De-winterizing
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13521
Printed Date: 23 Jun 2025 at 2:24am
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Topic: De-winterizing
Posted By: ArenaBlanca
Subject: De-winterizing
Date Posted: 01 May 2020 at 9:35am
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We are fortunate enough to have two campers -- a big LaCrosse that is our summer home (usually in the cool of Northern NM) and TEN, our R-195 that we travel in. I try to do all the maintenance of the Pod so I drain the water heater, use compressed air to blow out the water lines and drain the tanks, etc. The LaCrosse is a different story. We had a local service person winterize it and he has used the pink anti-freeze for the last couple of years. Those of us who have experience with this stuff know that it is effective but it leaves a definite after-taste in the plumbing.  Is there a way to neutralize or remove this after-taste other than running a lot of water through the system?? ------------- Enjoy Life!! |
Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 01 May 2020 at 12:35pm
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After sanitizing, I have found that draining the chlorinated water and refilling it with water and a cup of baking soda goes a long way toward removing the bad taste. Treat it like you do the sanitizing. Run it through, let it sit for a while, then drain and fill with fresh water.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 01 May 2020 at 3:51pm
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Personally, I never drink the FWT water. I buy drinking water hoses, I use a filter, but I just feel better using bottled. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 01 May 2020 at 6:15pm
We have not had any health issues from using the FWT as intended. I think of it as a very large size refillable bottle. 
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 02 May 2020 at 6:19am
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Curious as to why you don't used compressed air for the LaCrosse as well. Should be a similar project in scope as the Pod. The first year we owned our 177, back in 2011 we also used the pink antifreeze and had the same problem with the "taste" of the water. Ended up using a couple different concoctions to rid the nasty after taste. First was by using a quart of lemon juice and adding 10 gallons to the FWT and let sit for 24 hours and run through the cold water lines. Secondly we used 2 quarts of white vinegar in 10 gallons in FWT, let sit overnight and then ran it through the cold water outlets. Problem solved, at least it worked for us. Since then, from 2012 till now, we only use compressed air, takes about 2 minutes to go through all lines 2x. After that I use a total of 16 oz. rv antifreeze to pour in the traps and a little above the lid in the toilet to keep the seal moist through our long northern Michigan winters - no problems ever using this method. Yes, we use our FWT for drinking water, only use well water. Interesting as I have observed a lot of posts on the FB site showing the anode toasted after only a year of use. We are going on year 10 and our anode still looks almost brand new. Even though our water is hard it must be due to the fact that there aren't any nasty chemicals added which municipal and city waters must have added to make it legal to drink.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 02 May 2020 at 7:05am
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It might not be the chemicals the cities add. Everything else being equal, the anode should be consumed faster when the electrolyte (the water) is more conductive. High calcium carbonate concentrations in water is what is usually thought of as hardness but that isn't the only chemical that can make water more conductive. In the dry southwest the water is generally saltier than in the east, northwest, and midwest, that also increases conductivity. It would take a more detailed look at the chemistry of your well water vs the water in the cases where the sacrificial anode has been more rapldly consumed. Then you have the duration the anode is immersed and the temperature of the water in the tank, both of which will result in higher annual anode use. Where you live probably you have cooler water in the tank for a shorter period than in some other places. Here is a link to an interesting chart from the USGS on calcium carbonate water hardness. Most of Michigan is kinda medium hard. https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/map-water-hardness-united-states - https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/map-water-hardness-united-states ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 02 May 2020 at 11:02am
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What I don't get is the "wear pattern" on the annode rods. The one we have right now is down to the internal rod where it attaches to the fitting, but the rest of it is only slightly pitted. It's as though all those stray charged particles are having a party in one spot. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 02 May 2020 at 11:16am
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I've seen that wear edit: ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 02 May 2020 at 12:40pm
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That is the pattern I see on my anode rod also. The rod next to the threads is gone but there is a lot left on the rest. This anode rod should be good for another year or two. I do carry a spare though.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |