Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees
| [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees [message #67075] |
Thu, 10 December 2009 09:48  |
Terry Skinner
Messages: 379
Registered: January 2004
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This is NOT normal for the Pacific Northwest. No water in the house or
barn. Must be frozen some where between the pump house and the house.
No biggie there. I can go weeks without a bath. <G> What has me
concerned is the two GMCs out there that were being used at the end of
last summer. When I serviced them I had no idea it would be this cold.
So, my question to you guys on the east coast, Where do I expect to
find the problems?? I keep heaters going in both coaches in hopes of
taking the edge off. Has anyone had the shower drain freeze up? I know
I didn't servic them. What else??............Terry
--
Terry Skinner
253-686-2624
Roy. Washington
'76 GMC
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| Re: [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees [message #67081 is a reply to message #67075] |
Thu, 10 December 2009 10:35  |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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| Terry Skinner wrote on Thu, 10 December 2009 07:48 |
This is NOT normal for the Pacific Northwest. No water in the house or
barn. Must be frozen some where between the pump house and the house.
No biggie there. I can go weeks without a bath. <G> What has me
concerned is the two GMCs out there that were being used at the end of
last summer. When I serviced them I had no idea it would be this cold.
So, my question to you guys on the east coast, Where do I expect to
find the problems?? I keep heaters going in both coaches in hopes of
taking the edge off. Has anyone had the shower drain freeze up? I know
I didn't servic them. What else??............Terry
--
Terry Skinner
253-686-2624
Roy. Washington
'76 GMC
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Terry: The pump under the rear bed could be a problem. The pipes around the Hot water heater, and the kitchen sink. You might have issues in the traps, shower and sinks, but probably you won't have failure there.
Right now I would go out and open the bath, the cabinet under the bath sink, the cabinet under the kitchen sink, and if possible put some heat near the pump and water tank, under the bed. Are your coaches copper or gray plastic pipe plumbed? Copper is more prone to damage with freezing.
Can you turn the heat on (the propane furnace) in them? If you have power, do it. Get heat on now, you may be fortunate and save yourself problems.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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| Re: [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees [message #67085 is a reply to message #67075] |
Thu, 10 December 2009 10:46 |
shawnee
Messages: 422
Registered: February 2004
Location: NC
Karma: 0
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| Terry Skinner wrote on Thu, 10 December 2009 10:48 |
This is NOT normal for the Pacific Northwest. No water in the house or
barn. Must be frozen some where between the pump house and the house.
No biggie there. I can go weeks without a bath. <G> What has me
concerned is the two GMCs out there that were being used at the end of
last summer. When I serviced them I had no idea it would be this cold.
So, my question to you guys on the east coast, Where do I expect to
find the problems?? I keep heaters going in both coaches in hopes of
taking the edge off. Has anyone had the shower drain freeze up? I know
I didn't servic them. What else??............Terry
--
Terry Skinner
253-686-2624
Roy. Washington
'76 GMC
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Terry,
The best way to protect your traps is to pour some RV antifreeze in them. I use it in the shower drain in the summer also when not using the coach so you don't have odors coming through when the water in it evaporates.
Gene Dotson
74 Canyonlands
www.bdub.net/Motorhome_Enhancements New Windows and Aluminum Radiators
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| Re: [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees [message #67086 is a reply to message #67075] |
Thu, 10 December 2009 10:48 |
scott cowden
Messages: 170
Registered: February 2004
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Terry;
The biggest problem I've seen with freezing pipes on a GMC is the pipe that goes from the hose connection on the left side, behind the wardrobe that then feeds into the rest of the system. Little insulation and no direct heat source in that area, although one of the furnace ducts passes by, there's no heat outlet.
I should mention that it's a bugger to fix that one 'cause it's hard to get your hands to it.
My coach is one of the rea dinosaurs and is 100% copper water pipe. But since that one rupture in the aforementioned spot the first winter I had the coach, it's been fine. I use compressed air fed into the plumbing from the external hose connection to completely 'dry' the plumbing in the fall.
If you get the adapter from your local RV supplier that has a tire valve and hose thread end, I have simply set my shop compressor regulator at about 40 psi and work my way around the coach from tap to tap, farthest tap away first, and let the air run until not even mist is evident. remember to do hot and cold.
Pressure drained the Hot water tank the same way. Then disconnected the water supply from the outlet side of the 12v water pump and ran air through that too.
RV antifreeze in all the drain traps, INCLUDING the one in the shower.
You should be good to go after that.
Scott '74 Glacier Orillia, ON, Canada
> Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:48:28 -0800
> From: gmcnut@gmail.com
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Subject: [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees
>
> This is NOT normal for the Pacific Northwest. No water in the house or
> barn. Must be frozen some where between the pump house and the house.
