Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Fiddler on November 18, 2010, 10:50:51 am

Title: Winterizing - Flushing drinking water
Post by: Fiddler on November 18, 2010, 10:50:51 am
What is the best technique to get the anti-freeze to the icemaker water line?  Also, is it necessary to get the anti-freeze to the water line to the toilet?  if so, will repeat flushes of the toilet get the antifreeze through that line as well?
Title: Re: Winterizing - Flushing drinking water
Post by: nitehawk on November 18, 2010, 03:03:52 pm
We are heading South after Xmas and our GV is already winterized by our dealer. When I get far enough South to flush the coolant out how do I handle the drinking water filter?

Do I put the old filter on long enough to flush all the lines and then remove the old filter and then install the new filter? Otherwise, will the fluids run out if there is no filter in place?
Title: Re: Winterizing - Flushing drinking water
Post by: Michelle on November 18, 2010, 03:34:58 pm
Quote
How do I handle the drinking water filter?
Do I put the old filter on long enough to flush all the lines and then remove the old filter and then install the new filter? Otherwise, will the fluids run out if there is no filter in place?
Nitehawk,

Is this the Everpure undercounter filter you're asking about?

If so, look at the housing and see if you have the bypass plate/antifreeze diverter in place. 

(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Ftweetys.com%2FProductImages%2Frv_freshwater%2F888257.jpg&hash=87e635ca2c08ff9ec47d0c1cef10a1b4" rel="cached" data-hash="87e635ca2c08ff9ec47d0c1cef10a1b4" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://tweetys.com/ProductImages/rv_freshwater/888257.jpg)

If you have that, you can flush with it in place, then shut off the water, relieve the pressure to the drinking water faucet, and replace the diverter with your new filter.

The filter and the diverter attach to the filter housing the same way - something like a quarter turn in a bayonet mount.

Michelle
Title: Re: Winterizing - Flushing drinking water
Post by: Rudy on November 18, 2010, 07:03:47 pm
Quote
What is the best technique to get the anti-freeze to the icemaker water line?  Also, is it necessary to get the anti-freeze to the water line to the toilet?  if so, will repeat flushes of the toilet get the antifreeze through that line as well?
Fiddler,

With the outside water pump suppling RV antifreeze to the fresh water inlet, just open the drinking water fountain at the sink.  That will put antifreeze up to the "T" to the ice maker.  I believe I would disconnect the ice maker line at the "T" under the sink and blow that one line clear of water.  Have a plan to cap the "T" to prevent leaking under the sink and be sure the water pressure is relieved before disconnecting the line.

As I have thought about this while writing, I think I would kill the water pressure, remove the ice maker line and cap the "T".  Then blow the ice maker line out.  Once that is done, I would began to load all other lines with antifreeze.

All water lines subject to freezing need to be protected.  That would include the toilet.  Just flush till pink antifreeze enters the toilet.
Title: Re: Winterizing - Flushing drinking water
Post by: nitehawk on November 19, 2010, 09:12:19 am
Thanks Michelle,

I will go look later. Right now I have to replace a leaking upper radiator hose on our Ford Explorer Sport track.
The old filter said ADC on the label and had two O-rings--different sizes.
Title: Re: Winterizing - Flushing drinking water
Post by: nitehawk on November 20, 2010, 11:27:56 pm
Michelle,

I finally checked out the water filter system. You are correct. The plug/diverter is in place. There also is a lever on the housing to shut off the water so The plug/diverter can be exchanged for the filter.
Title: Re: Winterizing - Flushing drinking water
Post by: Michelle on November 20, 2010, 11:46:41 pm
Cool beans!  That diverter makes it a lot easier to winterize when you have the undercounter filter.

Just don't ever forget to turn the water off (pump or shore hose) and relieve the pressure before swapping it for the filter.  And don't leave it out by accident and turn the water on before installing the new filter.  (Don't ask me how I know this  :-X )

Michelle