Community Forums

Marca · 12-06-2017, 12:44 PM

Well, I find that I may have to winterize the Apex due to delay in getting a new radiator and CAC in Northern Indiana. My annual plan has always been to travel south long before the weather turns cold but it doesn't appear that will happen this year so I need to be prepared to winterize it. At the moment, the Hydrohot, both electric and diesel, are running to keep things from possibly freezing at night. I have electric heaters standing by as well as a propane heater for the interior of the cabin. The problem is that the motorhome is torn down outside a repair shop waiting for the parts. Communication has been less than stellar between suppliers to say the least.

It is in a secure area therefore I cannot stay in it at night or on weekends to make sure the heat stays on and if it doesn't adjust to another source. The shop is doing its best to check that the heat is on when they are there but only have 15 amp plugin capability to keep batteries charged and stir pumps running.

I have a mobile RV service standing by to help me and I have printed off all the items I could find regarding winterization and think I understand what needs to be done. But I cannot find any instructions regarding how to winterize the reverse osmosis system. Do I just remove the cartridge like I do the external water filters? Thanks for your help!

DEC0717 · 12-06-2017, 03:42 PM

You can remove the cartridge to be extra safe, but I just disconnect the water lines coming into and going out of the cartridge housing and let the water drain.

bcbowers · 12-06-2017, 09:13 PM

You can use an air compressor to blow out the water lines. I did that for several years while storing the coach in Colorado. The only problem I had was with the residential refrigerator (water & ice dispenser). I had to take the internal water tank loose and turn it upside down to push the water out. Anything that holds water needs to be drained such as the quick connect filter under the kitchen sink. Even the washing machine can be put into "spin & drain" cycle to push the water out.

DrDaveMA · 12-06-2017, 09:50 PM

You should remove and drain the RO cartridge, bag it and keep it refrigerated (not frozen) and drain, then leave off the filter cartridge housings (that way if water drains back into the filter housing it will not freeze and break. Also be sure you drain water from the bypass assembly.

It also depends upon where you RO system is located. Mine is in the same compartment as the HydroHot, so the compartment stays warm unless the HydroHot is not operational.

Marca · 12-07-2017, 08:18 AM

DrDaveMA,

I need clarification on draining water from bypass assembly. Not sure I understand as I am not with the motorhome at this time and can't look for what you are referring to. My RO system is in the same compartment as the Hydrohot and as long as it keeps working it shouldn't freeze. I am planning for worst case as I can't stay in it to make sure all is working properly and only God knows when the parts will arrive!

Thanks for your help!

DrDaveMA · 12-07-2017, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marca

DrDaveMA,

I need clarification on draining water from bypass assembly. Not sure I understand as I am not with the motorhome at this time and can't look for what you are referring to. My RO system is in the same compartment as the Hydrohot and as long as it keeps working it shouldn't freeze. I am planning for worst case as I can't stay in it to make sure all is working properly and only God knows when the parts will arrive!

Thanks for your help!

I am assuming you have the fresh water tank auto fill option. If you do, somewhere, probably near the filters, is the manual bypass valve used to bypass the auto tank fill, shown below. On my install that assembly is below the level of the filters, so unless I fill the lines with antifreeze this assembly may have water left in it, or water may drain back in to it. As you can see I have disconnected one of the lines to let it drain.