1982 FC35SB New Owner

[Bill Pape]

trying not to confuse, & I am not as familiar with the 82, but since this bus is new to you, do you have the Moen shower faucet with the non scalding shuttle and the air operated Versa Valve could be stuck open / closed or part way.
Maybe Steve will know or just carry on with more antifreeze.
We always called the BB air purge system a Georgia winterization process,
not sufficient for Hard long up-North freezing.

[chadzeilenga]

Well, I think I’m getting closer. Put some more antifreeze into the lines tonight. I’m flowing concentrated strength from all the main faucets and shower. I also was able to bleed out the ice maker tube and I was getting some pink fluid.
Despite bleeding while feeding fresh fluid into the city port, this was the best we could do. I suspect that the antifreeze was making its way into the pure water tank. If I want to drain just that tank, I would turn the knob under the bed title “system lines” open without opening the low point drain?

[gspappa]

Originally Posted by chadzeilenga

Well, I think I’m getting closer. Put some more antifreeze into the lines tonight. I’m flowing concentrated strength from all the main faucets and shower. I also was able to bleed out the ice maker tube and I was getting some pink fluid.
Despite bleeding while feeding fresh fluid into the city port, this was the best we could do. I suspect that the antifreeze was making its way into the pure water tank. If I want to drain just that tank, I would turn the knob under the bed title “system lines” open without opening the low point drain?

Morning.
You may be a little out of order here, but you're getting it. We open the system drains with all the other drains when we gravity drain to get the initial water out way before we add antifreeze, but now you know for next year. You can also open those during the blowing our cycle as it never hurts other than throwing some antifreeze on the ground by cheap insurance. Keep that one small glass/clear bottle of 100% antifreeze to compare as it all looks the same after a while and you want to make sure the color is right. you're probably safe in Charlotte, but you never know.

I think it boils down to that you didn't have all/most of the water out of the lines prior to starting with the antifreeze. You're not the first person that has happened to. Now you know that you have to introduce outside shop air for t his process. We have a gauge on the line we use not to over pressurize and it works much better with 2 people. On guy keeps the pressure while the other is in the bus working all the faucets etc.

Keep us posted!`

[chadzeilenga]

Hi Steven,
I started out the process following the BB procedure by opening all faucets and the low point drain on the fresh side and drained my tank down to empty. Then I followed the same for HWH and then did the BB air blow out. I did this step twice and waited a while to ensure no fluid was coming out of the low drain under my bath vanity. I looked through the back of all the cabinets and basement compartments and could not find any additional drains. Also, my pump was running at this time and not pushing out any fluid.

I returned the system to normal operation (System Lines Closed, Water Heater Open).

I started pumping AF into the city port and was getting a concentrated mixture out of the shower faucet and then a light pink out of the sinks. I think I put about 7 gallons in the first round. The second round I did last night with a helper and pumped another 7 gallons into the system with the coach pump on. I think this topped off my HWH so that I was getting a concentrated mixture out of all my faucets and toilet. The last item to purge was the ice maker as I couldn't get it to fill the tray with pink slush. It was running when I purchased the coach, but not kicking on currently. I'm thinking it's a 120V item and my genset is down waiting on parts for the water pump. So I pulled the water supply line and bled for a gallon or so and am definitely getting pink, but not the concentration I saw from the other faucets. This baffled me some and I traced the line. It goes to a 3-way splitter (fresh tank in - Ice Maker, Kitchen Sink & Instant-Hot dispenser Out). The only thing I could think of was that with the HWH full, some of that 14 gallons we put in was going into the fresh tank? This tank maybe had some residual water in it leading to the dilution?

Being from Chicago, I'm probably winterizing it to Chicago standards, but being so new to it I definitely don't want to miss something and create a problem for next spring if I can avoid it. A project this winter will be creating a schematic of what lines connect to what and where valves and tees are so I can visually see how it all connects like a P&ID diagram. This will be helpful if there was any non-factory plumbing done. Speaking of, what is this device? Doesn't look factory and appears to be plumbed in with the water pump



My last item to address is this InSinkErator H-330 Instant-hot dispenser. I couldn't find anything on the BB site for it, but it does seem to be early 80's vintage.



All of the input and guidance is much appreciated.

[gspappa]

Chad,
I think you're ok. A little antifreeze in the fresh tank isn't the worst thing. Just give it a good flush in the spring. Just an FYI. If you're pumping in antifreeze from the outside, you do not want to use the pump on the inside at the same time. You would let the pumping of the antifreeze simulate as if you were camping and using the water system which is why you have to keep it primed and the best way to do that is to work out of a 5-gallon pail. I don't think Charlotte will get cold enough to freeze, but you never know. We get to Charlotte every year in early November. We were just there 3 weeks ago. Too bad you were not doing this then as I would have been more than happy to come and assist. Much easier to explain when you are in the bus looking at it.

Happy to stop by next year if you still have questions. We stay in Mathews at the WM at Indian Trail.

Keep us informed as you move forward with the bus!

[chadzeilenga]

Originally Posted by gspappa

Chad,
I think you're ok. A little antifreeze in the fresh tank isn't the worst thing. Just give it a good flush in the spring. Just an FYI. If you're pumping in antifreeze from the outside, you do not want to use the pump on the inside at the same time. You would let the pumping of the antifreeze simulate as if you were camping and using the water system which is why you have to keep it primed and the best way to do that is to work out of a 5-gallon pail. I don't think Charlotte will get cold enough to freeze, but you never know. We get to Charlotte every year in early November. We were just there 3 weeks ago. Too bad you were not doing this then as I would have been more than happy to come and assist. Much easier to explain when you are in the bus looking at it.

Happy to stop by next year if you still have questions. We stay in Mathews at the WM at Indian Trail.

Keep us informed as you move forward with the bus!

Ok, good to know. Small world, I live about 5min from that Indian Trail Walmart. Would be great to connect next time you are in the area. I'm hoping to tackle some more interesting projects besides winterization

[CrashTestDummy]

They did. make InSinkErators back then, we had one in our house that was built in 1975. I'd bet it's not OEM, though. They seem to last about 10-15 years, and I bet much shorter in a motorhome. the InSinkErator brand was the OEM brand, IIRC. We have a plug under the sink that's labeled 'Instant Hot', but a PO removed the unit from the bus.

It does have a little tank in it, so you'll probably want to run a bit of your winterizing fluid through it. Do it with the unit turned off, though. I bet you don't want 190-degreeF antifreeze!!

I LOVE them. They're great for when you want to just make a single cup of tea, or heat something up right quick.

[chadzeilenga]

Originally Posted by CrashTestDummy

They did. make InSinkErators back then, we had one in our house that was built in 1975. I'd bet it's not OEM, though. They seem to last about 10-15 years, and I bet much shorter in a motorhome. the InSinkErator brand was the OEM brand, IIRC. We have a plug under the sink that's labeled 'Instant Hot', but a PO removed the unit from the bus.

It does have a little tank in it, so you'll probably want to run a bit of your winterizing fluid through it. Do it with the unit turned off, though. I bet you don't want 190-degreeF antifreeze!!

I LOVE them. They're great for when you want to just make a single cup of tea, or heat something up right quick.

Ok great! Thanks for the info. I'll probably pull it and cap the line to it so I can benchtest it. Seems like it would be great on conserving water from HWH for just a single cup etc.