> No biggie there. I can go weeks without a bath. <G> What has me
> concerned is the two GMCs out there that were being used at the end of
> last summer. When I serviced them I had no idea it would be this cold.
> So, my question to you guys on the east coast, Where do I expect to
> find the problems?? I keep heaters going in both coaches in hopes of
> taking the edge off. Has anyone had the shower drain freeze up? I know
> I didn't servic them. What else??............Terry
>
> --
> Terry Skinner
> 253-686-2624
> Roy. Washington
> '76 GMC
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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Eligible CDN College & University students can upgrade to Windows 7 before Jan 3 for only $39.99. Upgrade now!
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| Re: [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees [message #67090 is a reply to message #67086] |
Thu, 10 December 2009 11:27 |
rwbmitiopt@comcast.net
Messages: 189
Registered: April 2005
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| scott cowden wrote on Thu, 10 December 2009 08:48 |
Terry;
The biggest problem I've seen with freezing pipes on a GMC is the pipe that goes from the hose connection on the left side, behind the wardrobe that then feeds into the rest of the system. Little insulation and no direct heat source in that area, although one of the furnace ducts passes by, there's no heat outlet.
I should mention that it's a bugger to fix that one 'cause it's hard to get your hands to it.
My coach is one of the rea dinosaurs and is 100% copper water pipe. But since that one rupture in the aforementioned spot the first winter I had the coach, it's been fine. I use compressed air fed into the plumbing from the external hose connection to completely 'dry' the plumbing in the fall.
If you get the adapter from your local RV supplier that has a tire valve and hose thread end, I have simply set my shop compressor regulator at about 40 psi and work my way around the coach from tap to tap, farthest tap away first, and let the air run until not even mist is evident. remember to do hot and cold.
Pressure drained the Hot water tank the same way. Then disconnected the water supply from the outlet side of the 12v water pump and ran air through that too.
RV antifreeze in all the drain traps, INCLUDING the one in the shower.
You should be good to go after that.
Scott '74 Glacier Orillia, ON, Canada
> Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:48:28 -0800
> From: gmcnut@gmail.com
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Subject: [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees
>
> This is NOT normal for the Pacific Northwest. No water in the house or
> barn. Must be frozen some where between the pump house and the house.
> No biggie there. I can go weeks without a bath. <G> What has me
> concerned is the two GMCs out there that were being used at the end of
> last summer. When I serviced them I had no idea it would be this cold.
> So, my question to you guys on the east coast, Where do I expect to
> find the problems?? I keep heaters going in both coaches in hopes of
> taking the edge off. Has anyone had the shower drain freeze up? I know
> I didn't servic them. What else??............Terry
>
> --
> Terry Skinner
> 253-686-2624
> Roy. Washington
> '76 GMC
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_________________________________________________________________
Eligible CDN College & University students can upgrade to Windows 7 before Jan 3 for only $39.99. Upgrade now!
http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9691819
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Randall Burns
Sammamish WA
75 EX GB
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| Re: [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees [message #67091 is a reply to message #67075] |
Thu, 10 December 2009 11:24 |
Ray Erspamer
Messages: 1707
Registered: May 2007
Location: Milwaukee Wisconsin
Karma: -3
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Senior Member |
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We had -4 this morning, and it SUCKS !
Ray & Lisa Erspamer
78 Royale Center Kitchen
The Malosco Cruiser (TZE368V101144)
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53226
Email: 78GMC-Royale@att.net
414-745-3188
Web Site: http://ray-lisa.page.tl/
________________________________
From: Terry Skinner <gmcnut@gmail.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Thu, December 10, 2009 9:48:28 AM
Subject: [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees
This is NOT normal for the Pacific Northwest. No water in the house or
barn. Must be frozen some where between the pump house and the house.
No biggie there. I can go weeks without a bath. <G> What has me
concerned is the two GMCs out there that were being used at the end of
last summer. When I serviced them I had no idea it would be this cold.
So, my question to you guys on the east coast, Where do I expect to
find the problems?? I keep heaters going in both coaches in hopes of
taking the edge off. Has anyone had the shower drain freeze up? I know
I didn't servic them. What else??............Terry
--
Terry Skinner
253-686-2624
Roy. Washington
'76 GMC
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Ray Erspamer
78 GMC Royale Center Kitchen
403, 3.70 Final Drive
Holley Sniper Quadrajet EFI System,
Holley Hyperspark Ignition System
414-484-9431
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| Re: [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees [message #67093 is a reply to message #67075] |
Thu, 10 December 2009 11:35 |
rwbmitiopt@comcast.net
Messages: 189
Registered: April 2005
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Terry
Sorry for the last post, some how I deleted my reply.
