Proper way to winterize the ice maker

[enjoyrv]

I winterized our coach today but not 100% sure I did the ice maker thoroughly enough. After I had anti-freeze in the lines and all the faucets etc inside, I took the water line off behind the refrig (on the outside compartment of the coach). Anti-freeze came out of the line as it was under pressure. I recall the dealer showing me a way to run the ice maker by removing two electrical connections and putting power to the terminals using an extension cord with the ends fitted with electrical fasteners. I didn't try this today. How do you winterize yours?

[Theberrys]

I have a suicide chord with spade lugs on one end. I disconnect the two wires going to the solenoid and install the chord. My external AC plug is right by the fridge vent so I just plug it in and blow air into the city water inlet until no water is in the line. If you don't energies the ice maker solenoid then water sits in the valve and can freeze and crack the valve, I have personal experience in this matter. When using the chord don't disconnect any water lines so you blow out, or fill with antifreeze the entire run. I just find it easier to swap the AC input then do the water lines and turn the solenoid upside down to drain it.

BTW I don't use antifreeze in the water lines, just blow them out. It's a matter of choice; I find it takes quite a lot of water to flush the antifreeze out in the spring. The water is cloudy and has a taste we just don't like. I live in Albuquerque and we rarely get a hard freeze. Very few days the temp doesn't get above freezing but it does freeze overnight, so were not in a very severe winter. I do use antifreeze in all the drains.

Dick

["007"]

Since having the 1200, 7 yrs, I have disconnected the bottom water line off valve in back of fridge, let the water run out of line with the wire switch down. Disconnected water feed connector on side of control valve. I have a valve in line under sink to stop the RV Anti from flowing out line.
Once the water drains out use paper towels to remove water from tray in freezer compartment.
Never use RV Anti in the ice maker lines only in main lines and traps of water system.
If you go to Quick Tips link have write ups that I have place years ago and never had problems if directions followed.

[joelyn5]

Rich - there's an easier way to winterize your icemaker. If you have an in-the-door water dispenser mash it until antifreeze is dispensed. That winterizes the water dispenser. Now go outside and open the cover to the back side of the reefer. You'll see a solenoid valve with one tube leading into it from the right and two output tubes on the left. One of the output tubes will be filled with antifreeze---that one goes to the water dispenser. If you can't see through the tubing, after marking which tube goes to which solenoid connection, disconnect the two output tubes. Note which one had the antifreeze in it and mark it. The other one goes to the icemaker. When you disconnect the icemaker tube all the water will gravity drain out. So now your icemaker is now winterized. The only water in it will be in the ice maker itself---and since it's supposed to freeze, you don't have to do anything with that. But I don't want the residual water to grow things over the winter so I stuff paper towels in the icemaker to soak up all the water.

Next year when you winterize you'll only have to disconnect the tube leading to the icemaker (that's why you mark the two tubes). Yes, you'll still have to put antifreeze in the tuibe leading up to the water dispenser.

This process avoids cycling the icemaker and no antifreeze ever reaches the icemaker.

I've been doing this for years and never have had a problem. Questions? Feel free to email me (joelyn5@verizon.net) and I can send you some photos. Joel

[enjoyrv]

Dick: That's the method the dealer told me about. I just couldn't remember for sure the complete process. It does leave the taste of antifreeze in the ice for a long time. Looks like to need to do the last step which is to put a little power to the solenoid.

[enjoyrv]

007: Thanks for the input too. The valve you put under the sink. Is it to allow the antifreeze to flow to that point without going to the ice maker itself and then you can drain that line in spring as well? I look at the quick tips.

[enjoyrv]

Joel. That sounds like a good way to do it. I don't have the water dispenser but I should find the line out to the ice maker. I found the line in. I'll take a look at it next time I'm out to the coach. Thankfully, it will be winterized for only about 3 months before we see some warmer southern climate (warmer than last year I hope). Thanks

["007"]

Joel welcome to The Newmar forum & irv2.
Thanks for your first post do post often and enjoy the forums.

["007"]

Rich, I installed a filtered water spout on my sink deck and when I did placed a short off valve to keep Anti-freeze from going to the ice maker and through filter mounting when winterizing.

[a k]

If you have an in the door water dispenser all you have to do is pull the water line from the valve to the dispenser and let it drain. You don't have to put anti-freeze in it . The inlet is on the bottom of the tank so it completley drains. No way you will flush all anti-freeze out in the spring.

And if you've had it for a number of years, I suggest taking the tank out of the back and flushing it out. It will be full of mold hair bleach or not.

["007"]

If you do put RV- Anti into water system of fridge this thread maybe of interest to you.

[AFChap]

I don't run the anti-freeze into the ice maker. I remove the lines from the solenoid in the access panel. That lets the upper line (solenoid to ice maker) drain. I remove the drinking water/ice maker filter under the galley sink and insert the plug. Then I run the winterizing procedure until the pink af comes out the hanging water line. Then I turn off the icemaker line under the sink.

[TXiceman]

The best way to keep your ice maker water line from freezing during the winter is to move far enough south so that it won't freeze. The easy way to do this is to tie a snow shovel to your front bumper and when you stop, they ask what that thing is for....well you are now far enough south.

Ken

[Renden]