| Winterizing a macerator [message #62691] |
Sun, 01 November 2009 12:15  |
Rick Williams
Messages: 256
Registered: July 2004
Karma: 0
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Happy time change
I was winterizing the coach today and thought that I would ask what those of you with macerators in freezing climates do to winterize.
I pump as much liquid as I can out of the black tank after I have flushed all of the water lines with antifreeze and poured antifreeze down the drains. As we know, you can not pump all of the liquid out.
I then pour about a gallon of antifreeze down the toilet and pump it out. I am hoping this amount of antifreeze mixed with the remaining liquid will be sufficient to keep the pump from freezing.
At $2.50 a gallon for antifreeze, it is worth it if I don't have to fix that system.
Any other thoughts on this besides telling me to move South?
Rick
Rick Williams
Bliss, Michigan
1978 Eleganza II
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| Re: Winterizing a macerator [message #62697 is a reply to message #62691] |
Sun, 01 November 2009 13:58  |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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I pump my black tank dry while parked pointing up hill. I then open the drain on the black tank and proceed to run all of the water out of my main tank through the various facets and in to the black tank with the drain open. I then blow out the entire system using 30 PSI air in the outside fresh water connection. With the air still on I open the drain on my hot water tank and also blow it out. I turn off the air and open the drain on my water tank. Now all tank drains are open.
I then move my bypass valve for heater and fill the system with antifreeze including the drains. The excess flows to the Black tank and macerator.
With all three tank valves OPEN. I drive the coach 11 miles to the airport. The drive shakes out as much water (and antifreeze) from the tanks as possible. I park the coach on level ground in unheated storage for the winter. It takes less than one gallon to fill my system. I guess you could dump another gallon down the drains and pump it out through the macerator if it really bothers you.
I found some RV anti-freeze for 2.50 per gallon about 2 months ago. I did not really need it but I bought 2 gallons any way. I now see it at TSC for 3.99. I bought a bunch a few years back and I am using that stock so I have not kept up on the price of the stuff this year.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: Winterizing a macerator [message #62730 is a reply to message #62721] |
Sun, 01 November 2009 20:15 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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| rwbmitiopt wrote on Sun, 01 November 2009 17:40 |
Gee Ken, I hope you don't park on my hill. LOL
Randy
| Ken Burton wrote on Sun, 01 November 2009 11:58 |
I pump my black tank dry while parked pointing up hill.
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I guess I should have said that I dump the black tank first before starting this whole procedure. I start with an empty tank.
BTW Where is your hill?
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: Winterizing a macerator [message #62734 is a reply to message #62691] |
Sun, 01 November 2009 20:43 |
Ernest Dankert
Messages: 133
Registered: May 2007
Location: Ogden, New York
Karma: 1
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For what it is worth, the first year with out a macerator, I had an "empty" black tank with 2-3 quarts, mebbe a gallon of rv water antifreeze. When it came out of storage the gasket to the black discharge valve deformed and leaked at the bottom. Found a new valve (to get a gasket) and replaced the works. Saved the old valve and gasket and it eventually regained its original shape. My thought is the gasket deformed as a result of the organics in the antifreeze.
I just did a real good drain job through both the macerator and the large hose.
1977 Eleganza II
Ogden NY
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| Re: Winterizing a macerator [message #62736 is a reply to message #62730] |
Sun, 01 November 2009 20:46 |
rwbmitiopt@comcast.net
Messages: 189
Registered: April 2005
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Ken
I knew what you meant, just had to be a smart a$$. We moved to Sammamish early in the summer. Smaller house, bigger lot, one acre, lots of room for my coach and a couple of others if anyone wants to visit. We are only about 15 miles east of Seattle up on a plateau. I have a 10 to 13 % grade for about a mile no matter what way I get up here. The coach seems to not mind the climb but I'm glad its not several miles.
Randy
| Ken Burton wrote on Sun, 01 November 2009 18:15 |
| rwbmitiopt wrote on Sun, 01 November 2009 17:40 |
Gee Ken, I hope you don't park on my hill. LOL
Randy
| Ken Burton wrote on Sun, 01 November 2009 11:58 |
I pump my black tank dry while parked pointing up hill.
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I guess I should have said that I dump the black tank first before starting this whole procedure. I start with an empty tank.
BTW Where is your hill?
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Randall Burns
Sammamish WA
75 EX GB
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| Re: Winterizing a macerator [message #62755 is a reply to message #62691] |
Mon, 02 November 2009 07:10 |
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I have had a problem with my mascerator locking up and not starting (just kicks out the circuit breaker) and Tom Hampton told me that using RV antifreeze will leave a deposit on the impeller which will tend to bind the impeller to the housing. When I take my screwdriver and turn the impeller counterclockwise just a bit the mascerator will start and run fine.
Anybody else experience this problem?
Bill Brown - '77 Buckeye Cruiser
Coshocton OH
carguybill@sbcglobal.net
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