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Old 11-26-2016, 12:56 PM   #1
Dam Worker
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Winterizing your Montana

Just a quick reminder to any owners that have a washer/dryer option on their unit. Remember to winterize the water supply lines to the washing machine even if you don't have one installed. After I got back from Arizona for Thanksgiving I got around to checking the washer supply lines. I had already winterized most of the water system. As suspected they were full of water and not antifreeze. I assume that the dealership purged them out during one of the units many visits. I also ran antifreeze through the black tank flush system and the fresh water tank fill system.
Closed everything else up and shut off the 12 v electrical system, unplugged the AC and consider it ready for what ever Mother Nature throws at it. Oh yeah I also called Dish Network and shut off the two receivers until next spring.

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Old 11-26-2016, 12:59 PM   #2
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Outside shower?
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Old 11-26-2016, 01:14 PM   #3
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If you do have a washer, be sure to at least start a cycle so the pink stuff gets into the pump and pump housing.
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Old 11-26-2016, 03:24 PM   #4
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I run my washer on cold until I see pink in the tub, then drain it. Then repeat on hot. That gets pink stuff in all the lines plus the drain.
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Old 11-27-2016, 10:08 AM   #5
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Bill I had already done the outside shower although I never got any thing from the hot water side. Not sure how they have it pumbed as I could turn it and no fluid or action from the pump.

Our unit does not have a washer although it is plumbed for it. I was trying to remind others without the W and D to remembering winterize the extra two water lines and the drain line.

Thanks.

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Old 11-27-2016, 10:31 AM   #6
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Periodic reminders of all the little details are good. Easy to forget something even doing it year after year. More than once I have had to go back a few days later and do something I forgot.

I do get pink stuff thru the hot water side of the outside shower.
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Old 11-27-2016, 01:02 PM   #7
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I have reliable power, so I put two trouble lights each with a 60 watt bulb in the tub, don't use pink stuff.
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Old 11-28-2016, 03:40 AM   #8
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We in CA. Have our problem, but this isn't one for most of us.
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Old 11-28-2016, 04:39 AM   #9
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TLightning,

Two 60 watt bulbs will use more electricity than you might be aware of. That's 120 watts, 24 hours a day, 30 days a month. If your electricity is 15 cents/kwh; that comes to: .12kw x 24hours x 30days x $.15 = $12.96/month. If you have the bulbs on a thermostat so they come on and go off as needed, it could be much less. At ~ $3.50/ gal, RV antifreeze would be less expensive, but it is a little more of a hassle than the light bulbs.

How do you winterizing the rest of your 5er? Blow out with air, antifreeze, electric heater, run propane furnace, or ......?

Sometimes those hidden electric costs sneak up on us when we have things turned on for extended periods of time. I know we spend "plenty" keeping the Christmas lights lit. But that does make DW happy, and you know what they say about that!
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Old 11-28-2016, 04:45 AM   #10
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[quote]Originally posted by Dam Worker

Just a quick reminder to any owners that have a washer/dryer option on their unit. Remember to winterize the water supply lines to the washing machine even if you don't have one installed.

Thanks for the reminder. I don't have a washer/dryer but the RV is plumbed for it. Winterizing tomorrow and would have forgotten all about those lines.
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Old 11-28-2016, 06:35 AM   #11
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Starmaster

TLightning,

Two 60 watt bulbs will use more electricity than you might be aware of. That's 120 watts, 24 hours a day, 30 days a month. If your electricity is 15 cents/kwh; that comes to: .12kw x 24hours x 30days x $.15 = $12.96/month. If you have the bulbs on a thermostat so they come on and go off as needed, it could be much less. At ~ $3.50/ gal, RV antifreeze would be less expensive, but it is a little more of a hassle than the light bulbs.

How do you winterizing the rest of your 5er? Blow out with air, antifreeze, electric heater, run propane furnace, or ......?

Sometimes those hidden electric costs sneak up on us when we have things turned on for extended periods of time. I know we spend "plenty" keeping the Christmas lights lit. But that does make DW happy, and you know what they say about that!
I put two light bulbs where ever I need protection against freezing. They are only on when freezing temps are forecast. I appreciate your concern over the costs, but power comes free with my parking space.
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Old 11-28-2016, 07:16 AM   #12
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Well, one more thing on winterizing! You said run antifreeze thru the fresh water fill for the fresh water tank. Darn, have never done that. Owned a 2011 3400 for five years with fresh water fill valve and never did that. Never a problem with low around 5 one winter. Yes, used the valve to fill fresh tank several times thru the years. Now you have me worried about the new camper! Everyone do this? My winterization check list is getting long.
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Old 11-28-2016, 07:47 AM   #13
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I have never run pink into the fresh water tank through the fresh water fill, I just remove the fresh water drain cap and leave the cap off during the winter. Around ten years and three rigs and sub zero temps and have never had a problem, maybe just luck?
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Old 11-28-2016, 08:03 AM   #14
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Tom,

RE: Free electricity at your storage site

That's a good deal! Free is hard to beat

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Old 11-28-2016, 10:55 AM   #15
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quote:Originally posted by Starmaster

Tom,

RE: Free electricity at your storage site

That's a good deal! Free is hard to beat

Dave
True. We don't abuse it. As I said earlier, I only turn the lights on when the forecast is below freezing...then turn them off when the temps go back up. Don't want to ruin a good thing!
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Old 11-28-2016, 12:25 PM   #16
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Dam Worker

Bill I had already done the outside shower although I never got any thing from the hot water side. Not sure how they have it pumbed as I could turn it and no fluid or action from the pump.

Our unit does not have a washer although it is plumbed for it. I was trying to remind others without the W and D to remembering winterize the extra two water lines and the drain line.

Thanks.

Tom Marty

Thanks. The unit's never had a washer and it didn't dawn on me to winterize the washer lines.
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Old 11-28-2016, 02:13 PM   #17
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Bingo I have not had the panel off to check out how Keystone plumbed the inlet lines. My worry is that with the extra valve in this line (tank fill) or city water bypassing the tank I might have trapped water in the lines. Obviously on all my other units I had the gravity fill for the freshwater tank so there was no issues.
It is interesting that when dry camping I can use the winterizing inlet and with the units water pump I can pump out of a drum, bucket etc. and then hook up my blue curly hose to the outside faucet which I then hook up to the regular water inlet line and select fill tank. Not super handy but very doable. I had read about this some where and now understand how it works. #128512;#128526;#128077;


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Old 01-03-2018, 05:41 AM   #18
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... I knew I’d forget something. Oh well, see what happens when I hook water up.
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Old 10-22-2018, 08:44 AM   #19
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Thank you so much for the info. I thought I was done with the water system but totally forgot the black tank Flush and holding tank supply line..

This is going to be the first time winterizing my 2017 3810MS Legacy. I'm a little concerned with the electrical system though since the entire thing is controlled by a computer. I turned off the battery disconnect and an alarm started sounding out of the self leveling control box area above the battery. Not sure if this is normal or of it holds a residual charge or what. I can not find anything in the owners Manuel regarding turning off, powering down the electrical components. Any guidance would be appreciated. Also, I was going to put a trickle charger on the battery for 12v 2amp and was thinking I could walk away. Should I completely remove the battery or leave a trickle on it?
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