Winterizing: Sequence Matters!

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   Folks, I was winterizing Our-Pod today and was blowing out the water lines.  Heard gurgling in the water heater, so I unscrewed the anode.  I was promptly covered in water and bits of corroded anode.  Imagine a fairly normal looking guy sopping wet with white bits adhered everywhere! 

Lesson learned:  isolate the water heater before blowing out water lines with air.  Not only can you avoid my wardrobe malfunction, but you can avoid over-pressurizing a water heater and splitting its seams.  I didn't do that because I am conservative in the application of pressurized air, but it could have happened.

My darling wife managed not to laugh out loud when I appeared in my newly acquired layers.  She's had quite a bit of practice not laughing at me.  She did say "bless your heart"  (see footnote).

Doug, might want to make some sequence recommendations in the online manual, thanks.

Happy Winterizing, Jim

Footnote:  Southern translation at http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Bless+your+heart.

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Q7-retired Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Dec 2014 Location: Pittsboro, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 100	Topic: Winterizing: Sequence Matters! Posted: 16 Oct 2015 at 7:00pm
	Folks, I was winterizing Our-Pod today and was blowing out the water lines. Heard gurgling in the water heater, so I unscrewed the anode. I was promptly covered in water and bits of corroded anode. Imagine a fairly normal looking guy sopping wet with white bits adhered everywhere! Lesson learned: isolate the water heater before blowing out water lines with air. Not only can you avoid my wardrobe malfunction, but you can avoid over-pressurizing a water heater and splitting its seams. I didn't do that because I am conservative in the application of pressurized air, but it could have happened. My darling wife managed not to laugh out loud when I appeared in my newly acquired layers. She's had quite a bit of practice not laughing at me. She did say "bless your heart" (see footnote). Doug, might want to make some sequence recommendations in the online manual, thanks. Happy Winterizing, Jim Footnote: Southern translation at http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Bless+your+heart.
	Best regards, Jim 2015-RP178 TV 2015 Audi Q7 TDI and 2017 Ford F150 At home in "Our Pod"

Keith-N-Dar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 03 Apr 2011 Location: Mayville, WI Online Status: Offline Posts: 1447	Posted: 16 Oct 2015 at 8:25pm
	The first two years I winterized I also got the facefull. You don't even have to use air. It was pressurized from our last use. Today when I did it I opened the valves first, removed the anode and took the plug out of the bottom of the water tank. ,Then did the rest. Dry face.
	Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062	Posted: 16 Oct 2015 at 9:17pm
	Not sure why the list needs to be adjusted. Here are steps 2-5: 2) Open both low-point drains underneath the camper. 3) Once both low-point drains are sputtering, remove the blow-out plug. 4) Outside, remove the plug on the hot water heater to check the anode rod and replace if necessary 5) Re-insert the plug and close both low-point drains. Step 3 removes the air pressure in the system, and the system remains open until step 5.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062	Posted: 19 Oct 2015 at 11:09am
	After further discussion with Q7, the winterization checklist has been revised. A few steps have been reversed to ensure the WH doesn't have pressure in it when you remove the anode rod. Thanks Q7! Also it now mentions that some models didn't come with the short antifreeze pickup hose, and some require you to remove the water intake line. That wasn't true when the list was originally created. I made a few other minor revisions, too. Please check it out and let me know if it needs further changes.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

Q7-retired Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Dec 2014 Location: Pittsboro, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 100	Posted: 19 Oct 2015 at 11:14am
	Doug, thanks for the excellent update! Best, Jim
	Best regards, Jim 2015-RP178 TV 2015 Audi Q7 TDI and 2017 Ford F150 At home in "Our Pod"

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062	Posted: 20 Oct 2015 at 9:48am
	Plantguy, since you started a new thread with your question I removed the 2 posts from this thread.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual