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Re: [GMCnet] Winterizing the GMC [message #105686 is a reply to message #105684] Thu, 11 November 2010 12:30 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
emerystora is currently offline  emerystora   United States
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma:
Senior Member
Jim

It is likely that the growth didn't come from the propylene glycol but
that it came from your tank and water lines.

Even blowing out yours lines would not rid the lines of the organism.
It would still thrive in the damp lines The medium for growth is
probably the water in your system and the water that was entrained in
the propylene glychol solution that you pumped back into your bottles.

You should always disinfect your water system prior to a trip because
stagnant water in your system will always have some organisms in it.

You can put some bleach into the bottles that you have saved and
safely reuse it in the future.

Emery Stora

On Nov 11, 2010, at 11:15 AM, Jim Miller <gmcnet@jcmco.com> wrote:

> 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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