I have a heater plugged into a thermostat controlled plug that turns on at 32*. I have the doors to the closet and bath open as well as the access port to the pump/tank area. A jug of water in the bath is liquid while one on the floor on the opposite side of the door from the heater is frozen solid.
Randy (forty miles north of Terry and basking in 12* sunshine)
| Terry Skinner wrote on Thu, 10 December 2009 07:48 |
This is NOT normal for the Pacific Northwest. No water in the house or
barn. Must be frozen some where between the pump house and the house.
No biggie there. I can go weeks without a bath. <G> What has me
concerned is the two GMCs out there that were being used at the end of
last summer. When I serviced them I had no idea it would be this cold.
So, my question to you guys on the east coast, Where do I expect to
find the problems?? I keep heaters going in both coaches in hopes of
taking the edge off. Has anyone had the shower drain freeze up? I know
I didn't servic them. What else??............Terry
--
Terry Skinner
253-686-2624
Roy. Washington
'76 GMC
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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Randall Burns
Sammamish WA
75 EX GB
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| Re: [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees [message #67104 is a reply to message #67093] |
Thu, 10 December 2009 14:08 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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I know it is after the fact, but why spend all of that effort and worry over saving a few bucks on RV antifreeze. The stuff is only around $3.00 per gallon.
Blow out the system and install a gallon of antifreeze.
As for you current situation, drain the tanks (including the hot water heater), blow out the system now and see if anything is frozen. Drain the black tank and pour some antifreeze in the drains.
It was zero this morning and it is +7 at 1PM. I'm headed for the airport to re-install my cylinder for the second time.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees [message #67105 is a reply to message #67104] |
Thu, 10 December 2009 14:35 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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Winterizing coach, found 2nd water heater is an ATWOOD EH6. Atwood site does not have book for this model. Anyone know of a drain valve, or just remove the heating element and let her go.
Tom Phipps,
75 GMC Ex-Avion
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees [message #67107 is a reply to message #67105] |
Thu, 10 December 2009 14:49 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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| tphipps wrote on Thu, 10 December 2009 14:35 |
Winterizing coach, found 2nd water heater is an ATWOOD EH6. Atwood site does not have book for this model. Anyone know of a drain valve, or just remove the heating element and let her go.
Tom Phipps,
75 GMC Ex-Avion
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There should be a plug dead center in the bottom. It might be a valve or just a pipe plug.
You could try blowing it out. You only need to get the water level below the lower tank entrance pipe.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees [message #67115 is a reply to message #67105] |
Thu, 10 December 2009 15:26 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Tom,
I have an Atwood EH6 in both Avions. There is a drain valve on the left with
a plastic knob on it.
I will send you a copy of the manual off net. I just read it and there is a
section on winterizing it.
Regards,
Rob Mueller
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion-The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion-Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Phipps
Sent: Friday, 11 December 2009 7:36 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees
Winterizing coach, found 2nd water heater is an ATWOOD EH6. Atwood site
does not have book for this model. Anyone know of a drain valve, or just
remove the heating element and let her go.
Tom Phipps,
75 GMC Ex-Avion
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GMCnet mailing list
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: [GMCnet] Down to 9 degrees [message #67139 is a reply to message #67091] |
Thu, 10 December 2009 20:23 |
Larry C
Messages: 1168
Registered: July 2004
Location: NE Illinois by the Illino...
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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We had -4 this morning, and it SUCKS
_________________________________________________________________
Hey you like that ICE BLUE color there Ray??? 
So Ray, you saying you had Tornadic activities up there??? lol
I remember when I was a kid, Oh that was just a couple years ago  , It got cold early, I used to make snow forts in the front yard from all the snow the storms dumped and the cold was bitter.
So far, THIS AIN'T NOTHING ! ! ! 
Now that I am " Just a couple years older ", I am more in tune with the nice Summer Temps and don't care for the Winter cold.
Amazing what difference you notice over just a "couple" of years.
It was 4 deg F on my outside thermo this morning, and the high was 11 deg F.
Lawdy, Lawdy, going to have to turn on the AC soon if this keeps up.
LarC (Wearing the heavy jacket and gloves, Bring it on)
Gatsbys' CRUISER  08-18-04
74 GLACIER X, 260/455-APC-4 Bagg'r
Remflex Manifold gaskets
CampGrounds needed, Add yours to "PLACES" />
http://www.gmceast.com/travel
_
[Updated on: Thu, 10 December 2009 20:23] Report message to a moderator |
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