Water pump for newbies |
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dogsintow
Newbie Joined: 30 Sep 2015 Location: Pacific NW Online Status: Offline Posts: 31 |
Topic: Water pump for newbies Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 8:30pm |
I have some newbie questions regarding the water pump.
I am taking my 177 out in 2 weeks for really the first time with hookups. The one and only time I took it out, I only had electric and used bottled water. I had it winterized after that trip and the shop told me to just run the water for 5 minutes or so to run all the antifreeze out. When I purchased the RPod I didn't get a lot of info-- and now I need to know how the water pump works.
And is RV antifreeze dangerous while I'm on the topic? What if there is leftovers that isn't completely flushed out through the pipes? Thanks so much!!!! |
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2011 R-Pod 177 aka The Pawd Pad
2002 Chevy Tahoe 2 happy dogs |
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jstrenn
Groupie Joined: 14 May 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 71 |
Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 9:01pm |
If you have external water supply (city water), you do not need water in your fresh water tank, and you do not need the water pump on. The pressure from the external water supply provides all the pressure to the taps and toilet.
If you are dry camping (no external water) you would fill the fresh water tank prior to camping and then you would use the water pump. The water pump provides pressure to the taps and toilet. As far as the anti freeze, just flush it out so the water is no longer pink. The anti freeze contains alcohol which is safe once it is rinsed out of your plumbing.
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dogsintow
Newbie Joined: 30 Sep 2015 Location: Pacific NW Online Status: Offline Posts: 31 |
Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 9:50pm |
Awesome. thanks!
Do you keep the water pump on the entire time you're camping, or just turn it on when you are about to run a tap or use the bathroom? I assume it draws from battery power when dry camping.
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2011 R-Pod 177 aka The Pawd Pad
2002 Chevy Tahoe 2 happy dogs |
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Tars Tarkas
Senior Member Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Location: Near Nashville Online Status: Offline Posts: 1447 |
Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 10:43pm |
I turn the water pump off when I'm out for the day and maybe at night, if I think about it. It's safe to leave it on -- it only comes on as needed (when there is a drop in line pressure due to a valve being opened, or the toilet being flushed. As soon as the pressure comes back up, the pump turns off. It can be a good idea to leave the pump switch on when you are in the pod. If you hear the pump come on when you are not using any water it probably indicates a leak some where, or at least a dripping faucent.
TT |
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2010 176
FJ Cruiser |
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jato
Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3257 |
Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 10:56pm |
Guess I am very fussy about the water I drink, but after the first year of owning our 2011 177 and winterizing with the RV antifreeze, it took me 3 attempts using different concoctions to rid the tank of that smell and have water that was enjoyable to taste.
Ever since then I have hooked up my compressor for about 30 seconds to blow out the water lines. No more RV antifreeze, except for the 2 sinks and 1 shower trap (about 1 pint) and now I can enjoy my sweet tasting well water to my hearts content w/o any foul smell or taste. |
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God's pod
'11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
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dogsintow
Newbie Joined: 30 Sep 2015 Location: Pacific NW Online Status: Offline Posts: 31 |
Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 11:04pm |
I'm picky too Jato! Especially since I have dogs, I don't really wanting them drinking water with RV antifreeze particles in it, even just a little. I mainly travel in my Rpod to dog shows, so I have a little self-policy that I and the dogs only drink bottled water, even if it's a pain in the butt to get and tote around. My trips are generally 1-3 nights on weekends, so a gallon of bottled water will go a long way, especially since we're at the dog show during the day and only using the water in the camper in the evening and nights. I will use the external water (or tank) for showers and dishes and stuff. I just got my Rpod in September and it has only gone on one trip (pre-winterized), so once I have a few more trips under my belt, I'll see if I have to make any more modifications.
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2011 R-Pod 177 aka The Pawd Pad
2002 Chevy Tahoe 2 happy dogs |
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jato
Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3257 |
Posted: 22 Feb 2016 at 2:41am |
The only time I ever used RV antifreeze on our pod was October 2011. The following spring I used bleach overnight in the tank but still had the taste/smell of antifreeze. After that I used a mixture of white vinegar and lemon lime concentrate then filled the tank up, let sit for 24 hours and drain. After that the tank was clean, no more smell or funny after taste.
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God's pod
'11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6327 |
Posted: 22 Feb 2016 at 9:11am |
Would you expand upon this please? For example, how much white vinegar and lemon lime concentrate? Where do you get lemon lime concentrate? Thanks. |
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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jato
Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3257 |
Posted: 22 Feb 2016 at 4:26pm |
My first mistake was to use a 2% bleach solution which only compounded my problem. After that fiasco I used 1 gallon of white vinegar and 1 quart of real-lemon concentrate then filled my tank and let it sit overnight then the next day ran the entire 30 gallons through the hot/cold lines on both sinks. Fortunately I didn't run RV or bleach through the hot water heater, already had closed the bypass. Even after this I could still get a hint of both antifreeze and bleach so I repeated the process a second time with the white vinegar and lemon concentrate except this time I only added 5 gallons of water to the tank. Let it sit overnight and ran the water lines for about a couple minutes and let it sit another day. The next day everything was run through the hot/cold lines until the tank was empty. FINALLY, the taste and smell were gone. Have used air to purge the lines ever since w/o any leak issues. A friend of ours had a similar problem with their RV having used antifreeze so in their case we just put in 1 gallon of white vinegar and 1 quart of lemon concentrate and added 5 gallons of water to the tank. Let sit overnight and ran the lines for a minute and then shut the valves and let the mix sit in the lines for another day. Ran the remaining mix through the lines and the problem was resolved.
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God's pod
'11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6327 |
Posted: 22 Feb 2016 at 6:48pm |
Thanks. I'll probably be doing this as soon as we get our R-Pod back from the dealer. I don't think we will get any more hard freezes that would put the water lines at risk, and I want to get the antifreeze flushed out as quickly as possible. I'll remember next time I winterize to just do the air purge and save the antifreeze for the traps.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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