If you are reading this article, hopefully that means winter has passed and spring / the camping season is finally here! Personally, we are excited to get our 2022 30BHS out of storage and the kids back glamping.
In this article I’ll go step by step with the process, with photos, on how to de-winterize your camper.
Items Needed to De-winterize a 2022 30BHS Cougar Camper
If you have seen my how to winterize a 2022 30BHS Cougar article or video then you’ll be up to speed on the first step. If not, that is fine, I’ll catch you up really quick.
I didn’t like how I had to disconnect and reconnect the plumbing each season to get the antifreeze in the lines. So what I did to remedy this was to install a bypass valve on the intake side of the pump.
What this bypass valve allows me to do is shut off the fresh water tank and connect directly to a port or hose which makes life so much easier. This port allows me to draw antifreeze right in when I’m winterizing.
Now that I’m de-winterizing the camper, if you have installed this, you’ll want the bypass valve to be parallel to the supply line or pump. This means the antifreeze port is closed and the fresh water tank is open.
If you don’t do this, the pump will just be sucking air which isn’t good for it. From here on out, everything in this process is stock and from the factory as is.
How to Install an Anode Rod in a 2022 30BHS Cougar Camper
When de-winterizing the camper, the first thing I like to do is ensure all water is contained. The antifreeze bypass is taken care of and the next item on the list is the hot water heater.
To get the hot water heater ready for camping you’ll need to reinstall the anode rod. I always recommend starting the season out with a new one. Ensure you have some Teflon tape on the threads to prevent leaks.
Next, you’ll need a 1 1/16″ socket to snug the anode rod in the hot water heater.
Insert the anode rod into the hot water heater and snug it up, do not over tighten it! That is it. Note, the bypass valve on the hot water tank should still be enabled.
Turning the bypass valve off will be the last step, this prevents the tank from filling up with antifreeze.
Now that everything is sealed up, the system can be pressurized. Attached the camper to a water supply through the city connection and turn on the water.
From here, you will simply go around and turn on all the fixtures, cold and then hot, and let the water run until it is clear.
So for a quick guide, turn on the bathroom sinks cold water and run it until it is clear.
Turn off the cold water and turn on the hot water and run it until it is clear. Once clear, turn off the hot water and move on to the toilet.
The toilet doesn’t have to be done, but I like to do it all in one shot so I don’t get any pink antifreeze staining on the fixture.
Simply continue flushing until the water runs clear. Once the toilet is done move on to the shower.
Run the cold water until the water runs clear. Repeat this process for the hot water.
Repeat this process for the cold and hot water in the kitchen sink.
Finally, there is two outdoor showers that I like to do this too as well. This is solely so my kids don’t start bathing in antifreeze. Run both the hot and cold water until the water runs clear.
The only other area that needs to be cleared of the anti freeze is the low point drains. Turn off the water supply and open up kitchen faucet. Remove the low point drain caps and let the antifreeze drain out.
Reinstall the low point drain caps.
Now that the antifreeze is all out of the campers lines, it is time to engage the hot water heater. The first step is to simply turn off the bypass valve.
With the water supply back on and the hot water heaters bypass off, you can now turn the hot water side of the faucet on. Do not turn the heater on yet!
Let the hot water faucet run / spit until a solid stream of water forms. This will take a couple seconds to allow the hot water tank fill up with water and the air to be removed. After you get a solid stream of water, you are all done and the hot water heater can be used and turned on when needed.
Enjoy the camping season!
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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