Winterizing Norcold 4-door icemaker

[bradjones1]

Attempting to winterize my Norcold 4-door RV fridge with an icemaker. I have located the solenoid and can remove the feed line from the drinking water system/pump, however the instructions for the fridge state to remove and drain the feed line to the icemaker. The heating wire, however, is wrapped around both the line AND the solenoid, making this an impossible task. What should I do?

[Robbbyr]

Originally Posted by bradjones1

Attempting to winterize my Norcold 4-door RV fridge with an icemaker. I have located the solenoid and can remove the feed line from the drinking water system/pump, however the instructions for the fridge state to remove and drain the feed line to the icemaker. The heating wire, however, is wrapped around both the line AND the solenoid, making this an impossible task. What should I do?

I winterize mine in place by pumping antifreeze through it.

I have my water system full of antifreeze and pressurized. Then I disconnect the two spade connector wires attached to the solenoid coil. I have a cheap zip-style extension cord that I cut off the female end and crimped two female spade terminals to that end. Put those ends on the terminals of solenoid. Place a couple of towels inside the freezer under the icemaker. Then plug in the cord to open the solenoid for about 10 seconds. Pink stuff should fill the line and displace all the water. Have a helper, or go back in yourself, to verify that antifreeze has dripped out onto the towel.

To dewinterize I do the same thing, I use air first to blow out the antifreeze then I purge it with water a few times. Then I discard the first couple of batches of ice.

Been doing this since mine was new, no problems at all!

[SloPoke]

Originally Posted by Robbbyr

I winterize mine in place by pumping antifreeze through it.

I have my water system full of antifreeze and pressurized. Then I disconnect the two spade connector wires attached to the solenoid coil. I have a cheap zip-style extension cord that I cut off the female end and crimped two female spade terminals to that end. Put those ends on the terminals of solenoid. Place a couple of towels inside the freezer under the icemaker. Then plug in the cord to open the solenoid for about 10 seconds. Pink stuff should fill the line and displace all the water. Have a helper, or go back in yourself, to verify that antifreeze has dripped out onto the towel.

To dewinterize I do the same thing, I use air first to blow out the antifreeze then I purge it with water a few times. Then I discard the first couple of batches of ice.

Been doing this since mine was new, no problems at all!

Word of experience... It works well, even for those who just use compressed air, but don't leave the water valve solenoid energized more than a couple of minutes at a time... they are not designed to be left energized for very long.

I have the same cheater cord... and a replaced solenoid valve.

[Robbbyr]

Good point! I only plug mine in for 10-second bursts. Plenty of time to fill or purge and about how long it stays open when actually filling to make ice!