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Re: [GMCnet] Winterizing the GMC [message #105684 is a reply to message #105538] Thu, 11 November 2010 12:15 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Jim Miller is currently offline  Jim Miller   United States
Messages: 501
Registered: March 2008
Karma:
Senior Member
Just to stir the pot, here's an observation that I made with regard to
winterizing.

I did not have a hot water heater bypass system installed last year
when I winterized. I had gone to wally world and bought eight gallons
of the pink/red name-brand RV antifreeze they were selling for around
$3-4/gallon. I dumped it into the fresh water tank and pumped it
through until it appeared at all hot and cold faucets and at the
showerhead and toilet.

Not wanting to lose the six gallons of it that went into the hot water
tank, I attached a hose to the tank's drain in the wheelwell and
refilled six of the jugs thinking that I would just use it again the
following year, perhaps in the drain traps and holding tank.

Two weeks ago I got those six jugs out of my garage and every one of
them had some amount of black mold growing in the liquid. Not above
the liquid line, mind you - it was UNDER the liquid stuck to the sides
and bottom of the jug.

I'm not a microbiologist but this tells me that there is an organism
that can survive - and thrive - in a propylene glycol-based growth
media. The six jugs had been in storage for a year, but I wonder if
this growth could start to occur in the GMC's lines over the winter if
the lines are left full?

This year I modified my winterization process a little: I installed a
HW tank bypass kit, pumped NEW pink antifreeze throughout the system,
and then blew it all out with compressed air, keeping the air blowing
through both the hot and cold lines for a minute or two each in order
to try and get as much of the pink stuff out as possible.

Next spring the system is going to get a good flush and then a couple
rounds of sanitizing solution through it just in case any of this
mystery organism tries to grow over the winter. Granted, I do not use
the GMC's water system for potable water but nonetheless I don't want
any mold growing in my lines.

--Jim Miller
1977 Eleganza II
1977 Royale
Hamilton, Ohio


On Nov 9, 2010, at 2:40 PM, Jim Galbavy wrote:

> I too now have the water heater bypass. ....but before I did (and
> the drain valve for my water tank was stuck open) I used to pump out
> as much water from the system as I could. Once the pump would
> flutter, I would pour antifreeze into the water tank and pump it
> from the water tank thru the cold and hot water lines until pink
> would come out of all of the faucets and toilet and then into the
> black tank. Once that is done, using a handpump (that you can get at
> any RV store) pump antifreeze thru the city water connection. With
> all of the water lines full of antifreeze leave all of the faucets
> open for expansion if the temperatures get too cold. Worked for me
> for 4 years until I got the water tank drain valve fixed and a water
> heater bypass installed. If your drain valves work, drain the
> system down and then open the faucets one at a time starting with
> the closest faucet to the water tank clearing them with compressed
> air (20psi will do).
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Jim Miller 1977 Eleganza II 1977 Royale Hamilton, OH

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