Winterizing Questions

rclark · 11-10-2014, 03:07 PM

I have never winterized this unit 2013 (Alpine 3555rl) previously. I have two questions. I cannot locate a low point drain and what is this connection for. It is located near the city water and other water items. Its like a city water connection, but has a spring loaded valve at the very front edge where a hose would connect. Obviously we have never used it whatever the connection is for. Help will be appreciated.

bsmith0404 · 11-10-2014, 03:29 PM

your picture doesn't show everything, but if yours is like my 3500RE, just below the water connection in the picture should be a red and blue pex line with valves on them, that is your low drain points. Additionally, up under the RV around the axle area should be your main fresh water tank drain valve.

The connection in your picture is the water pump bypass line for winterizing. You should have two switches/valves just below that connection, one says water heater bypass, you want that on so you don't fill the water heater with antifreeze. The other should say winterize, you turn that one on as well. Then you hook a short water hose to that connection, put the other end into an antifreeze jug, turn the water pump on and start opening faucets until the pink stuff runs out. Using this connection keeps from filling the fresh water tank with antifreeze.

If you use the air compressor method only and do not put antifreeze into the lines, you will not use this connection.

rclark · 11-10-2014, 03:53 PM

Thanks for help. I guess I should have asked what the red and blue valves were. Senior moments I guess. I have blown all the lines out and put antifreeze
in the traps. I guess i better open the valves. Supposed to 12 here tonight. Will not use the other connection. Thanks again

bsmith0404 · 11-10-2014, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rclark

Thanks for help. I guess I should have asked what the red and blue valves were. Senior moments I guess. I have blown all the lines out and put antifreeze
in the traps. I guess i better open the valves. Supposed to 12 here tonight. Will not use the other connection. Thanks again

Assuming you also drained the hot water heater....you didn't say that so I just wanted to make sure. Also, did you remember to do the washer/hookups? Many people forget about those if they don't have the washer and dryer installed.

Don't be surprised if you don't get anything from the low drain points. I didn't get a drop from mine. My last camper would flow quite a bit from those, obviously a different design on the Alpine.

RedOne · 11-10-2014, 07:14 PM

Better have pushed some antifreeze thru the black tank sprayer and also into the water pump.

rclark · 11-10-2014, 11:08 PM

Thanks for all the help. I did blow out the wash and dry hoses. They have never been used but still were full. Had already blown out the black tank sprayer. Ran the water pump for about 30 secs after tank had been drained. Should be good. Spring is a long way off. If we get cabin fever and can't take winter any longer and the roads up here are decent might hook up and head to Oregon coast for a few weeks

Pmedic4 · 11-11-2014, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedOne

Better have pushed some antifreeze thru the black tank sprayer and also into the water pump.

That is an easy one to forget! I try to run about 1/2 gallon of the pink juice into the black water tank, just to make sure it gets to the valve, in case there happens to be some water sitting at the valve.

Pmedic4 · 11-11-2014, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rclark

Spring is a long way off. If we get cabin fever and can't take winter any longer and the roads up here are decent might hook up and head to Oregon coast for a few weeks

While it is going to be cold this weekend, I always try to get my DW to go out later in the year with the RV, and not use the water, to prevent having to re-winterize. If you just take along water to use, and dump and refill the BW and GW tanks with a little anti-freeze, we've gone on several cool winter days.

outwest · 11-11-2014, 01:05 PM

the one I nearly forgot this year is the bit of line between the hot water tank bypass valve and the hot water tank. With the hot water plug out, I turned the hot water tank bypass off and sure enough, I was able to purge some more water.

rclark · 11-11-2014, 01:35 PM

Turned off bypass and blew on tank and nothing came out but there was a little dab of water on the bottom of the hot water tank. I actually drained and blew out the whole system when we returned from OR in late march, since it was still below freezing at night and I was parking on our driveway to unload, clean etc. Moved it into the pole building after a few days and it has been inside since.

After being gone for four months we did not take the rig out since we live on the PO River and being at home is like camping anyway. Just too cold in the winter. We are going to tough out the winter this year??

Thanks for the tip about the bypass line.

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