Winterized BlackJack

[cpaharley2008]

The screen is merely a debris screen, not that critical, if you use a filter then the screen is not needed, but it fits like the washer does on the water hose, just gently pry one end up and it should come out.

[Kountrykamper]

The key word being carefully. After seeing several people here and on the other fiberglass forums have them come apart I prefer blowing through them.

[Brian B-P]

If I were winterizing the fresh water system with antifreeze, and pumping most of it from a tee-valve with the trailer's pump, and couldn't easily trip the one-way valve open to backflush it, I would pump some antifreeze in first through the city water inlet (with a hand pump or external electric pump). That way I would get the water out of the inlet system without taking anything apart. There is more than one right answer...

[gbaglo]

It is incredibly easy to winterize utilizing the city water inlet and a hand pump.
I don't have to lift cushions or seats to access the pump.
I do need somebody inside to open taps one at a time.
It takes very few strokes to fill the pump and initial line. Then my partner opens the sink cold tap and shouts when she sees pink coming out. Turns that off and turns the hot on, continues to the bath and does taps, shower head and toilet. I take care of the outside shower.
Then I dump some more RV antifreeze down the traps.
Prior to that, I have drained the fresh water tank, bypassed the water heater and run the water pump for 15 - 20 seconds to make sure it is empty.
It's worked for me through six winters.
Now, I only have to deal with the long English cucumber I found in a storage box under the bed.

[float5]

Since we used the winterizimg t-valve this year, we did not pump in through city water. So I suppose that is another part of a line to do. The advantage of the t-valve is that you don't have to wonder if the water is out of the water pump because that is where the antifreeze is being pumped from. So that is good but we have to go back and do some antifreeze at the city water inlet.

Brian, we will likely go into city water with the hand pump.

I would say that, besides getting antifreeze into the lines, the main point for newbies is that antifreeze needs to be pumped into the toilet to keep the valve from cracking. Pouring antifreeze down the toilet does not cover that. (Some people blow out the lines instead. We do not. Some do both.)

[gbaglo]

I'd have a look at how your line runs from the city water. If it is empty through gravity, you would only have to worry about removing water from the back flow valve, which Jim described how to do earlier in the thread.

[float5]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I'd have a look at how your line runs from the city water. If it is empty through gravity, you would only have to worry about removing water from the back flow valve, which Jim described how to do earlier in the thread.

#17 is to go to sink faucet. We probably will do that just to be sure. We have the hand pump from the last years, used it as you do.

[dbailey]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Remove the screen and gently push the little pin to release pressure.

No! Release pressure first (by opening a tap), then push the pin to release the air lock... Pushing in the pin while there's pressure in the system is *not* a good idea... (http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9...alve-2864.html)

[float5]

Originally Posted by dbailey

No! Release pressure first (by opening a tap), then push the pin to release the air lock... Pushing in the pin while there's pressure in the system is *not* a good idea... (http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9...alve-2864.html)

Okay, but if we just pump antifreeze into the city water inlet, we don't need to worry about removing the screen or pushing the pin? I am thinking that we still have to remove it?

I believe our water inlets are different from your photos. Think our city inlet has a "flower" around it and is on the right. Wonder what else is different.

[MyronL]

City water inlet

[float5]

Thanks for the photo. Yes, that's ours.

[gbaglo]

Myron's photo shows it. Remove the screen and press the pin.
Less than an eyedropper of water will come out.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Floating Cloud

Thanks for the photo. Yes, that's ours.

Hi: Floating Cloud... You can buy a card with 3 of those screens on it at WalloMart. I use a surplus dental tool to remove it. Cheap insurance!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[float5]

We went over with the snow coming down plenty. Screen out with a screwdriver and pumped in some more antifreeze. Yes, water came out of there when pushing the pin. Glad that is done. Will look for a dental tool! That would work better.

[float5]

Winterized just in time.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Floating Cloud

Okay, but if we just pump antifreeze into the city water inlet, we don't need to worry about removing the screen or pushing the pin?

Right.

[LeonW]

Am I right that if you blow the lines out you shouldn't have to do this? Or did I forget a step?

[Kountrykamper]

Originally Posted by LeonW

Am I right that if you blow the lines out you shouldn't have to do this? Or did I forget a step?

That is correct.

[float5]

Originally Posted by LeonW

Am I right that if you blow the lines out you shouldn't have to do this? Or did I forget a step?

Don't know how much continuous freezing weather you have had. Also do not know how you blew out the lines. It seems that their instructions used to be to blow out lines and/or do antifreeze and also to do the screen. The screen can be removed with a screwdriver without too much trouble and then you push the little plastic pin in, which will cause water to come out. Maybe you did that in previous years, maybe not, but it is easy. I do not know with your weather (and how the lines were cleared) if it is worth doing now. If you never did it before, then you must be okay.

[LeonW]

Cathy, never did it before. I have always attached an air compressor with 30 psi air to the city water inlet and blown the water out of the lines.

We are currently in Germany and won't be home for a few days yet. But I heard it got down to 12 above a day or so ago. But it is supposed to get to 40 in St Paul next week. So maybe I will visit the trailer and do this then