I've been tempted to weigh in on this topic a few times this week. Finally I couldn't resist. Winterizing is a PITA, but not a big one. We live near Seattle and don't get many hard freezes. But, with climate change or bad luck, it can get cold enough to break things.
The usual AquaHot fix for freeze damage is replacing it for about $8000. On top of that, there is a lot of plumbing in hard to reach places were fixing a fitting is hard. The plastic "pipe" used in RVs rarely cracks from a freeze. It is the fittings that fail.
Using the electric element to protect against freezing is not reliable. It can burn out and mine did -- a couple days before a freeze. And, the power can go out, especially in ice storms.
Blowing water out works for many RVs, but not AquaHot equipped RVs. It will get most of of the water out, but not what might settle to the bottom of the Aqua Hot heat exchanger coils.
The only 100% reliable winterizing method (other than going south like Gerald) is the pink RV propylene glycol antifreeze. Fear of antifreeze is appropriate for the ethylene glycol we use in our radiators. If your radiator leaks in your car or motorhome you are killing dogs and cats that like to drink it. For that reason, there are formulations of antifreeze using propylene glycol. They are expensive, but work.
Incidentally, it is propylene glycol that is used in the "boiler antifreeze" we buy for the operating fluid in our AquaHots. It is used in case a leak develops and it gets into the hot water system. Even if it passes your lips, it won't hurt you.
If you look up propylene glycol in Wikipedia it lists several interesting uses. Sean may even be consuming some without knowing it! Among the uses listed are:
- As a solvent in many pharmaceuticals, including oral, injectable and topical formulations
As an emulsification agent in Angostura and orange bitters (No more Old Fashions or Manhattens)
As a moisturizer in medicines, cosmetics, food, toothpaste, shampoo, mouth wash, hair care and tobacco products
In hand sanitizers, antibacterial lotions, and saline solutions
As a solvent for food colors and flavorings
To regulate humidity in a cigar humidor
Used in the beverage mixer Sweet N Sour (no more Whiskey Sours)
The FDA allows propylene glycol to be added to a large number of processed foods, including ice cream, frozen custard, and baked goods
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(It might be fun to find a comparison on the toxicity of ethanol compared to propylene glycol. Some of us know ethanol can hurt us sometimes!)
If you don't have a bypass valve like Joel's, it is easy to unscrew the feed line from the water tank at the pump and attach a hose. The fitting on the pump is standard 1/2 inch pipe. Any hardware store can get you a female 1/2 pipe fitting and a garden hose fitting that will screw together. While your at the hardware store, get a 1/2 plug for the tank hose. If it is full, it will siphon out while it is not connected.
Once you have your garden hose adapter on the pump, screw your water hose to it. It helps some if it is a short water hose. Put the loose end in a bucket with about 4 gallons of pink propylene glycol in it. My Beaver seems to need about 4 gallons plus a quart. Turn the pump on and go to every plumbing fixture and run it till you see pink flow out. Don't forget the toilet with it's spray wand and the shower. Blowing the lines is completely unnecessary, but it might save on a quart or two of antifreeze. You are also getting pink stuff in the drain traps, which is useful.
So far, we have only spent about $20 and taken 15 minutes.
The hard parts are the Splendide, the ice maker and the city inlet. The Splendide takes me about 10 minutes because I have to find, read and comply with the updated instructions that involve spinning dials and pushing buttons that I'm not normally allowed to touch. The idea is to get the pink stuff to flow through both the hot and cold lines with enough to get to and in the outlet pump.
The ice maker's weak spot is the plastic valve that has a hose fitting screwed to it. There is a valve by the ice maker filter near the pump. Turn it off and remove the filter. Heat wires are wrapped around it for normal use in the winter. You have to get those out of the way and unscrew the fitting. A little water will drain out the filter end. Pour the water out of the filter. Put it back together with a new filter or use the old one. The ice maker takes 10 or 15 minutes, but is well worth it during Martini season.
The last tricky spot is the city inlet. You push on a spot in the middle and, if the pump is on, a little pink non toxic anti freeze will squirt out. If you stand in the right place, none will get on you. If not, it is not toxic and wipes off.
This is only a two beer job and can potentially save you $8000!