Draining for Teens This Week

[masterdrago]

So, I got what I think is all the water out of the pipes but not sure about the pump and pressure tank. And boy that anode is 1 1/16th inch. Why not 1"? I opened the P/R valve and put the discharge of the shop vac on it and pushed water backwards through the cold low point drain. Took a long time! Need to order a 1 1/16th socket. There are two tubes under unit. One blue, one white. Nothing came out of the blue one. Long drain from the white one south of rear axle. Would it be the fresh water tank? See pix.

[rohrmann]

Yes, that appears to be the fresh tank drain. Ours has a valve in the hose but looks the same. I have a socket for the anode. It sure makes the job easier.

[masterdrago]

Thanks. Just ordered a spare anode and a 1/2" drive socket for that critter from AMZN. Finding all sorts of new tools needed on this Montana bear. Thought I would never get the water out of the WH pushing is backwards to the low point drain. Is there a way to make sure that the pump and pressure tank do not have water remaining? I know it's not advisable to run the el-cheapo pump dry.

[dieselguy]

If your pressure tank is installed right (fitting on bottom) it is self draining assuming it is still charged. Although I blow my lines out, I hook up a jug of pink stuff to the winterize port and pump out about a quart to protect the pump. I know you've already ordered a socket and I don't know where you're at, but it could have been had at about any Ace Hardware, Lowes, Home Depot, Sears, Atwoods, Menards, auto supply store, Orschlens, or Tractor Supply. It's not an uncommon size.

[masterdrago]

Thanks. I'll pull the partition in the basement tomorrow to see how it's laid out. Feels like it's all out of the p tank and may run the pump a few seconds to see what might linger. Everything is open and nothing else will come out using wet vac.

I have a slew of 1/2" drive sockets and all sets only go to 1" size. Paid $5 and change for the 1 1/16th on Prime. Anode was $13ish. 20 mile x2 drive to big box store.

[boat391]

I might only add one thing that has happened to me when in freezing cold the valve on my toilet froze and broke so when I turned everything back on I had a big water leak in the bathroom. Not a ton of fun but a easy valve to replace once I located the right one for my model toilet. So my fix from that point was to turn off and drain all water like you then go into the potty and flush it several time to clear the valve then I propped the valve open so if it still had water in it it could expand without taking out my valve. It worked for me for several years when I would leave the 5’er up in the cold country I did this for at least 5 years this way. Good luck and happy camping.

[masterdrago]

Well, found water still in the pump. That should be the low point drain. It's not. Disconnected and got about 1 qt. from the lines and maybe 2 oz from the pump. Not sure about the tank. Cannot find it. Anyone know what the white line is to right of center? Looks like a water hose going off into the wild blue yonder.

[Lenny K]

Probably your line from the fresh water tank but it's hard to tell from the picture.

[BuilderBob]

Is that the black tank flush line?

[WeBeFulltime]

The white PEX line with the 90 deg in it is the black tank flush line. Goes up under the bathroom vanity and then to the black tank.

There is not a pressure tank unless one was added after it left the factory.

[masterdrago]

Originally Posted by WeBeFulltime

The white PEX line with the 90 deg in it is the black tank flush line. Goes up under the bathroom vanity and then to the black tank.

There is not a pressure tank unless one was added after it left the factory.

Nothing added that I know of. The reason I thought there was a pressure tank is that I added about 1/3 tank of fresh water b4 our first trip on Nov. 11. During the trip, we made a couple of roadside pitstops and in order to flush and run some water, I had to turn on the pump. It ran a while (couple minutes?) then shut off. After that, we had water at kitchen and bathroom without anymore pump running. Maybe it became a "super quiet pump"? I'll pay more attention after we hook up in the future.

And yes, that white line with the 90deg turn is coming from the bottom tank flush valve (see image). I have no idea how to use it. "Do not use unless the fullway termination valve is in the open position". Fullway termination valve???

[masterdrago]

Thank all of you folks on this forum. What an awful mess this plumbing and electrical mayhem is. The documentation is only of little help. I knew b4 going into this that it would be this way and I spent many, many hours perusing the RV forums. In fact, my sweet Wife Joy says I'm obsessed 8)

[masterdrago]

Lenny, here is another angle on that mystery white water line. Cropped from another thread.

[RoadRunnerTR21]

Originally Posted by masterdrago

And yes, that white line with the 90deg turn is coming from the bottom tank flush valve (see image). I have no idea how to use it. "Do not use unless the fullway termination valve is in the open position". Fullway termination valve???

When I have used the black tank flush system on my SOB I first pulled the black tank valve and drained the black tank. Once drained and with the black tank valve still open I hooked up a hose to this connection and ran fresh water for a few minutes. It basically sprays ("cleans") the inside of the black tank. When this process is finished and the black tank finishes draining I close the blank tank valve and pull the grey tank valves and dump those tanks.

Also note that I carry 2 hoses. One for fresh water supply and the other is specifically for the above described process. Don't get confused on which hose is which.

Why they are calling it a "Fullway termination valve" is beyond me.

[dlscott185]

Originally Posted by masterdrago

Nothing added that I know of. The reason I thought there was a pressure tank is that I added about 1/3 tank of fresh water b4 our first trip on Nov. 11. During the trip, we made a couple of roadside pitstops and in order to flush and run some water, I had to turn on the pump. It ran a while (couple minutes?) then shut off. After that, we had water at kitchen and bathroom without anymore pump running. Maybe it became a "super quiet pump"? I'll pay more attention after we hook up in the future.

And yes, that white line with the 90deg turn is coming from the bottom tank flush valve (see image). I have no idea how to use it. "Do not use unless the fullway termination valve is in the open position". Fullway termination valve???

Yes, the fullway termination valve is the black tank drain handle/valve.

Also, the water heater will act as a pressure tank while it has it's air bubble at the top. The water heater manufacturers recommend keeping it in there, and replenishing it if you start to get dribbles from the TPR valve on the water heater.

[MARK A]

Nothing/very little will come out the blue low point drain until you open a faucet. I open ALL the faucets hot and cold including the washer valves in the closet.