Holding Tank Care And Maintenance; Water System Winterizing - Fleetwood Tioga 1988 Owner's Manual

PLEASE • • . PRACTICE GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
WHEN DRAINING WASTES AT
A
CAMPSITE OR
DISPOSAL STATION. LEAVE THE SITE IN GOOD
ORDER. ABOVE ALL, DO NOT POLLUTE.
Holding Tank Care and Maintenance
Since holding tanks don't rely on any sophisticated
mechanical devices for their operation, they are vir-
tually troublefree. The most common problem is also
an unpleasant one - clogging. You can miniglize the
chances of clogging by keeping the following con-
siderations in mind;
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*
*
Keep the black water tank knife valve closed.
Fill tank to at least 3/4 full before dumping. Be
sure to cover the tank bottom with water after
dumping.
Use only toilet tissue formulated for use in sep-
tic tank or RV sanitation systems.
Keep both knife valves closed and locked, and
the drain cap tightly in place when using the
system on the road.
. Use only cleaners that are approved for use in
septic tank or RV sanitation systems.
Use a special holding tank deodorant chemical
approved for septic tank systems in the black
water holding tank. These chemicals aid the
breakdown of solid wastes, and make the
system much more pleasant to use.
Do not puttacial tissue, paper, ethylene glycol-
based or other automotive antifreeze, sanitary
napkins, or household toilet cleaners in the
holding tanks.
Do not put anything solid in either tank that
could scratch or puncture the tank.
. If the drllin system does get clogged:
*
Use a hand-operllted probe to loosen stubborn
accumulations. Seriously clogged P-traps may
require disassembly. .Be careful not to over-
tighten when reassembling. .
*
Do not use harsh household drain cleaners.
* .
Do not use motorized drain augers.
*
Sometimes the holding tank valve will get
clogged. In this case, a hand-operated auger
maybe necessary. Be ready to close the valve
quickly once the clog is cle.ared. If the' seal gets
damaged, it is easily replaced •
. WATER SYSTEM WINTERIZING
Read this section completely before performing
winterization.
If the motor home is to be stored unheated in
temperatures· below freezing, the fresh water and
waste systems should be winterized. The following
guidelines will familiarize you with the items that need
27
attention. A detailed storage and winterization pro-
cedure is outlined in the "PREPARING THE MOTOR
HOME FOR lONG TERM STORAGE" section.
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Drain the fresh water tank by opening the water
tank drain valve.
Turn water pump on (12-volt DC power on.)
Open a cold water faucet. When the flow of
water stops, turn the pump off. "
After opening all hot and cold water faucets,
open the drain valves on HOT and COLD water
pipes. These valves are located in the water
utility
compartment or under the galley sink and
drain out the bottom of the motor home. Leaves
"these valves open. "
Drain the water heater by opening the drain
valve at the bottom of the heater and open the
safety valve. Open the hot water faucets.
Depress the flush pedal or pull the flush levers
on . the toilet •
When each faucet has been opened, drained,
and closed, close the water line drain valves.
Drain the waste water system by following the
normal procedure for draining the holding tanks.
Apply graphite lubricant to the knife valve ac-
tuator rod.
Be sure ALL water from ALL plumbing fixtures
has been drained. "
Install all protective caps:
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Water tank fill
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City water inlet
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Waste tank drain outlet
CAUTION: DRAINING THE WATER SYSTEM
ALONE Will NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE COLD
WEATHER PROTECTION. IF THE MOTOR HOME
IS TO BE UNHEATED DURING FREEZING TEM-
PERATURES, CONSULT YOUR DEALER FOR THE
BEST WINTERIZING PROCEDURE FOR YOUR
CLIMATE.. YOUR DEALER CAN WINTERIZE
YOURMOTORHOME FOR YOU OR CAN SUPP-
lY YOU WITH ONE OF THE SPECIAL ANTI-
FREE2ES WHICH ARE SAFE AND APPROVED
FOR USE IN RV WATER SYSTEMS. FOLLOW THE
INSTRUCTIONS" FURNISHED WITH THE AN-
TIFREEZE.
WARNING: DO NOT USE AUTOMOTIVE OR
WINDSHIELD WASHER ANTIFREEZE IN THE
MOTOR HOME WATER SYSTEM. THESE COULD
BE HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED_
If the motor home is to be stored during freezing
temperatures, see "PREPARING THE MOTOR HOME
FOR LONG TERM STORAGE" section of this manual.