Winterizing 2022 Precept Prestige

[Flavius]

I have been lucky for the last 8 years, living in a warmer climate and/or using the motorhome in the winter, so I have not winterized since owning a class A Winnebago with a tank water heater. The manual supplied by JAYCO seems terribly inaccurate and vague. Are there any tricks or potential GOTCHAs for winterizing a tankless water heater? How about a refrigerator with ice maker? Washing machine?
I would appreciate any ideas or comments! Thank-you in advance and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!




2022 JAYCO Precept Prestige, blueoxing Honda CRV

[youracman]

I can only comment specifically on the fridge, Flavius. There are 2 basic methods used by all owners, I believe. In my case, I use the blowdown method for the whole rig. For the fridge, I start it early so that it can begin to cool down. With about 25psi purge pressure at the inlet, emtpty/purge the water dispenser part of the fridge. I use lots of actuations of the water valve on the front of the fridge until mostly vapor spits out into the water glass. I run the fridge for a couple of hours with purge pressure applied continuously so that a couple of ice cube “harvest cycles” will have occurred and that will purge that portion of the freezer. You will likely note that only a few very tiny ice cubes have been harvested, meaning that line is empty.

This method has worked for me for 3 years now. Many owners cycle the “pink stuff” through the ice maker and when they get slushy pink cubes, they know the ice maker is protected for the winter. It is a lot faster than my blowdown method. You are protecting the water inlet valve which is external to the fridge. One poster just drained the line leading to that valve as others had recommended, but it is not fool proof; I read one post where a fellow paid $1500 to have the fridge removed and that valve replaced after it had frozen and split open.

Just my $.02 of course. Good times and safe travels to ya.

[Paul P.]

I will assume you have the Girard tankless model which is what I have in my 2021 Precept 36A. If that's correct then all you need to do when winterizing with antifreeze is make sure the unit is turned off. There should be a water heater switch inside the rv and there is also one on the unit itself outside ( I turn both off). When pumping the antifreeze through the water lines by opening all the faucets hot and cold, the antifreeze will be pumped into the water heater lines as well. If you have a different model of water heater then this may not be correct. I have a whirlpool fridge with water/ice access in the door. Because the filter in the fridge will take out the "pink coloring" from the antifreeze, you should remove the filter. ( you should have already removed any water filters from the water system like in the wet bay compartment). My refrigerator will operate without a filter, but some models require a "dummy" filter in place. I then fill a clear glass via the door water dispenser until it is pink. Then I turn on the icemaker and allow it to make ice until I get the pink slush cubes. Doing the water line first, I think the pink cubes come out in the second batch. I do have access to ac power, otherwise this could be an issue.