Water in toilet bowl after winterizing Winnebago Spirit 31K

[shemphill]

Question, so I winterized our RV, Winnebago Spirit 31K by blowing air through the lines and opening the sinks, water heater, shower etc. I did not flush the toilet; I just left the little bit of water that sits in the bottom stay since I did not think it would be an issue.

I did not think about it until about a week ago when I went out to do my generator start etc, and opened the toilet lid and noticed that the bowl was about 1/4 full of water.

I would have thought that any air pressure on the lines would have been relived when I disconnected the air chuck, I'm guessing that I was mistaken and that left over pressure slowly pressed water out of the toilet flush?

Is that possible?

 

[Morich]

Something missing when the lines were drained if there was a noticable amount that came out in the bowl. If there was water in the stool valve and it froze, you may have been lucky that it did come out instead of breaking the valve?
But the biggie item to consider is how the lines were drained!
You may want to test the stool with water before heading out on the next trip?
If there are hidden surprises, better to know sooner than the night before a trip!

 

[shemphill]

yeah I'm going to turn the pump on and check it this weekend. I purged the water lines with air and I kept the coach heat running through the freezing days with the bathroom door and all cabinet doors open. The one thing I forgot about was pressing the stool flush to purge the water out of that little line. I checked on the RV during those freezes and it was warm and toasty inside.

 

[Eagle5]

I would think if you had the hot water tank empty and the entire system was pressurized, that would be the driving force to push remaining water in the toilet supply line out and into the bowl. Of course, this is assuming that your toilet flush valve has a slow leak.

 

[shemphill]

yeah it's really strange. the hot water tank is empty. I pulled the anode rod and purged the system. when blowing air through the lines, I'd stop the air flow, then my wife would close the faucets inside one by one just so we did not leave pressure on the lines. I know the hose inlet has a backflow preventer on it but I would not have thought that toilet line would have stayed pressurized. That said it looks like it did. I'll have to monitor it for a slow drip when it's under water pressure next time we are hooked up.

 

[Eagle5]

One time when I refilled my system with fresh water (after winterizing) I did have a slow leak coming into the toilet bowl through the flush valve. I cycled the flushing foot pedal a few times, and the leak has never come back.

 

[Mongobird]

yeah it's really strange. the hot water tank is empty. I pulled the anode rod and purged the system. when blowing air through the lines, I'd stop the air flow, then my wife would close the faucets inside one by one just so we did not leave pressure on the lines. I know the hose inlet has a backflow preventer on it but I would not have thought that toilet line would have stayed pressurized. That said it looks like it did. I'll have to monitor it for a slow drip when it's under water pressure next time we are hooked up.

You could also do a leak down test. Put pressure, like 30#, close the air off and see if the system keeps the pressure. The air will leak faster than water, and not leave a mess.

Good luck.

 

[shemphill]

Thanks again for all the advice. I have not had an issue with it since then. We just got back from a 12 day trip and had no problems with anything. Maybe the air pressure caused a bit of a leak that corrected itself.

 

[Morich]

One small point to assure you think of it next time to winterize? When moving around to each faucet to open the line and let all water come out, be sure to do the stool as well!
Thinking of the line to the stool and full of water, when we put pressure on, there is no other way for that water to get out until we hold the flush valve open to let it run into the stool until we get nothing but air coming through. If not done it can leave that line from where it joins the others as well as the valve full of water and those are very likely to freeze! UGH?

 

[Eagle5]

Thanks again for all the advice. I have not had an issue with it since then. We just got back from a 12 day trip and had no problems with anything. Maybe the air pressure caused a bit of a leak that corrected itself.

Same thing for me. My leak has never come back.

 

[RayIN]

You cannot blow out all water from the plumbing with air pressure, there will always be some in dips/swags in the flexible lines.

 

[wyocamper-WO]

I blow mine out every year, if there is any left it's never caused me any issues. One thing I do though is hold the toilet flush pedal down until nothing but air is coming out of the line. I seem to get a lot more water out of the toilet line than I do the sinks or shower lines.

 

[klook]

Make it pink and don't worry about it.