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Camper Bob View Drop Down
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Joined: 26 Sep 2011
Location: Portland Oregon
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Posts: 913 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Winterizing
    Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 11:45am
We're still in the camping mode here, however winterinzing has been on my mind.  Our winters here in Portland, OR are usually relatively mild.  Just a few days below 32 degrees.  I have our Rpod parked in our front yard with an electrical connection to the house.  I'm planning to keep the ceramic heater set to about 50 degrees during the winter and I believe that should do it without having to add anti-freeze to the system.  Curious if anyone else agrees with me.  Safe Travels.
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Posts: 165 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 12:26pm
If it works for a house, it should work for the pod too. I would make sure all the tanks are empty though, since they're not insulated.
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Camper Bob View Drop Down
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Posts: 913 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 12:38pm
Which brings up another interesting question.  Since ice expands in volume, and the tanks would not be more than one third full, let's say, wouldn't I still be safe if they do freeze and the ice just climbs up in the tank with lots of expansion room?  Safe Travels.
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this_is_nascar View Drop Down
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Posts: 466 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 1:21pm
Originally posted by techntrek

Full instructions found in the first item on this list:  http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723&title=creating-an-instruction-maintanence-manual

With no compressor and/or the blow-out plug, one alternative is to do the rest of the winterization first.  You may need to use a little extra antifreeze to ensure you have displaced all of the water.  Once the system is full of antifreeze carefully remove the screen on the city water connection, you can then press in the one-way valve with your finger.  That should allow antifreeze to escape to displace the water in that connection.
 
 
Before you do this step (should be the very last step in winterizing as far as I'm concerned), turn on a faucet for a second to relieve the pressure in the system, then turn the faucet off, then proceed with this step.  You don't want pressure in the sytem when your press that "tit".
 
 
"Ray & Connie"

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bhamster View Drop Down
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Posts: 165 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 1:29pm
Originally posted by Camper Bob

Which brings up another interesting question.  Since ice expands in volume, and the tanks would not be more than one third full, let's say, wouldn't I still be safe if they do freeze and the ice just climbs up in the tank with lots of expansion room?  Safe Travels.

I wish that were the case. Then you could just leave the pump off, turn on the taps and the water would just "expand" out of the faucet Wink. Unfortunately the expansion is in more than one dimension. In the case of the tanks it would also expand in width and length and possibly break the tank or damage the frame/mounting hardware. This is why food containers that are approved for freezer use have slanted sides. It allows the frozen material to just rise up as it gets wider. Ice cube trays use the same approach. If your ice cube trays had straight walls it would just shatter the tray when the cubes got wider.

You can have a very small amount of water at the bottom of the tank (fraction of an inch) and it should freeze and expand without harm because it's not confined in any dimension.
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Camper Bob View Drop Down
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Posts: 913 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 1:40pm
Wow.  Had no idea.  Now that I think about it, I do recall that ice cube trays have slanted wall, but never gave a thought as to why.  Live and learn.  Well, will have to be diligent and empty both tanks before retiring the Rpod for the winter.  Thanks so much for that info.  I thought I was home free.  Hope that helps others, too.  Safe Travels.
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 3:14pm
I mention this in step 16 in the link I gave, above.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 20 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 5:38pm
Seanl and this_is_nascar

While yes I am canadian, I just came back to canada after being deployed with 10th mountain division (ny state) for a year in Afghanistan, and the year before that I was in ny state in fort drum with 10 mountain. So I guess I can say it was a fun 2 years working with the US army.
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Posts: 1447 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 5:49pm
As was said before: thanks for your service.  We appreciate it!
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Posts: 466 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Sep 2012 at 7:16am
Originally posted by Brigs

Seanl and this_is_nascar

While yes I am canadian, I just came back to canada after being deployed with 10th mountain division (ny state) for a year in Afghanistan, and the year before that I was in ny state in fort drum with 10 mountain. So I guess I can say it was a fun 2 years working with the US army.
 
US or Canada, I don't care which country you fought for.  You and your family have scacraficed for the benefit of others.  For that, I say thank you.
 
"Ray & Connie"

- 2017 R-Pod RP-180
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