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10-07-2019, 05:53 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
2008 19' International
Lincoln
, Nebraska
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 192
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Do you leave antifreeze in all winter or drain it?
For those of you that use antifreeze to winterize, do you leave your antifreeze in your water system over the winter or run it through and drain it?
I winterized today for the first time (air compressor to blow out, then fill with antifreeze using a bypass valve on the water pump) and was told by a local RV shop that when they winterize a trailer they fill and then drain the antifreeze so it doesn't add (as much) taste to the piping and is easier to flush in the spring. Makes sense to me, but wonder what others do.
__________________
Mike (W9LG) and Jennifer
2008 International 19' Ocean Breeze, Equal-i-zer WDH
2015 Ford F150 4x4 Lariat SuperCrew EcoBoost, 3.55, Max Tow
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10-07-2019, 06:01 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1995 25' Excella
xxxxx
, xxxxxx
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 2,349
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I leave it
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10-07-2019, 06:22 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2004 28' Classic
Monument
, Colorado
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,566
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I leave it, but I think either is okay.
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DaveP
2004 Airstream Classic 28 "Willard"
2023 Ram 3500 4x4
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10-07-2019, 06:50 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2007 27' Safari FB SE
NW Oregon in a nice spot
, Oregon
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 879
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If using the propylene glycol formula I have never noticed a taste. Some with the alcohol formulation or a blend can leave a taste. So from my experience it depends. The Camco website has a good primer sheet on the different types of RV antifreeze and their characteristics.
Then, if you can find Starbrite (often at boat dealers) RV antifreeze I believe it is the propylene glycol formulation and cheaper than Camco from RV stores.
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10-07-2019, 07:52 PM
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#5
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,684
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Hi
The polyethylene glycol stuff most definitely has a taste. It's a bit sweet. It also has an impact on the digestive tract ( = it's MiraLAX)
Bob
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10-07-2019, 08:24 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2000 25' Safari
Davidson County
, NC Highlands County, FL
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,493
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I've done it both ways.
The last several years I've opened the low point drains and all faucets after pumping the antifreeze in, letting it run out till is stops.
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Alan
2014 Silverado LTZ 1500 Crew Cab 5.3L maximum trailering package
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10-07-2019, 08:38 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,085
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we blow our system first so its dry
then just add antifreeze to the traps
one jug does the whole AS
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10-07-2019, 08:59 PM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
2008 19' International
Lincoln
, Nebraska
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 192
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A W Warn
I've done it both ways.
The last several years I've opened the low point drains and all faucets after pumping the antifreeze in, letting it run out till is stops.
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I'm leaning that way right now. I think it's protected.
Thanks
__________________
Mike (W9LG) and Jennifer
2008 International 19' Ocean Breeze, Equal-i-zer WDH
2015 Ford F150 4x4 Lariat SuperCrew EcoBoost, 3.55, Max Tow
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10-07-2019, 09:00 PM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member
2008 19' International
Lincoln
, Nebraska
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 192
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Quote:
Originally Posted by waninae39
we blow our system first so its dry
then just add antifreeze to the traps
one jug does the whole AS
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Paranoia I guess. Thought about it, this is the first year I've done this. When I was blowing out the water I kept getting a fine mist; maybe I didn't keep going long enough. How long do you keep the air going?
__________________
Mike (W9LG) and Jennifer
2008 International 19' Ocean Breeze, Equal-i-zer WDH
2015 Ford F150 4x4 Lariat SuperCrew EcoBoost, 3.55, Max Tow
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10-07-2019, 09:23 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1956 22' Safari
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Vintage Kin Owner
Conifer/Evergreen
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,702
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Blow out water, run a couple of gallons of "the pink stuff" through, then drain "the pink stuff" out.
We did it last weekend in less than an hour...just in time. Even though it was in the mid-sixties today and thru Wednesday, the temps on Thursday are expected to be "high 21/low 9"...our first real cold snap for the season. Brr...
Shari
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10-07-2019, 09:32 PM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member
2008 19' International
Lincoln
, Nebraska
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 192
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Quote:
Originally Posted by InsideOut
Blow out water, run a couple of gallons of "the pink stuff" through, then drain "the pink stuff" out.
We did it last weekend in less than an hour...just in time. Even though it was in the mid-sixties today and thru Wednesday, the temps on Thursday are expected to be "high 21/low 9"...our first real cold snap for the season. Brr...
Shari
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As I said, I'm leaning that way right now. I think I'll drain the pink stuff out tomorrow before I store for the winter.
We spent last week in Estes Park; beautiful weather with one night below freezing. We're getting a drop in temp here Thu as well, but only down to 30 here, not single digits.
