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Winterization Fail - What needs repair/replacing

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Topic: Winterization Fail - What needs repair/replacing
Posted By: BoardinGordon
Subject: Winterization Fail - What needs repair/replacing
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2023 at 10:22am
When winterizing my 2016 178 I forgot to remove the anode rod and completely drain the hot water heater. 

Upon returning to my R-pod on a warm day (after multiple hard freezes) to check on it, I found a very small amount of water that puddled somewhere near the hot water heater and ran under the sink. 

Under the sink there is some sort of unit flashing red 3 times, then green once, and continually cycling through in that routine.

I pulled the anode rod and only about a half gal of water came out so I must have pushed most of the water through the system with air pressure during my terrible attempt to winterize the unit.

Before I go willy nilly buying parts and attempting to repair, I thought I would check with all you pros to see:

1) what are the most likely points of failure?
2) what will likely need replacing vs fixing?
3) what the flashing light (senser?) under the sink is?

Thank you very much for your time and responses!




Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2023 at 10:36am
will need a picture of the flashing light.. it may be a slide controller.

the "best way" to find any water damage is to pressurize the system and look for leaks. Hopefully you didn't lose the WH, they are a pain to replace. If it was mostly empty, the tank should be fine, but the lower valve and connection may be broken.

It sounds like you winterized with air.. so hook up again, pressurize to 25 psi, look and listen. If you don't find anything. Hook up to water, and again, look and listen. You may have gotten lucky.


Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2023 at 6:08pm
+1  The above advice is the best procedure.  May I add that hopefully this can be done in an area where the pod has been in moderate temperatures well above freezing for at least 24 hours as you may get a false reading pressurizing with air if there is still ice present in the lines.


-------------
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: Rosie
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2023 at 8:00pm
I have a 2016 178.  The flashing lights is the slide controller.  I have used air to winterize since new and also on a previous trailer.  No problems.  Hopefully the water heater is ok.  I suspect it is if only a gallon came out.  You will want to check the toilet valve for sure.  It is prone to freezing and cracking.  You may want to just buy one.  They are only $15 or so and it is a good spare to have if you do not need to use it.  Anyway we always use the air method to winterize and then just dump a little pink stuff in the traps.  Sanitize the system in April before the first trip of the year. Done....


Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 21 Mar 2023 at 5:22am
Let us know please what you found out with the possible leak problem, if any.  Thanks


-------------
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: BoardinGordon
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2023 at 12:34pm
Thanks for the responses! Sorry it took me so long to provide the results but its been a long cold winter in Colorado so I just got around the taking care of it all.

Turns out I dodged most all damage - rather be lucky than smart, I guess.

The hot water heater and all lines were in working order. The hot/cold nobs on the outside shower busted thier seals and were leaking so I had to replace that (15 dollar part on amazon) which was probably unrelated to the way I winterized and more so just normal wear and tear. This is likely where the little bit of sitting water I found came from. Not sure about the code/fault light on the slide out, probably a low battery thing. Now that the batteries are charged the slide out works.

Thanks again and happy camping!





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