Winterizing question???

[Wingding]

Hello to All !! Here's one for all you Alpine owners....
After talking with Vehicle Systems Inc, It was/is necessary to have the hot water coil that goes through the Hydro hot filled with RV anti freeze. I was told the method to do this was to connect to the filter side of the water pump.(use the line to the 100 gallon fresh water tank.}Disconnect at the 100 gallon tank end and insert that input hose into the RV antifreeze solution.

The Rv antifreeze did indeed flow through the water pump to the back end of the Hydro hot but to my surprise after a short period of time came back on two hose lines that run above and connect into the top side of the fresh water tank and poured back inside the fresh water tank !!! I was somewhat shocked...???

Should this Happen?????

I was told that using compressed air is no good to blow out the Hydrohot hot water coil. It was claimed to leave moist air behind that will condensate and freeze eventually in the freezing cold and break.
Ofcourse, being where the heat is would be a solution, but for now the alpine will have to indure some cold weather.
Question is..... should the antifreeze end up in the fresh water tank or is something drastically wrong or is the procedure flawed ?????

[Wingding]

Hello to All !! Here's one for all you Alpine owners....
After talking with Vehicle Systems Inc, It was/is necessary to have the hot water coil that goes through the Hydro hot filled with RV anti freeze. I was told the method to do this was to connect to the filter side of the water pump.(use the line to the 100 gallon fresh water tank.}Disconnect at the 100 gallon tank end and insert that input hose into the RV antifreeze solution.

The Rv antifreeze did indeed flow through the water pump to the back end of the Hydro hot but to my surprise after a short period of time came back on two hose lines that run above and connect into the top side of the fresh water tank and poured back inside the fresh water tank !!! I was somewhat shocked...???

Should this Happen?????

I was told that using compressed air is no good to blow out the Hydrohot hot water coil. It was claimed to leave moist air behind that will condensate and freeze eventually in the freezing cold and break.
Ofcourse, being where the heat is would be a solution, but for now the alpine will have to indure some cold weather.
Question is..... should the antifreeze end up in the fresh water tank or is something drastically wrong or is the procedure flawed ?????

[EngineerMike]

I'm having trouble visualizing your drainage "problem," but I'd say if the HHot lines were filled w/potable anti-freeze & anything drained out, what's left should be anti-freeze & provide protection. However, IIWY, I'd
1) drain the tank & open low point drains, then shut all 3,
2) put anti-freeze solution in the tank,
3) run pump, & open, successively, each cold & hot spigot in the system till AF comes out, then close (this includes outside shower, & inside toilet/sprayer).
4) shut off pump
5) snuggle in for a long winter's nap.
6) drain & flush all in the spring B4 usage

[ggbanks]

EngineerMike, how do you put AF in the tank? It's a sealed system, unless I'm missing something. A Newmar I owned before the Alpine had a neat deal, a bipass on the plumbing from the tank to the pump with a flexable hose a strainer on the end. To winterize all you had to do was turn the bipass valve, stick the flex hose in AF jug and walla, done.

[EngineerMike]

Option 1- put AF in bucket & pump it into tank using drill-motor pump available @ Ace hardware, Home Depot, etc.
Option 2- hook hose to MH only, @ open end w/funnel, fill hose w/AF, hook to city water & run AF into tank pushed by city water
Option 3 (if you have canister type filters)- remove filter media, fill canisters w/AF & reinstall caisters; hook up hose & fill tank w/AF-water mix.

#2 & #3 might require multiple doses to get enough AF in tank.
Another suggestion, if this is to be an annual ritual, is to cut a bypass into the line between tank & pump, like your previous example, then do #1 using the coach pump & bypass line. 1/2" OD "push" type fittings by John Guest make it childs play to do. These are the same type supplied w/the Vagabond RO system kits. Add valve & tee to the tank/pump line, w/a valve on the tee leg, then as much tubing as you'll need to get to your bucket.