2020 Thor Compass 24SX Winterizing

[DParsons]

Can’t find any winterizing instructions and where to find things. Can’t find junction to push anti-freeze into lines or low point water drain, if I have one. Any help would be helpful.

[DParsons]

Need winterizing help. Can blow the lines out but can’t find much more that other DIY videos and web articles say should be done. Any help would be appreciated. New to RV ownership.

[16ACE27]

There's 3 basic methods to winterize you RV, the video below from Thor covers all 3. It's not RV model specific, most winterizing instructions are not, so you need to locate low point drains, FW tank drain, water heater isolation and bypass valves, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkHCkTEwf24

[DavidEM]

That video while accurate as far as it goes, presents an idealized view of reality and leaves out a lot of detail. Here is an attempt to fill in the blanks:

First find the water tank. It is usually underneath a bed. Near the bottom is a 1" pvc pipe that come out of the tank and goes to a 1" 1/4 turn ball valve. From that valve the pipe turns downward and is open below the floor. Turn that valve !/4 turn to open the valve and drain the tank.

From the water pump which is usually near the tank and the hot water heater which is often behind a furnace return air grate comes the cold and hot water lines usually routed side by side along the tank. Not as obvious as the video are 1/4 turn ball valves usually chrome on each line. Or there may be a little pull ring on each line that operates a valve. Either turn the handle 1/4 turn or pull the ring up to open the valve. The lines will then drain outside.

As noted above find the water heater and set the valves to bypass the heater. If you have a Girard or Truma water heater these don't need to be bypassed but Thor in their wisdom often installs bypass valves even though they are not needed so leave them set to flow through the water heater if you have one of these types.

The video briefly shows the water flush riser- a 8" piece of 3/8" PVC pipe with a plug on it that you use to connect a hose that you drop into a jug of antifreeze. But it omits discussion of the three way valve near its base that switches the flow from the water tank to the riser. So turn the valve 1/4 to switch to the riser and return it to normal when you are finished.

Unscrew the plug on the riser and replace with a 3/8" NPT to 3/8" barbed adapter that you use to connect a 2-3' length of 3/8" plastic hose. It it is all set up correctly the water pump when it is turned on should suck antifreeze up from the jug and not from the fresh water tank.

Most everything else in the video is correct. I leave my fresh water drain open as well as the grey and black water drains so that condensate can drain out. Some think critters can get in if they are open but that has never happened to me.

In the spring, close all drains, return the three way valve on the riser to its original position, remove the hose, fill the fresh water tank and run a gallon or so of water through each fixture and you are ready to go.

David

[Mark54]

Originally Posted by DParsons

Can’t find any winterizing instructions and where to find things. Can’t find junction to push anti-freeze into lines or low point water drain, if I have one. Any help would be helpful.

Best to sign on to the Thor site owner's page and download the schematics, esp. for plumbing to see where things are.
Hopefully something there for winterizing tips or instructions.

[DParsons]

I have a tankless water heater. How does that change things? Found the release for the water lines under the bed, thanks. Also still sketchy about how to run antifreeze through the lines.