__________________
Mike (W9LG) and Jennifer
2008 International 19' Ocean Breeze, Equal-i-zer WDH
2015 Ford F150 4x4 Lariat SuperCrew EcoBoost, 3.55, Max Tow
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10-07-2019, 10:30 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2007 27' Safari FB SE
NW Oregon in a nice spot
, Oregon
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 879
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uncle_bob
Hi
The polyethylene glycol stuff most definitely has a taste. It's a bit sweet. It also has an impact on the digestive tract ( = it's MiraLAX)
Bob
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I stand corrected...please go to my reference to the Camco info page about the various formulations and their characteristics when making your decision. Sorry to confuse things with factual information vs personal opinion. Just part of the rv post thing I think.
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10-07-2019, 10:55 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2017 28' International
Jim Falls
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,300
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I leave mine in all winter:
I flush the system at least once a year anyway. That means purifying the lines and tank with bleach. So when you flush clean everything out you are really getting rid of the antifreeze. Also the antifreeze is an assurance that any water left doesn’t freeze, expand, and ruin fittings. But I live in NE Wisconsin. And it gets really cold. Plus I don’t trust blowing it out. Seeing that anti freeze coming through the pipes is a visual clue that water is not left in them.
By the way be sure to disconnect ALL your fittings that you can like the shower head and store in a warm place. I didn’t do that my first year and I had to buy a new shower head.
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10-07-2019, 11:33 PM
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#14
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3 Rivet Member
2008 19' International
Lincoln
, Nebraska
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 192
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daquenzer
I leave mine in all winter:
I flush the system at least once a year anyway. That means purifying the lines and tank with bleach. So when you flush clean everything out you are really getting rid of the antifreeze. Also the antifreeze is an assurance that any water left doesn’t freeze, expand, and ruin fittings. But I live in NE Wisconsin. And it gets really cold. Plus I don’t trust blowing it out. Seeing that anti freeze coming through the pipes is a visual clue that water is not left in them.
By the way be sure to disconnect ALL your fittings that you can like the shower head and store in a warm place. I didn’t do that my first year and I had to buy a new shower head.
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Thanks. Nebraska isn't exactly warm but probably not what you experience. I store it inside so it's out of the wind but no heat.
I bleach and flush every spring. And yes, I did take all faucets/strainers/hoses off and will keep inside at home.
But I still think blowing it out prior to antifreeze is a good idea to get the water out of the city fill portion of the system. I don't want to take the screen out and open up the backflow preventer to fill that part of the system with AF.
__________________
Mike (W9LG) and Jennifer
2008 International 19' Ocean Breeze, Equal-i-zer WDH
2015 Ford F150 4x4 Lariat SuperCrew EcoBoost, 3.55, Max Tow
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10-08-2019, 07:03 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Newberg
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,052
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I blow out and add rv antifreeze at the water pump intake. Run all water until it turns pink. Clean it out in the spring, no taste issues, and no damage from frozen pipes. Takes about a gallon and a half.
Mike
__________________
2015 27ft FC FB
WBCCI #3960
2019 F150 ecoboost
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10-08-2019, 07:27 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,101
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I leave it in the pipes. I drain it out of the fresh water tank.
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10-08-2019, 08:08 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
I'm In
, Kentucky
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,251
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I leave it in as a precaution in case and water didn't get blown out. If we go south for the winter, before returning I will flush the lines with antifreeze and leave it in since I don't carry a compressor to blow the lines.
I sanitize my fresh water tank in the spring. After draining out the antifreeze I sanitize the tank and then send that through the lines. Drain that out, blow it out and run fresh water through them.
We don't usually drink the water from our AS. It's for flushing, cooking and washing dishes. I buy bottled water for the coffee and for drinking.
__________________
-Rich
Rich & Yvonne
2006 Safari SE -Dora-
2004 4Runner SE 4.7L V8
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10-08-2019, 08:20 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
Lexington
, Minnesota
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,985
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We leave antifreeze in place for the winter. The one year we just used compressed air, we had to replace the pump in the spring. Minus 30F degrees is a little chilly.
We do an added step in the spring of adding baking soda to our lines and fresh water tank after sanitizing with bleach. It sits for 3 days, and then we flush the lines and tank with fresh water. Takes the bleach taste out. We do drink our water.
Kay
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10-08-2019, 08:28 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,800
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I once purchased a 1966 Overlander which had sat behind the owners house for 23 years. Even though it had tree-moss 3" thick on top of the trailer, had gone down to the axles due to four flat tires and had become a mouse hotel. The owners husband who had died, left the pink-juice in the system all that time. When I got the trailer home and hooked the water up to the trailer "NO LEAKS!!!! in the water system.
Since that day, I figured if it worked for old Mr. Jackson all those years, it should work for me over a winter.
Leave it in.
Enjoy,
__________________
Paul Waddell
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10-08-2019, 08:45 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Berlin
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,786
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I leave it however we mostly use bottle water for drinking, making coffee, and cooking.
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