Winterizing

[ltibbitts]

I have a 2006 Alpine APEX and recently widowed. I am currently in St. George, UT and want to know what to do to winterize the RV. I emptied the fresh water tank, the grey and black tanks. I filled the fuel tank. Not sure what else I have forgotten. What about the bottle the holds the distilled water for the gravity feed system for the batteries? Any assistance will be appreciated.

[EngineerMike]

Ity- The distilled water tank should be drained. Also there are "low point drains" for the interior water plumbing at the lower left (I think; I don't have an Apex) of the utility bay panel. If you open the faucets inside, then open the two drains, you should get water out that could otherwise freeze.

It's best, tho, to move the coach to a warm beach and live there till the snow is gone. Best of luck. Hopefully some Apexers will round out the procedures.

[OldForester]

Itibbitts,

Some additional things I do to winterize when I don't go south for the sun, as has been the case this, year, are:

1)Empty the water filters -- just unscrew them, dump them out and re-install them. I use this as a time to put in new water filters that don't have water in them.
1a)Empty your water heater (if you don't have Aqua-hot or Hydrohot) by unscrewing the anode rod. I put in a valve from Camping World that allows me to empty the tank without removing this anode rod, but you can easily drain it by removing the rod and opening the valve at the top of the water heater.
2)Disconnect the water hose up to your ice maker in your refer (usually located in the bay where the on/off valve to the icemaker is located), and drain the water from that hose.
3)Empty the low point drains as E-Mike suggested, with some of your faucets inside open to relieve any trapped air. Turn the water pump on for 15 -30 seconds or so to pump any trapped water that you may find. Also, make sure you open the spray hose for the toilet and let any water pump out of it into a pan or other catch mechanism, lower than the toilet bowl.
4)Put a little RV water system antifreeze in the drains in your sinks and shower so it goes in the traps.
5)Replace the water in the toilet bowl with a little of the same RV antifreeze.
6)Drive around a little bit with the low point drains, fresh tank drains, and water heater drains open to shake any other loose water out.
7)Finally, fill your propane tank and set your furnace to the minimum setting (40 degrees in mine) to keep a little heat in your coach and in your bays, where your tanks are located. This keeps everything warm enough to take care of the other potential freezing.

This works for me; hope it works for you. Can't tell you how to take care of Aqua/Hydro hot, other than perhaps keep them on the lowest heat setting with a full fuel tank. Others with these systems can help you with that.

[ltibbitts]

Thank you for all your suggestions. I have done some of them already. Will try some of the others too. I agree about the RV being in a warmer place. Next year I think I will do just that.

[F&D ABQ]

After my icemaker's waterline disintegrated, requiring removal of the refrigerator to replace, I took to unplugging the icemaker's 120V supply after draining and blowing out the line. But then, I leave my motorhome plugged in when it's parked.

So far, the only freeze damage I've had is to the icemaker line and valve - it's not easy to be sure that line is properly blown clear of water.

[Ted III]

It might be a wise move if you took the motohome to someone that works on motorhomes and had them winterize it for you this time. Missing something could way exceed the cost of having the winterizing done by persons that are in that business. The cost of something freezing and destroying whatever could be frightening. Then next year you can go south and all will be well.

Just a thought.

[F&D ABQ]

Ted,

I guess I wasn't quite clear. I've been winterizing my motorhome by blowing out all lines (and filters) for many years now. I prefer that to using potable antifreeze because the de-winterizing is simpler. Don't trust professionals since I saw a split water filter on a new coach at a local dealer. But the icemaker line is particularly tricky and vulnerable, and I finally figured out that having the frost-proofing heater on when there's no water in the line probably shortens the life of the plastic.