up and reach un at same time....no time for a selfie trying to do that!!

I assume you mean a sacrificial anode? Based on its design, your hot water heater either has one or it doesn't. If it does not have one, there really is no practical way to add one so the answer is you go with what you have. Just make sure the drain plug is back in and the bypass valve is turned off when you fill the hot water tank with water.

reelfastgreg · 03-31-2015, 05:34 PM

i simply used my air compressor to purge all of the lines for winter storage. the only RV antifreeze i added was to the sink, shower and toilet traps as you can't get all of the water out of these.

to de-winterize i opened all the valves i had closed, including the hot water bypass and drain as well as the low point tank drains. without turning on the hot water heater, open a faucet closest to it, turn on to the hot side and let it purge the air from the system. this will get the air out of the hot water heater while filling it at the same time. do the same for each hot water line in your trailer followed by each cold water line. makes no difference if you are connected to water or are using your fresh water tank. you are just trying to get the air out of the lines so you don't end up with sputtering and splashing all over the place. pretty easy and quick

RichP21 · 04-01-2015, 06:01 AM

Thanks, I am going to give this a try today and will let you know how I make out. Much appreciate the tips and advice.

RichP21 · 04-13-2015, 03:10 PM

Everything worked out great - no problems. Thanks for advice!

IanPoulin · 04-14-2015, 03:00 PM

Quick question -

What about building the hot water tank air bubble when filling it from a drained positions?

Dill it, let pressure out then add the air buble after that?

HowieE · 04-14-2015, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanPoulin

Quick question -

What about building the hot water tank air bubble when filling it from a drained positions?

Dill it, let pressure out then add the air buble after that?

There is no reason to even consider this option. To fill the hot water tank from the fresh water tank or city connection just open the bypass valve and as the tank is filling open any hot water faucet. The air will purge through the faucet. When you have a steady water flow the tank if full.

IanPoulin · 04-14-2015, 04:36 PM

Well I am asking about setting the tank air bubble in place - I don't want to bleed all the air out, right? The bubble is there for pressure safety?

HowieE · 04-14-2015, 08:42 PM

If you look at the out let pipe on the tank you will see it is not at the Top and thus a small pocket of air is normal. It just happens without outside influence.

MaineStreamer · 04-20-2015, 07:41 PM

Another newby here needing to de-winterize for the first time. When flushing the fresh water/city water tank, do you just empty that out on the ground, run through the waste hose?

MaineStreamer · 04-20-2015, 07:45 PM

Here are a bunch of instruction articles and a YouTube video. https://www.google.com/search?source....0.Pjjmwi6kGAc.

IanPoulin · 04-21-2015, 04:12 AM

Thanks Howie - I ask as it was discovered last season halfway through that the constant release of the tanks pressure valve was due to the bubble not being set correctly earlier in the season and we were forced to re-establish it to correct the issues. I was trying to see if anything special was needed up front. Turns out no.

2011 Airstream International Serenity 28' - 30a/taupe
2013 Ford F150 v6-ecoboost with max tow and HD payload packages

polarlyse · 04-21-2015, 07:06 AM

Hey Marty. It's fresh water and can go right on the ground. If anyone questions it's source go over and take a drink to prove it. Now if it's COLD up there in Maine you don't want to make an ice slick so beware.

MaineStreamer · 04-21-2015, 08:20 AM

Freshwater with anti-freeze.

MaineStreamer · 05-18-2015, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HowieE

Not sure you need a video.

I fill the fresh water tank with CITY water while the fresh water tank drain is open. This cleans the tank. While the tank has water in it turn the pump on and go to each faucet, hot and cold, and run till clear water comes out. This purges the antifreeze from the lines.

Connect the city water to the city hook up. Now slowly open, just leave it cocked a bit, the bypass on the hot water heater and fill with water. You will have to open a hot water faucet while doing this to let the air in the tank out. I say to use city water for this because there may be some antifreeze in the piping from that connection to the rest of the system.

You have now added about 2 gallons of water to the gray tank and that can wait till your first trip to dump or you can drain it while flushing the system.

Nothing needs to be done at this time for the black tank.

I let the fresh water tank drain completely before turning off the drain cock.

Where is the drain for the fresh water tank? I took my new-to-me 20-foot 2007 Safari to the dealer to de-winterize and so I would see everything, but we flushed the system via the city water hookup and apparently forgot to do anything about the fresh water tank. I need to fill it and let it rinse, as everything else has been purged with city water.

paiceman · 05-19-2015, 05:36 AM

I've not seen this posted before, but a thought to consider. When I winterize I also trip the Hot Water Heater breaker to OFF. In this way if plugged in at home and someone accidentally pushes on the HWH switch in the bath it will not burn out by trying to heat air.