Community Forums

Ted Lambert · 12-06-2019, 11:03 AM

In the spring I like to put about 15 gallons of water into my fresh water tank to check all the systems and to flush the antifreeze from the lines.
In the spring water is not available so I buy potable water and have a little pump to fill the tank.
A real PITA.
Because our new trailer has a outside winterizing station. I thought I could use the pump to fill the tank by configuring the valves to direct water into the tank instead of the main system.
Once done I could than configure back to normal and use the water from the tank as required.

Or am I out to lunch with this plan?

Gary RVRoamer · 12-06-2019, 11:35 AM

No way to be sure except to examine the plumbing. Or just give it a try. What you call a "winterizing station" is probably just a diverter valve on the pump intake line, causing the pump to suck from an external port instead of the tank. If you also have a city fill valve, it may or may not bypass the winterizing valve part of the line. Typically the city fill just bypasses the pump and uses the same water line that the pump uses for suction. It may be, though, that the city fill has its own line back to the tank, totally independent of the pump & winterizing water line. You will just have to check it out to see.

wildcatter · 12-06-2019, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ted Lambert

In the spring I like to put about 15 gallons of water into my fresh water tank to check all the systems and to flush the antifreeze from the lines.
In the spring water is not available so I buy potable water and have a little pump to fill the tank.
A real PITA.
Because our new trailer has a outside winterizing station. I thought I could use the pump to fill the tank by configuring the valves to direct water into the tank instead of the main system.
Once done I could than configure back to normal and use the water from the tank as required.

Or am I out to lunch with this plan?

I'm wondering if you may end up burning up your water pump letting it run that long.

hohenwald48 · 12-06-2019, 11:51 AM

RV water pumps can dry continuously with no harm done.

On mine, I simply configure things like I was going to inject anti freeze into the system (but I use water instead) and use the outdoor shower to fill the water tank. If you have a gravity tank fill just stick the outdoor shower hose in the gravity fill opening.

If not (like mine) I have an adapter that allows me to connect the outdoor shower to the fresh water inlet. I can pump a 5 gallon bucket of water into the fresh tank in about a minute.

Ted Lambert · 12-06-2019, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

No way to be sure except to examine the plumbing. Or just give it a try. What you call a "winterizing station" is probably just a diverter valve on the pump intake line, causing the pump to suck from an external port instead of the tank. If you also have a city fill valve, it may or may not bypass the winterizing valve part of the line. Typically the city fill just bypasses the pump and uses the same water line that the pump uses for suction. It may be, though, that the city fill has its own line back to the tank, totally independent of the pump & winterizing water line. You will just have to check it out to see.

Hmm interesting thanks Gary!

Ted Lambert · 12-06-2019, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hohenwald48

RV water pumps can dry continuously with no harm done.

On mine, I simply configure things like I was going to inject anti freeze into the system (but I use water instead) and use the outdoor shower to fill the water tank. If you have a gravity tank fill just stick the outdoor shower hose in the gravity fill opening.

If not (like mine) I have an adapter that allows me to connect the outdoor shower to the fresh water inlet. I can pump a 5 gallon bucket of water into the fresh tank in about a minute.

This l like simple and easy, I have never used the gravity fill port. Not even sure where it is.
Thank you.