Winterizing using air compressor
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Topic: Winterizing using air compressor
Posted By: vbdomenico
Subject: Winterizing using air compressor
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2020 at 4:34pm
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I bought a small air compressor for winterization as I plan on periodically using the water in my pod this winter when the weather permits. Is it necessary to bypass the hot water heater when blowing out the water lines? I have a 190 and the access to the pump and tank are not that easy. I assume I can just force air (at 30psi) through both the hot and cold lines without bypassing, but maybe I am missing something. Thanks.
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Replies:
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2020 at 4:47pm
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My feeling would be that you could do it that way safely if you first drain all the lines by opening the faucets and the low point drains and the water heater by pulling the anode. Otherwise you are likely to just get air bubbling through the water in the water heater tank. As I haven't tried that myself I'm not sure and others might have a different opinion. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2020 at 4:53pm
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I have used air for 5 years, I never bypass my water heater, I do however, drain and clean. The only reason to bypass water heater is if injecting anti freeze, you don't want to fill water heater with 6 gals of anti freeze. The lines will blow fine with air. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: vbdomenico
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2020 at 4:56pm
| I have already drained everything, including pulling the anode and opening all low points drains and opening all faucets. I have read instructions advising of using the bypass valve when using air for winterization, but I could not figure out why. I would rather not. |
Posted By: vbdomenico
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2020 at 4:56pm
| Thanks Mcarter |
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2020 at 10:29am
| Don't forget to open the "emergency" pressure relief valve to make sure the HWH tank is empty and not pressurized before taking the anode out. The anode plus socket wrench will travel about 20 ft very rapidly and necessitate a trip to the house to change into dry clothing. |
Posted By: vbdomenico
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2020 at 10:39am
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So here is what I did; I opened up both low point drains and the fresh water tank, depressurized the HW tank and removed the anode, after all of the water was drained I hooked up air compressor to blow out plug at 30psi, then opened each valve one at a time until only air came out. I then did one thing that many of the directions I read online didn't mention - I turned on the water pump while the air was still hooked up. I was surprised to see how much additional water came out, it appeared to be at least a half gallon. Is this the water sitting in the pump and the line to the fresh water tank? I assumed most of this water drained out when the system was depressurized.
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2020 at 11:50am
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There can be water in FW line and pump, best to run it dry. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Pod_Geek
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2020 at 12:00pm
Same here. After blowing out all the lines (don't forget the outdoor shower if applicable!) I do remove the little plastic plug that I replace the anode rod with. A bit more water typically drains out. I replace it and open the low-point drains one more time. I then pour pink stuff into all drains and this time I also poured a gallon into the black tank via the commode. I think that last part is optional. ------------- 2020.5 R-Pod 195 Hood River 2018 RAM 2500 6.4L |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2020 at 4:37pm
That is very interesting as I have used air on our 177 for the 9th year. Have never thought of turning the water pump on, yet have never suffered a leak or break the following year. For a few years I never even checked the strainer bowl, then did for about 3 years and would observe 1 or 2 drops inside the bowl. Have never checked the bowl since. Seems to work here in northern Michigan where real cold winters happen.
------------- 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." |
Posted By: vbdomenico
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2020 at 4:43pm
| What do you mean by the "strainer bowl"? Is this part of the pump? |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2020 at 4:53pm
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Jato, +1, I have not found a lot of water in the pump either, the system is open, drained and pressurized with air. I drain my FW tank every year and the water heater is drained. I suppose water can be in the line from pump to tank, but not found that to be the case. Air pressure has been fine for me for 5 years. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: vbdomenico
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2020 at 5:25pm
| As the amount of water that blew out after I turned on the pump was fairly high, I am starting to think that maybe there was still some water in the fresh water tank even though the drain was open. The pod was fairly level but not perfectly level. |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2020 at 5:49pm
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To be honest I have had that happen. Normally the pump won't pick it up but it could. I noticed the other day, moving my Pod with drain open, water was still in tank. End of the day we have to know our own circumstances and there might not be a standard answer. Got to know your own stuff. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2020 at 6:14pm
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The problems with the tank include: Drain off center making not the lowest part of the tank due to the sagging of the tank from the weight of the water. Pick up for the pump also not at the lowest part of the tank. It pulls air long before the tank is empty. I have found that it helps to either: Park the RPod so that the drain is lower than the other side of the tank. Use a board and jack to push up on the bottom of the tank so that more of the water can reach the drain. Anyway, there may be other creative solutions out there. How does everyone else get more of the water out of the tank? And no, saying that you never fill the tank is not a valid answer.  ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2020 at 6:34pm
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A little water in the bottom of the tank will freeze but not be a problem. I just leave the tank drain open and look to see that the level is below the bottom of the pump suction line and if it is I call it good. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2020 at 5:11am
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We all know that by simply draining the FW tank there is probably a gallon or three that don't make it out the exit hole. What I have done beside the good ideas listed above is to take the pod for a ride around town with the drain hole left open. Stopping, left and right hand turns, ect help immensely in ridding the residual water that likes to remain. Fortunately there are some pretty good hills on our 20 acres so the best thing that works here is to park the pod on a hill with the drain on the low side. This takes care of nearly all the water. ------------- 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." |
Posted By: poston
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2020 at 7:24am
A little water left in the tank isn't an issue. The problem with water freezing is that it expands. Freezing water in the tank has plenty of room to expand. Freezing water in the toilet valve or faucets has no room to expand, so it breaks things to make room. ------------- -- Jim Virginia City, Nevada 2016 R-pod 180 2015 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X |