Winterixing problem

[Farminatr]

I'm trying to winterize my 2005 RDA36 (no book). I've closed the valve from the fresh water tank to the pump, turned on the pump switch in the bathroom, opened the valve to suck in the pink antifreese, and have pumped 6 gallons in. Very weak pink to the sinks and toilet, none to the shower, and none to the washing machine. There is no pink in the fresh water tank. None drained from the gray water or black water tank dump. Where in the dickens is it going? Water heater valve was changed to winterize and the tank drained before I started. (Heater is empty) Water system was working great for a month at a park in Texas before we tried to winterize before coming home to Iowa. Winterized last fall first time and used 3.5 gallons total. No obvious leaks anywhere or on the ground. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong? Thanks H

[Farminatr]

I'm trying to winterize my 2005 RDA36 (no book). I've closed the valve from the fresh water tank to the pump, turned on the pump switch in the bathroom, opened the valve to suck in the pink antifreese, and have pumped 6 gallons in. Very weak pink to the sinks and toilet, none to the shower, and none to the washing machine. There is no pink in the fresh water tank. None drained from the gray water or black water tank dump. Where in the dickens is it going? Water heater valve was changed to winterize and the tank drained before I started. (Heater is empty) Water system was working great for a month at a park in Texas before we tried to winterize before coming home to Iowa. Winterized last fall first time and used 3.5 gallons total. No obvious leaks anywhere or on the ground. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong? Thanks H

[rockintom]

Hi Farm,

Welcome to the forum. I think you meant to say '05 36 RDO. I'm not the guy to recommend winterizing as I've never done it in my life. We are warm weather FTing freaks! However, there will be folks in here to help. There is the owner's manual posted on the Excel website (excelrvs.com) to help you. It has winterizing info on pages 38-40. Hope that helps a little bit. Once again welcome and good luck. Let us know how it works out. Stay warm yourself! Tom

[Farminatr]

I was doing my model from memory, no doubt you're right. I went back and read the winterizing as you suggested and I've changed the valve for the water heater as noted on the sticker under the sink, but I haven't changed the other two valves.(They aren't identified to be changed) This manual is very generic and I thought it didn't apply to my particular model because the picture didn't seem to match what was under my sink. Maybe I was wrong and should go look at the valves for the water heater again. Maybe there are always THREE valves to change. I have previously downloaded the generic book from the website. My Excel neighbor in Texas had his book from a 2004 30 footer and agreed the picture in his book didn't look like what was under my sink. Anyway, I'll check again in the morning. Spring is a long ways off in Iowa and I can't afford to heat it all winter. Thanks. h

[LarryGodby]

Around the water heater you would shut the two valves with lines going into the keater and open the bypass line. This is the line that would go from one of the lines to the other.

If the water heater does have anti freeze in it you should flush it out a whole bunch. I have heard to fill and drain 3 to 5 times. If you heat the anti freeze it smells and taste like sulfur I think is what I remember.

[Workshop]

Good morning, I also live in warmer climates and haven't had to winterize. Just read the manual on my 2001, it sounds to me that the valves on the water heater needs to be readjusted. The inlet and outlet valves should be in the closed position and the bypass open to allow flow to the system. Have you checked the WH to see if it has any anti freeze in the tank, you mentioned that the tank is empty, was that after the winterizing. I know it sounds crazy, but are the outside drains line for the hot and cold lines closed.

[d.duin]

I had the same problem last year when I winterized, put in 4 gallons and got a weak pink knowing two gallons should have done the job. I looked and looked and finally found a hidden valve under a heat run that went from the water tank to the pump. I closed it and winterized in 1 1/2 gal. It seems with that valve open the pump would kick the pink back to the tank. I would guess if you again drain your water tank you will have several gallons of pink in it. Pull the drain and you will know you have to find the tank valve if pink comes out! Good luck.
Ace

[Farminatr]

I'm back, and our water heater and valves look nothing like the picture in the manual online or the one from my Excel neighbor in Texas. Our heater is drained and empty. It has one valve to turn to winterize it. There is one more apparatus that looks like it is a valve but it has a huge red plastic knob on it and a sign that says this is not a servicable valve. The other pictures in the manuals show an obvious plumbing setup where the water heater is bypassed by turning off two valves and opening the obvious bypass valve. Maybe since mine is a limited with a larger heater it has different plumbing. We've used 6 gallons of fluid to winterize and have no clue where the excess has gone. I haven't had a drop of antifreeze come to the shower. I can only hope that the two little drains in the sewer valve compartment drained the water from the shower when I drained them. I opened the clean water dump valve expecting antifreeze and got none. I opened the gray and black tank valves and got none. Later I dumped antifreeze in the shower trap and laid the shower hose on the floor and left all the water valves in the camper in the on position.. I poured antifreeze into the washing machine and spun it out. I'm worried about the washer water lines and distribution valve, but it's too late to worry now I guess. It's been around zero all day with up to 50 mile an hour winds. It will be interesting to add clean water into the winterizing system in the spring after danger of frost is past to pump water into the system until it becomes clear where the liquid is going. We started this winterizing process in a park in Alamo Texas with a perfectly good water system just before we had to get on the road to go home. We had 4 gallons of antifreese and the RV repair place nearby and the Walmart were out of additional product. I'll be buying the adapter to hook onto the outside city water connection to blow out the lines with air if I run into problems again. Thanks for all your interest and help. h