Dewinterizing - how to flush the system?

SnapDog

Okay, big time newbie questions… we have a 2017 Outback and it's still winterized from the dealer

I’ve been looking at the valve positions for winter vs. camping mode and they make sense, but I’m not sure of the steps for flushing the system to get to camping mode.

To flush the system, do I simply add water to the holding tank via the city water connection, then open the hot and cold drain valves from inside the Tab? Does it drain into the grey water holding tank? Or is there something I need to do under the Tab? And what do I do with the bypass valve during the flushing process? Does it stay open until I flush the system, then close it?

I have to admit I don’t understand the bypass. If closed (camping mode) what is actually going on? Does closed mean it is allowing water into the Alde system? Just seems counterintuitive to me. 

Nomad

Haven't winterized/dewinterized for a couple years so am rusty and the valve setup on my 2015 is a little different so I'll let others get into that part but for clarification...
Question: How was yours winterized - blow-out method so the system is dry or was antifreeze pumped into the lines?
Note: The city water connection is not connected to the fresh water tank or the lines to the water pump. You sterilize that thru the fresh water fill port above the city water connector.

jkjenn

Nomad said:

Haven't winterized/dewinterized for a couple years so am rusty and the valve setup on my 2015 is a little different so I'll let others get into that part but for clarification...
Question: How was yours winterized - blow-out method so the system is dry or was antifreeze pumped into the lines?
Note: The city water connection is not connected to the fresh water tank or the lines to the water pump. You sterilize that thru the fresh water fill port above the city water connector.

If you bought it and it was already winterized, check with your dealer to see what they did. Ordinarily, they just dump some RV antifreeze down the drains, I believe. I have not heard of them adding it to the fresh or city water plumbing, so you would just need to run some water in the sink, shower, and flush the toilet and it will all go to the grey and black tanks and empty when dump, the next time. But, definitely check with them.

SnapDog

There are drops of pink in the sink, so I guess with antifreeze, and whatever is in the small hose, top right, looks green to me. 

I think you are right, I should probably rely on the dealer to do it. I was trying to save a trip but I don't think I know enough this first time around. 

Nomad

Have you searched the forum for "dewinterizing" or just "dewinterize"? You should be able to do it, not real hard.

Verna

http://3bxr2l10vxst48va8f7epfcd.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/03/2017-T@B-MANUAL.pdf#page55

The new-to-come T@B forum has a "Library" section that has the above excerpt from the T@B manual for winterization. 

Sharon_is_SAM

Snapdog- I think the green liquid in the clear tube may be the overflow from the glycol in the Alde.  Verna?

Verna

SAM said:

Snapdog- I think the green liquid in the clear tube may be the overflow from the glycol in the Alde.  Verna?

Yes, the clear tube, if you trace it, should go to the Alde reservoir, and it is the overflow tube. 

hymie

Verna said:

http://3bxr2l10vxst48va8f7epfcd.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/03/2017-T@B-MANUAL.pdf#page55

The new-to-come T@B forum has a "Library" section that has the above excerpt from the T@B manual for winterization. 

Tease! Looking forward to seeing it "live".

gbell

Thanks Verna and NuCamp too! just went to the site to get new and so much better manual with so much better helps. NuCamp has really done a great thing with this.  This will really help with the whole T@B this year.  We'll be de-winterizing soon too and this is going to help.

ScottG

@SnapDog, you are correct about the bypass--in "camping mode" you close the bypass and open the lines serving the Alde. This allows fresh water to flow into the Alde tank to be heated and distributed to the HW taps.

It appears from your photo that the Alde is bypassed (i.e., in "winterizing" mode). This implies (but doesn't prove) that your T@B may have been filled with antifreeze. Expanding on jkjenn's suggestions, here's what I suggest if you want to tackle this yourself and avoid a trip back to the dealer:

1) Open the sink and shower taps, then open the CW, HW, and FW tank drains. If there's antifreeze in the system, most of it will drain out. Close the taps and valves when nothing more comes out.

2) Fill and drain the FW tank a couple times. Fill it again, turn on the pump, give it time to prime, and run a few gallons down the sink. This will ensure the tank and the pump lines are rinsed. (Note that this step may be superfluous--these may not have had antifreeze in them to begin with.)

3) Hook up city water and run fresh water through all the taps (don't forget the toilet).

4) Close the Alde bypass valve and open the valves on the lines running to and from the Alde. Open the HW tap at the sink and let it run until the Alde fills and all the air is pushed out the tap.

This may be overkill, but it will ensure that all the lines are rinsed and filled with fresh water. The new manual, while much better than the old, does not address dewinterizing other than brief instructions on how to sanitize the water system. That's also important, but I consider it a separate process.

ericnliz

Verna, Glad to see a "library" section being incorporated for the new forum. I think it will not only give folks a good place to go for information, but will answer questions for them as well. Will all the sections be printable for use while traveling? I know I've printed quite a few items from here, and put in a folder inside the T@B for reference while on the road, and camping as there are quite a few places we go where there is no phone/internet service.

