Winterizing water pump

[Thomas2]

OK to put antifreeze in fresh water tank and pump thru the system! (I know the tank has to be flushed and sanitized afterward.)

[majorairhead]

I don't do it that way. I disconnect the line before the pump and attach the hose to the pump then put the other end of the hose in the gallon jug.

It wouldn't hurt anything doing it the way you say you'd like to, it's up to you. Some will say NO NO, some will say OK OK, it's your belly the water from the freshwater tank will be going in to if you drink from it.

Question is, I guess, will the flushing process in the spring clean out the freshwater tank to your satisfaction?

[dbj216]

It might take several gallons of RV antifreeze in an empty fresh water tank before the pump would start to draw any into the inlet.

It is better to disconnect the inlet to the pump and as majorairhead said, let the pump draw right from the RV antifreeze bottle.

Actually, I have the "winterizing kit" for RVs that is available at most RV dealers and Camping World and the like. This makes the disconnect unnecessary. It is just a little valve in the line that allows a short cut to the RV antifreeze jug.

Then I pump the RV antifreeze throughout the Airstream plumbing until I get red fluid from each faucet and fixture. I know I am well protected then. And I bypass the water heater so I don't have 6 gallons of RV antifreeze in it. I do drain the water heater of course.

David