Winterizing rig with washer/dryer & ice maker

[sjenkins93]

Hello, we are concerned about how to ensure we have all the water removed from washer/dryer and ice maker. Any suggestions?

[dirko]

Hi Ho: Since we don't know what kind of refrigerator (ice maker) you have and what approach you use to winterize, your question is hard to answer. However, I can tell you what I have always done. I use only compressed air except for the drains. Just connect the air line (about 50 lbs.) and open the hot and cold washer lines by running a short cycle. Now dump about 1/2 gallon of RV antifreeze in the washer and run a spin cycle. This pumps most of the antifreeze out and takes care of the P trap in the drain.

The ice maker depends on what refrigerator you have, but the general approach is the same. Connect the air and open the solenoid for the water-in-the door until all the water is purged. Then open the ice maker solenoid to get that line clear.

If you put pink stuff in the water lines the approach is different, and I'll let someone else tell you how to avoid nasty pink stuff in the ice maker because I don't know how.

[vettenuts]

Here is a link to the Splendide winterizing instructions. I used procedure B shown in the link.

Splendide Winterization

[Cat320]

My MH is stored in a garage with very very reliable power. I put two utility lights (trouble lights) in the W/D tub, behind the refer (next to the ice maker), next to the water pump and any where else water might sit and freeze. I use two in case a bulb burns out. Pink RV antifreeze goes in the toilet and P traps. If really cold, I check on it every day or so...doesn't stay cold that long.

[TexasSprinter]

To use the 'pink stuff', you need to run both a hot and a cold short cycle through the washer with your pump on and using the winterize port to suck up the antifreeze. You must do both as that's the only way you'll get it through the mix valve (trust me, I found out the hard way!) Then dump some in the washer drum and spin it out. Just doing the spin thing won't get the antifreeze in the mix valve, so do the cycles AND the spin thing.

On the fridge, I screwed that up, too. Get a filter bypass plug for your model, as without it you can't do the compressed air or the antifreeze route dependably. Then do as directed above for air, or run pink stuff through until all water is purged from the bladder in the fridge. The tough part is the ice maker. It has to dump pink cubes once or you don't have antifreeze through the most delicate and expensive parts.

All in all, it is a PITA. I'm hoping to find storage soon where I can run 30AMP and keep heaters running if necessary.

[Oliver-Max]

According to Whirlpool the best way to winterize the frig is to access the water shut off valve from the outside. They recommend turning the valve off and disconnecting the supply hose and running anti-freeze through the hose and then reconnect the hose. With the valve still turned off, run the refrigerator water holding tank dry using a glass in the door. They say if you run anti-freeze through the ice maker you will never get the anti-freeze taste out.

The frig shut off valve is located behind the frig and is accessed from outside through a small service door. Not a lot off room to work.

Iggy Konrad
2014 Tuscany XTE 40GQ