Full Timing in 3570RS Winter

[BouseBill]

We are fulltimers in a new 3570RS, with winter coming up in a few months I was wondering about the best way to
winterize the water line for the residential refrigerator. I did see where the water line runs under the slide exposed to the
freezing temps. Even in the Arizona desert the temps will get below freezing in late December and early January.
Is there a way to isolate the refrigerator water line and blow it out to preclude it from freezing but at the same time keep the refrigerator operational otherwise?
Did I miss something in the owners manual?

 

[danemayer]

Hi BouseBill,

We have an owner-written Residential Refrigerator User Guide that includes specific instructions on how to winterize the Frigidaire. Since it was written, I think Heartland has started also using LG and Samsung residential units in some models. If you have one of those, the guide will still be useful, but for details on manually operating the ice maker, you may have to see if there's any help in the manufacturer's manual.

 

[BouseBill]

Read that Dan. works for someone who is shutting down for the winter, but for full-timers I think it lacks on how to shut off just the water. In the 3570RS it appears the fresh water tank is located on or slightly behind the axles. I say this because the water line for the Fridge comes out of the frame towards the rear of coach then runs up the drivers side on the frame where it enters a valve before entering the slide out, along with the propane line for the stove. I think I can disconnect the water line from the valve, and after removing the line, installing a 1/4" shutoff on the line and snake it back into the coach above the belly wrap for the short time we have freezing weather. The system would then be open for evacuation by compressed air from the valve to the fridge.

 

[danemayer]

The water line to the frig will have a inside cutoff valve (not the small valve outside). The cutoff valve connects the 1/4" plastic line to a 1/2" blue pex cold water line (see picture at top of page 6 of the guide for an example). The placement varies by model/floor plan. I've seen it in 2 locations inside the coach, under the counters. The third location that's common is behind the UDC and the rear basement storage wall near the UDC must be removed to get to it. It's possible that there are more locations. But the common aspect is that the clear plastic line is teed into a cold water pex line (blue) somewhere in the rig and there will be a cutoff valve located at the tee.

Once you locate the cutoff valve at the blue pex line, use compressed air to evacuate the line and the refrigerator. Then close the cutoff and you can reconnect city water and use the trailer in cold weather.

 

[BouseBill]

Thank you Dan. I found the shutoff valve in the center island. I am slow at times but I think I understand what the procedure is going to be your help is greatly appreciated, While we are discussing the refrigerator, is it necessary to run the inverter all the time when set up for extended periods of time? I could see the benefit of leaving it on if one was concerned about power failures, but other than that???

Bill

 

[danemayer]

Thank you Dan. I found the shutoff valve in the center island. I am slow at times but I think I understand what the procedure is going to be your help is greatly appreciated, While we are discussing the refrigerator, is it necessary to run the inverter all the time when set up for extended periods of time? I could see the benefit of leaving it on if one was concerned about power failures, but other than that???

Bill

Bill,

If you were out for the entire day and there were a power outage, that's when it would be most valuable.

Other than that, I don't see any reason to keep the inverter ON while parked on shore power.