Winterizing a Pace Arrow

[JohnRR]

I drained the hot and cold low drains last week to start a quick winterizing, I put 11 gallons of RV antifreeze in the fresh water tank and tried to flush the lines with it. I got the cold side to work reasonably well but not the hot side, the pump runs all the time and will not build good pressure.

I'm thinking I don't have enough AF in the tank, I knew I should have used air but this winter my air compressors are packed away. If I'm not close enough with the AF in the tank I may still use air to blow the lines out and leave some AF as residual.

Anyone that can tell me better or suggest what I may have missed.

I did turn the fill valve both ways just to be sure and tried to bleed the system by starting at the bathroom sink first as it sounds closest to the pump.

It's going to have to sit out side for several days in the low teens.

[NLOVNIT]

If you put the AF in the fresh tank, does that mean it it got sucked through the HWHtr on it's way through your HW lines when you tried to winterize them? Or did you remember to close the valve to the HWHtr? If the valve to your HWHtr wasn't closed, I'd bet that's where all your AF is sitting.

If you got enough to go through the cold, there probably wasn't enough left to do the hot. It takes us between 4 & 5 gallons to do our whole coach, so 11 gal should've worked for you, but if it got into your HWHtr, that's a big space that'll hold a lot of AF.

Did you get AF through to the toilet (including the sprayer next to it), the shower & a W/D if you have one? If you have an icemaker, did you disconnect the fill hose from the outside & let it drain? How 'bout the outside shower?

Lori-

[JohnRR]

I have minimal to none at the seat hose, real good to the toilet, pretty decent but airy to the cold and almost non existent to the hot faucets front or rear, none to the hot water at the shower and OK for cold at the shower which I did not spent too much time with.but the main answer is I did not close the valve to the heater (and the Fleetwood manual did not mention it) as I wanted to be sure that was protected but I think I now see the error of my ways since if I'm not mistaken the HWH is 10 gallons

I guess it's off to another store in the AM for more AF that was the last 12 gallons WM had. This time I'll turn the HWH valve off and let it go with whats in the system. I only bought that much because I was going to winterize my steam cleaner as well.

Thank you Lori.

[Larry & Rita]

I
I do my entire 34N Pacer with 2 gal in the fresh water tank, be sure to turn the by-pass to dirvet the AF and I always turn on the faucets farthest from the pump then work forward. I still have about a gallon in the tank.
I agree with NLOVNIT, sounds like you forgot to turn the by-pass and you have a hot water heater full of AF.

Larry

[NLOVNIT]

Hey, we all live n learn, it's part of the package of being an RV owner. You aren't the 1st & you won't be the last to forget to close the valve. Come spring you'll need to do a real good flush job on your HWHtr. Get you one of those long skinny HWHtr flush nozzels that screw on the end of a garden hose & have at when the thaw comes.

Lori-

[JohnRR]

I have to agree with the HWH full of antifreeze, now would anyone care to post an opinion where a novice would find this shut off. I was kind of close I went looking for a bleeder valve at the top of the HWH in case that was supposed to be bleed.

I'd feel much better investing 2 gallons of AF instead of 11!

be sure to turn the by-pass to dirvet the AF

I thought the by pass valve had to be in the normal position but I also tried turning it the 1/4 turn to the fill position with out any good results so I tried all other checks with it in the bypass as I've read here many times in the past. I know I need a new lever that's the way I bought it and have never gotten around to ordering one from Fleetwood.

[NLOVNIT]

Our HWHtr bypass valve is in the 2nd bay rear of the entry door on the passenger side. Pic below. Since you also have an 06, it'll probably have the same color handle & tag as ours.

Lori-

[puttin]

John,

First- I'm sorry you live in an area where you have to do all this. More to the point, have you thought about just draining the hot water tank completely and catching the AF in a big container so you can put it somewhere else? Lori has covered all the other bases I think. As a last resort- would it be feasable to cover the whole rig and/or just leave some heat on inside? (Or maybe some light bulbs on drop cords in your utility bays) This time of year is truly a pain!