Verna

Eric.....I'll find out when they tell me. 

SnapDog

Thanks everyone for all your help and ScottG - thanks for the detail - I'll give it a try over the weekend. 

db_cooper

I would add that as long as you just blow out the lines, instead of filling with antifreeze, you can leave your Alde in "camping" more year round.  Then you only need to bypass the Alde if using bleach to sanitize the water lines.  Much preferred method if you don't live in a particularly cold environment.

Homebodyatheart

db_cooper, we live in snow country and many here use the blow out method, only putting antifreeze in the sink and shower drain p-traps, and some in the black and gray tanks so the fittings don't freeze. That said, all the dealers here as far as I can tell fill all the lines with antifreeze, and our T@B has a small plastic bag rubber banded to the sink faucet head to catch the pink drips. Also when we do the walk through they will show us how to de-winterize it and then how to winterize it before we leave the lot.

ericnliz

Thanks Verna! Homebodyatheart, Becky, it snows here? Just kidding, I used the blow-out method, and will see how it worked here shortly. I'll let you know. This winter will be a great test especially with how cold it got!

kenclunk

We're dewinterizeing for the first time today, and it's unclear if we also need to sanitize the lines after we rinse them out? 

Is sanitizing something to do ever year when you dewinterize? Even if it's a brand new unit? 

ScottG

kenclunk said:

We're dewinterizeing for the first time today, and it's unclear if we also need to sanitize the lines after we rinse them out? 

Is sanitizing something to do ever year when you dewinterize? Even if it's a brand new unit? 

I would. Especially if it's a brand new unit!

Nomad

I sanitized mine when I first got it from the factory, before I filled for use.

LauraRey

How long should it take for the Alde to fill and the air to be pushed out?

ScottG

However long it takes to run 2-3 gallons through it--no more than a minute or so. If you open the hot water tap at the sink, just wait until the water runs without any sputtering.

LauraRey

ScottG said:

However long it takes to run 2-3 gallons through it--no more than a minute or so. If you open the hot water tap at the sink, just wait until the water runs without any sputtering.

Thanks.  I had a bit of a vacuum or something in the system.  However, I got it worked out and now have hot water.

marilyncp

I found the ALDE manual on-line but didn't see it in our library... so here it is. 
I personally like my manuals digitally so I can easily search and I keep them on my phone for easy access later.

@Verna you might want to put it in the library... I couldn't see if I was allowed to,

Capt_KLR

I don't know if this has been brought up to you.

Just looking at your photo Snapdog and it looks like your safety/drain valve has been removed. That white coupler in the line to your Alde is where the valve is suppose to be.

Verna

@marilyncp, thanks, but the Alde 3010 Operating Manual is in the User Manual/PDF/etc. Category.

marilyncp

Verna said:

@marilyncp, thanks, but the Alde 3010 Operating Manual is in the User Manual/PDF/etc. Category.

You're most welcome @Verna !

peterac50

Ok. My new 2018 T@B was winterized at the factory before it was sent to Vermont. They used rv anti-freeze; used the by-pass valve so the Alde hot water tank was not effected. That still leaves the basic question of how to flush the system with bleach as per the instructions in the the T@B manual. No one has yet in this thread, nor the manual I might add explained how to do that. Can anyone help?

Sharon_is_SAM

This works well at a full hook up camp site where you can open up your gray tank valve or at home where you can empty your uncontaminated gray tank. 

The factory usually only blows out the lines and adds antifreeze to the P-traps and the toilet so you would only need to sanitize.  But, if they turned the Alde By Pass Valve, it is possible that someone may have added antifreeze to the fresh water tank.  If you think there may be antifreeze in your fresh water tank and throughout your plumbing system,  fill your fresh water tank, then turn on the pump, open faucets and shower.  Repeat until clear.  

After the antifreeze is flushed out you need to sanitize your fresh water tank and plumbing.  Put 1/4 cup - 1/2 cup of bleach in a gallon of water and add it to your fresh water tank.  Then fill the remainder of the fresh water tank.  Let it sit about an hour then turn on your pump, open your faucets and shower and let it drain.  Refill and drain your fresh water tank until there is no more bleach odor.  When the bleach is gone, then you can turn your Alde By Pass valve to let water fill the Alde hot water tank.

ScottG

I suggest you turn on the pump and open the taps for a bit immediately after filing the fresh water tank with the bleach solution. Let 'em run until you smell bleach coming out of the fixture You want to make sure the bleach is in all the lines when you let it sit for that hour.

After filling the lines you can top up your fresh water tank again if you want.