Country Coach Owners Forum

Country Coach Restoration, Repair & Parts Forums => Country Coach Archive => Topic started by: Richard Stearns on February 16, 2006, 12:44:53 pm

Title: Icemaker winterizing
Post by: Richard Stearns on February 16, 2006, 12:44:53 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 21046 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/21046)
A search failed to bring up any recent suggestions on a subject I thought was behind me for the season. Looks like it might get into the teens here in W. Washington for the next few nights, so I'd like to revisit this subject if anyone has a suggestion.

Thanks,
Dick

Allure #30519
Title: Re: Icemaker winterizing
Post by: Seven_siamese_cats on February 16, 2006, 01:38:18 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 21048 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/21048)
I didn't worry about this until we actually were projected to get down to 28 degrees :-) Not sure this is all that you need to do, but this is what I did.
1) made sure the icemaker was 'off' (ice basket sensor wire was lifted to the top position, where it latches).
2) made sure the water pump was off and there was no pressure in the water system (turn on kitchen and bath faucets)
3) took the refridgerator access panel off the side of the coach and unscrewed the icemaker feed hose from whatever that thing it is attached to (electric valve?) and let it drain. Should have had a can or something to catch it but didn't, so had to wipe it up with paper towels.
4) unscrewed the supply hose from the 'valve' and bent it down to drain.
5) reattached the hoses (might have been better to leave them unhooked, but the odds of my remembering to reattach them come springtime approach 0 :-)
6) replaced the panel

Don't know what else you could or should do, if in REALLY cold temperatures, or below freezing for more than a few hours.

John 04 Inspire 51078

Quote from: Richard Stearns
>

A search failed to bring up any recent suggestions on a subject I
thought was behind me

Quote
for the season. Looks like it might get into the teens here in W.
Washington for the next

Quote
few nights, so I'd like to revisit this subject if anyone has a

suggestion.
Title: Re: Icemaker winterizing
Post by: Mike Cebula on February 16, 2006, 05:09:31 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 21054 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/21054)
The icemaker along with much more can be found in the owners tech tips at:
http://www.countrycoach.com/company/service/index.cfm?mode=tech_topics&article=10 (http://www.countrycoach.com/company/service/index.cfm?mode=tech_topics&article=10)
Mike Cebula
95 Magna #5266

Richard Stearns wrote:
Title: Re: Icemaker winterizing
Post by: Richard Stearns on February 16, 2006, 07:16:11 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 21055 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/21055)
Thanks, Mike, although I don't recall any winterizing instructions in the DuoTherm manual....I'll look again though. Fortunately, we're in powered storage, so I can always turn up the space heater, maybe keep it close to the fridge.

Dick

Allure #30519
Title: Re: Icemaker winterizing
Post by: R D Vanderslice on February 16, 2006, 08:44:43 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 21056 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/21056)
Dick, I'm in North East Texas where it can be 85 degrees, as it was today, and 25 degrees when I wake up in the morning. To keep from hooking and unhooking the ice maker supply line all the time I have a light (I think it is 60 watts) that I put in the outside refrigerator access area. I take the cover off, tape up the vents with duct tape, put the light in there, and plug it in. There is even a 110v receptacle located in this access area. The light I use has an on and off switch on it and I just turn in on when I think it might get below freezing. The light bulb puts off enough heat to protect this area unless it gets extremely cold. A lot of people do this in ski areas because they want to be able to use their ice maker when it is freezing outside. To me, the ice maker supply line is the most vulnerable, due to being exposed to the outside air, because of the vent holes, and because of very little help from any inside warmth. Two caveats: Be very careful to make sure that the light buld is not touching anything or a fire is possible.. Also, remember that the light bulb could burn out and then you're sunk. A lot of the coaches (mine has it) have a heat strip wrapped around part of the supply line, but it is not on all of the line for some reason. Good luck.

R. D. Vanderslice

06 Allure 470 no. 31294

06 Honda Odyssey
Title: Re: Icemaker winterizing
Post by: Seven_siamese_cats on February 17, 2006, 02:43:53 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 21073 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/21073)
Dick, that may help, but perhaps not. On my coach, the icemaker supply line is against the outer wall behind the fridge, and even in the uninsulated fridge burner access compartment open to the outside.
Don't know if heat inside would be enough to overcome the cold outside...

Quote from: Richard Stearns
>

Thanks, Mike, although I don't recall any winterizing instructions
in the DuoTherm

Quote
manual....I'll look again though. Fortunately, we're in powered
storage, so I can always