[exrench]

Originally Posted by JohnRR

I have to agree with the HWH full of antifreeze, now would anyone care to post an opinion where a novice would find this shut off. I was kind of close I went looking for a bleeder valve at the top of the HWH in case that was supposed to be bleed.

I'd feel much better investing 2 gallons of AF instead of 11!
I thought the by pass valve had to be in the normal position but I also tried turning it the 1/4 turn to the fill position with out any good results so I tried all other checks with it in the bypass as I've read here many times in the past. I know I need a new lever that's the way I bought it and have never gotten around to ordering one from Fleetwood.

I am sure that by now you realize that you are dealing with the wrong by-pass valve.Life is complicated!

[NLOVNIT]

Originally Posted by puttin

... have you thought about just draining the hot water tank completely and catching the AF in a big container so you can put it somewhere else?

There's an idea. I'm pretty sure what's in your HWHtr isn't very diluted anymore. Just unscrew the drain plug, catch what comes out in a bucket & use it to winterize the rest of your lines.

Do you have a winterizing kit? It allows you to disconnect the pump from the fresh tank so you can suck antifreeze right out of the AF jug, or in your case the bucket full of AF you drained out of the HWHtr tank.

L-

[Paul and Sue]

Also, I see you got a black tank flush, don't forget to get AF in there. It is a long run to a anti-S valve (37C in the bathroom inside the wall) higher than the blank tank then back down to two spray valves in the black tank.

[JohnRR]

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT

Our HWHtr bypass valve is in the 2nd bay rear of the entry door on the passenger side. Pic below. Since you also have an 06, it'll probably have the same color handle & tag as ours.

Lori-

I do reconize that view so now at least I know where to look for it. Thank you for the picture I do better with pictures than words.

Originally Posted by puttin

John,

First- I'm sorry you live in an area where you have to do all this. More to the point, have you thought about just draining the hot water tank completely and catching the AF in a big container so you can put it somewhere else? Lori has covered all the other bases I think. As a last resort- would it be feasable to cover the whole rig and/or just leave some heat on inside? (Or maybe some light bulbs on drop cords in your utility bays) This time of year is truly a pain!

I think this link will correct my problem but I'm going to have to have a few months to play adapt, improvise, and overcome. I'm low on propane now and don't want to drive it on our snow/salt covered roads so I'm getting an external 100 gallon propane tank to attach to it for some heat (45degrees) as well as the light bulbs in the bays. It should only be outside several hours a days while work is completed it just depends how fast I work on the insides of it. I'd rather spent a little money upfront rather than repairs next summer

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT

There's an idea. I'm pretty sure what's in your HWHtr isn't very diluted anymore. Just unscrew the drain plug, catch what comes out in a bucket & use it to winterize the rest of your lines.

Do you have a winterizing kit? It allows you to disconnect the pump from the fresh tank so you can suck antifreeze right out of the AF jug, or in your case the bucket full of AF you drained out of the HWHtr tank.

L-

I did it the hard way and put it straight into the hose filler port on the passengers side, never thought of there being another way. And yes to both your suggestions I'm going to drain the hot low point into a bucket and use it for the steam jenny.

Originally Posted by exrench

I am sure that by now you realize that you are dealing with the wrong by-pass valve.Life is complicated!

To tell you the truth no I did not but I do now, thank you.

Originally Posted by Paul and Sue

Also, I see you got a black tank flush, don't forget to get AF in there. It is a long run to a anti-S valve (37C in the bathroom inside the wall) higher than the blank tank then back down to two spray valves in the black tank.

Thank you that's another point I would have overlooked.

Thank you all it seems quite simple now but it sure was not this afternoon

[JohnRR]

I got to it this morning, recovered 6 gallons of AF left the rest. Bright red coming out of all outlets and just blew out the tank cleaning line out with air pressure. AF was added to the traps as well, thank you all for the lessons.