bonehead move while winterizing

[wfharty3]

Tail between my legs here. I was winterizing my Thor Sequence 20K - everything going smoothly - I got to the step where I'm blowing out the lines via the city fill port. I don't have an air compressor so I was using the tire pump from my car - not great but it blows about 10-15 psi, and generally works pretty good. But the battery died and I was in a hurry, so I grabbed another inflator that I'd never used before. I mistakenly hooked up the sealant hose however, and blew tire sealant into my city line. (I know how dumb that sounds, but this inflator has a weird design - easy to make this mistake imho). Anyway, I realized it quickly and shut it off within a few seconds so probably just a small amount of sealant got in there. I hooked up a hose to the city fill, opened all the faucets, valves, etc and flushed the system for 1.5 hours - Water was foamy for a few minutes initially but then ran clear the rest of the way. Still, I'm nervous - I hate the idea of that junk in my plumbing and I'm worried about permanent damage. I'm considering running a citrus based cleaner thru the system and then thoroughly flushing again with water. Good idea? Bad idea? Other ideas? Am I overreacting? I believe tire sealant is pretty water soluble, so maybe what I've already done was enough to clean the system?



To make matters worse, I had not yet bypassed my Truma combi water heater, so it's possible that sealant got i in there as well.



Any advice is much appreciated. And really, I expect some mockery on this one. Ugg, can't believe I did this!

[Chateau_Nomad]

You stupid dummy!!! How could you make such an idiotic mistake??

JUST KIDDING!!! We've ALL "Been there... Done that".

I'd recommend not running your water pump until you've thoroughly flushed out the plumbing... which it sounds like you've done.

Maybe take the strainer off the pump and flush it out.

If all works... probably no harm done!!

[dkoldman]

What a great idea!!! I bet it sealed any possible leaks

Sanitize your entire plumbing system with Chlorine, use 2 - 3 times the normal amount and let it sit overnight. Repeat the 2nd night with normal chorine amount. Flush the entire system with fresh water until you think you are normal. Take a water sample to get tested if you have any doubts for added assurances.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad

JUST KIDDING!!! We've ALL "Been there... Done that".

Not sure I have been there, if I was; I was drunk

[MJC62]

Before you start adding chlorine or any other chemicals to the stuff that hopefully you already flushed go online and read the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for the product. It should tell you what the chemicals are in the tire sealant and what other chemicals that it may react with.(*Somewhere along the line years ago some people cleaning bathrooms found out its not good to mix bleach and ammonia it can kill you)
From what I read on the Slime brand tire sealant you should be ok sanitizing with bleach but I would check the MSDS on the stuff you have just the same

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by MJC62

Before you start adding chlorine or any other chemicals to the stuff that hopefully you already flushed go online and read the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for the product. It should tell you what the chemicals are in the tire sealant and what other chemicals that it may react with.(*Somewhere along the line years ago some people cleaning bathrooms found out its not good to mix bleach and ammonia it can kill you)
From what I read on the Slime brand tire sealant you should be ok sanitizing with bleach but I would check the MSDS on the stuff you have just the same

That's right, I forgot to say be sure and where a mask first. Preferably a CM-7M, let not take any chances

Anyone using ammonia these days as household product well that is entirely different story.

[JamieGeek]

At any rate a tire pump from a car isn't going to do it.

To blow out RV lines (much like an in ground sprinkler system) you need a compressor that can produce volume not compression. You would still have water in the system using a basic tire unit.

Of course an RV system isn't quite as large as a sprinker system so you don't need one of those huge pull behind compressors but you would want something with a tank.

[HarryS]

Get a cheap compressor from HF. Once you are done with the side issues, then use it to blow out the plumbing.

[Chateau_Nomad]

Originally Posted by HarryS

Get a cheap compressor from HF. Once you are done with the side issues, then use it to blow out the plumbing.

I would add - one with a TANK, like a "pancake" or "hotdog" as they're typically called. As stated - you need VOLUME, not just a PSI rating. The tank style compressors allow you to store a large volume of air - then release that volume with fairly high PSI - and volume. A cheap tire inflator will NOT work for that.

[wfharty3]

Thanks all, appreciate all the input and humor.

[chunker21]

Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad

I would add - one with a TANK, like a "pancake" or "hotdog" as they're typically called. As stated - you need VOLUME, not just a PSI rating. The tank style compressors allow you to store a large volume of air - then release that volume with fairly high PSI - and volume. A cheap tire inflator will NOT work for that.

And I'll add ADJUSTABLE compressor so you can set the pressure around 50psi. Too low and you won't get the pressure and flow to do much good, too high and you won't have to worry about freezing issues.

[marghaley]

call the sealant mfg to see if they can offer advice

[Delco Bobby]

Originally Posted by wfharty3

Tail between my legs here. I was winterizing my Thor Sequence 20K - everything going smoothly - I got to the step where I'm blowing out the lines via the city fill port. I don't have an air compressor so I was using the tire pump from my car - not great but it blows about 10-15 psi, and generally works pretty good. But the battery died and I was in a hurry, so I grabbed another inflator that I'd never used before. I mistakenly hooked up the sealant hose however, and blew tire sealant into my city line. (I know how dumb that sounds, but this inflator has a weird design - easy to make this mistake imho).

If that is the same tire inflator that came with my ProMaster chassis then it is an easy mistake to make. At least for me. The little icons didn’t make sense to me differentiating between inflating and sealing.

Sorry for your grief.

[Campnjoe]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf-DJCDPMkk

The fit rv did a test on this using a standard bicycle pump.

[Delco Bobby]

I was waiting for James to use that crummy compressor. But good and informative video anyway. Thanks for posting it.

[DogLovers]

Well some people I swear.

[MLP]

The only thing that would worry me is just how much this stuff can leach chemicals into the water. Plastic and rubber products that are not designed for the food industry do leach chemicals. Just how much, what kinds, and the amount is unknown. How much of the chemicals leached into the water becomes a health problem? Most can be carcinogens. So...?

[DogLovers]

Originally Posted by MLP

The only thing that would worry me is just how much this stuff can leach chemicals into the water. Plastic and rubber products that are not designed for the food industry do leach chemicals. Just how much, what kinds, and the amount is unknown. How much of the chemicals leached into the water becomes a health problem? Most can be carcinogens. So...?

Well since you don't drink the water (no one does) I wouldn't worry about showers or washing dishes. You couldn't possibly get enough of anything to harm you.

[chunker21]

Originally Posted by DogLovers

Well since you don't drink the water (no one does) I wouldn't worry about showers or washing dishes. You couldn't possibly get enough of anything to harm you.

A lot of people drink the water, we do. But I sanitize at least yearly, drain after trips, replace filters, and avoid chemically nuking the supply system.

[rudyhehn]

My worry would be whether it gums up your pump or 4 way valve. The internal fixtures should be fine. I doubt a health issue. With that much flushing unlikely to be chemicals that would be at any more risk than a trip to Burger King. Your body is exposed to trace amounts of stuff like that in everyday eating and drinking.