Cold Weather Advice

[Jwl_Atlanta]

We do not have a lot of experience in cold weather with our coach and some advice would be appreciated with the temps headed into the 20s Sunday night in our area. I have the coach in our driveway as we get ready to head further south mid-next week. It is not plugged in, just running on the AGS. I have opened the low-point drains and emptied the fresh water tank, looking to blow out the water lines with compressed air if I can figure that out. Should I turn on the oasis furnace to keep the inside above freezing? Anything else we should consider to make sure we do not suffer damage from a hard freeze? Thanks in advance.

 

[Akdare]

I would turn on the Oasis...it enables the wet bay heater as well...

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Definitely turn on the Oasis diesel burner! Set the thermostat to around 50 degrees. That will keep the wet bay from freezing up. To blow out the water lines with air, you need an adapter from garden hose thread to air fitting. Set your air source regulator to 40 psi. Do not use the coach air supply unless you have a way to regulate the pressure to 40 psi or less. With heat in the coach, you shouldn't have to blow out the water lines if the outside temps will only be in the 20s.

TJ

 

[Jwl_Atlanta]

That type adapter would be perfect. Where would I look for it?

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

That type adapter would be perfect. Where would I look for it?

Here...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002XL2IEA/?tag=rvf01-20

And, most RV stores will have them. Finally, the plumbing section of any decent hardware store will have the components to assemble one. If you go that route, be sure to chose the longer-nose "industrial" version of the male air fitting, not the short-nose "automotive" style.

TJ

 

[Jwl_Atlanta]

Got it, thanks!! Much appreciated.

 

[Jwl_Atlanta]

Got it, thanks!! Much appreciated.

If I set the thermostat to “Furnace” that is the setting which engages the Oasis system, correct?

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

I don't know how the Dutch Star system works. On our Mountain Aire, we have an "Oasis" panel within the Climate section of SilverLeaf. I would guess that the "Furnace" setting is equivalent. Does it offer the option of using just the electric Oasis elements, and/or the diesel burner?

Any Dutch Star owners that can help @Jwl_Atlanta?

TJ

 

[Hawkeye]

If I set the thermostat to “Furnace” that is the setting which engages the Oasis system, correct?

Yes, you should have zone 1 for the front and zone 2 for the rear, with temp control for each, on the furnace setting.

 

[Neal]

If I set the thermostat to “Furnace” that is the setting which engages the Oasis system, correct?

With Diesel Burner ON and/or Electric Burners (AC I/II) and Furnace on the thermostat you should be fine. I think the wet bay heater is automatic and is not associated to the thermostat at all but it does need a heat source from OASIS being Diesel or Electric burners.

 

[Hawkeye]

With Diesel Burner ON and/or Electric Burners (AC I/II) and Furnace on the thermostat you should be fine. I think the wet bay heater is automatic and is not associated to the thermostat at all but it does need a heat source from OASIS being Diesel or Electric burners.

Yes this is correct, but you also need the furnace thermostat set above freezing, I'm pretty sure there is not a automatic thermostat in the wet bay. I'm not sure if there is even dedicated heat ducts in the wet bay or basement.

 

[Jwl_Atlanta]

I don't think I can simply turn the Oasis burners on, correct? I don't want to turn the Oasis burner on for the hot water since I have drained the water out of the coach for the 20-degree projected temps tonight. I am hoping setting the thermostat to furnace for zones 1 & 2, I have engaged the Oasis System which will also heat the wet bay?

 

[Neal]

Peek into your wet bay above the fresh tank, high up there, you'll see a heater. OASIS needs to be on one way or the other to make heat, water has nothing to do with this. No need to drain tanks but if you're going to winterize then go all the way.

 

[Jwl_Atlanta]

Thanks, I will grab a flashlight and check it out. Thanks again

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

You can run Oasis with the water system drained. Oasis is a closed-loop system that heats a special boiler fluid, not the water directly. There is no interconnection. When heating water or the coach, an indirect heat transfer occurs from the closed loop boiler fluid system. Our coach has had the Oasis system running for the last two weeks during a cold weather spell; with the water system drained. No harm done.

TJ

 

[Hawkeye]

I don't think I can simply turn the Oasis burners on, correct? I don't want to turn the Oasis burner on for the hot water since I have drained the water out of the coach for the 20-degree projected temps tonight. I am hoping setting the thermostat to furnace for zones 1 & 2, I have engaged the Oasis System which will also heat the wet bay?

It does not matter if you drained the plumbing water out. The Oasis system is a closed loop, boiler type heater that heats the hot water furnace (with anti-freeze) and also is your instant, on demand, domestic hot water heater with no tank to winterize. Hope this helps, the Oasis is a great system, but very confusing if you have never had one.

 

[Hawkeye]

Yes what Jim said ^^^^^ you beat me to it!

 

[Jwl_Atlanta]

Ok, I turned the Oasis burner on and the thermostat is set to 50-degrees. In response to Neal, I did see a little heat exchanger in the wet bay. See the attached picture. I don't see a way to turn it on manually, hopefully it is heated by the Oasis fluid running through it?

 

[Hawkeye]

That's interesting, our Dutchstar wet bay is totally enclosed on the top side.

 

[Jwl_Atlanta]

So is ours, I had to peek up/under the panel where all the controls and are mounted. Never noticed this little exchanger mounted there.