What is this and what needs to happen with it for winterizing?

[Fipp]

Gonna winterize soon with both compressed air and Rv antifreeze.
Read a ton of posts here and feel good about what to do....except for this pipe behind the toilet . I know I need to hold open the flush valve in the toilet when blowing air through the system and be sure antifreeze goes through the toilet flush ....
This valve is probably something obvious and I should know about it but I don’t .
Can someone tell me what position it should be in, When and why?

Thanks !

[CRH]

That is the toilet water supply cut off valve. Do nothing to it. Go ahead with air and antifreeze as planned...The way it is now is open. If you turn the handle perpendicular to the line, it would be closed and stop water flow

[SeeMore]

That valve controls the water flow to the toilet flush mechanism. It is currently in the open (ON) position. When the handle is 90 degrees to the pipe it is closed.

Leave it in the open position (as is) when you apply air pressure and flush the toilet to clear that section of water pipe and the valve of moisture.

[cwf]

If you put antifreeze in the system properly, you will fill these lines and have little chance of freeze.

Blowing out the lines.. totally drying is possible.. and when you open the toilet valve (fill to flush), you will have confidence all is good.

The toilet plumbing typically is where you will see freeze.. so, draining well is important.

don't hesitate asking your questions!

[GCinSC2]

If your toilet has the spray nozzle wand, don't forget to spray it out too.

And the shower head/hose.

[tbashin]

Why use antifreeze if you will use air to blow the water out of the lines? Seems like an unnecessary step since there won't be enough water left to cause damage if it freezes.Not to mention having to flush the antifreeze out.
Once I blow my lines out, I just close all the valves till i'm ready to use again.

[tbashin]

Originally Posted by cwf

If you put antifreeze in the system properly, you will fill these lines and have little chance of freeze.

Blowing out the lines.. totally drying is possible.. and when you open the toilet valve (fill to flush), you will have confidence all is good.

The toilet plumbing typically is where you will see freeze.. so, draining well is important.

don't hesitate asking your questions!

I have the DW hold the toilet pedal down to open the valve as I blow lines out. Spray hose same procedure. Never had a toilet area freeze since I learned to do this.

[earljones458]

On winterizing and blowing the water out of the system be sure you pump all the water out of your water pump. When you blow the system it may bypass the water pump and you can crack the water pump if there is water left in the system. Antifreeze is usually run through the pump so this will take care of that issue.

[cazual6]

Originally Posted by CRH

That is the toilet water supply cut off valve. Do nothing to it. Go ahead with air and antifreeze as planned...The way it is now is open. If you turn the handle perpendicular to the line, it would be closed and stop water flow

I concur

[drbrick]

Blow the lines and anti--freeze via the pump (not from the fresh water tank - YUCK) don't forget the toilet sprayer and outside shower!!!

[SafariSarah]

When discussing and advising about winterizing, one should take into consideration the climate where the Airstream (or whatever) lives. Texas and Minnesota are very different. When we moved from a southern state that experienced few deep freezes to the mountains in a western state, we changed our winterizing routine.

[CruizinDux]

Originally Posted by drbrick

Blow the lines and anti--freeze via the pump (not from the fresh water tank - YUCK) don't forget the toilet sprayer and outside shower!!!

....and the BW flush line. JC uses a very cheap BW back flow/ck valve part that cracks it you look at it cross eyed. I only use air to winterize, but apparently missed some moisture when doing a quick winterize OTR. In the 20's most have removed the dinette to gain access. I cut thru the side of the bath vanity and replaced it with brass. Usually not found in a convenient location.

Bob

[jcanavera]

Using antifreeze will make sure you displace and residual water left in the pipes. Unless you apply enough pressure and dry out those lines, any droplets left in the system can move to a low spot in a particular line and freeze and crack it. It’s just not worth taking the chance. I sanitize my water system every spring and that alone will remove any traces of antifreeze. The antifreeze brands I use are environmentally friendly pet and animal safe.

Jack

[Minno]

In our climate, antifreeze is the best option for ensuring no winterizing issues. We replaced a water pump after using air only. Now we do both.

Kay

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Fipp

. . .
Can someone tell me what position it should be in, When and why?
. . .

You appear to have received your answer to leave the valve alone [open] and winterize as you wish.

Any chance that this thread could avoid de-volving into another AF-or-not [many-times-repeated] discussion?

https://www.google.com/search?q=anti...com&gws_rd=ssl
[dozens of earlier threads with hundreds of posts on-topic]

Sticky topic at the top of this forum -- over 400 posts on-topic: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f458...rize-7222.html

Thank you for your consideration,

Peter

PS -- Photo in Post #1 -- it does not get much simpler than this IMO:

[thewarden]

Leaving the antifreeze in will ensure that all the plumbing joints and the toilet seal will not dry up over the winter and potentially leak come spring. It is also important to put antifreeze in all the p-traps to make sure they don't freeze and keep tank odors from coming into the trailer.

[Fipp]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

You appear to have received your answer to leave the valve alone [open] and winterize as you wish.

Any chance that this thread could avoid de-volving into another AF-or-not [many-times-repeated] discussion?

https://www.google.com/search?q=anti...com&gws_rd=ssl
[dozens of earlier threads with hundreds of posts on-topic]

Sticky topic at the top of this forum -- over 400 posts on-topic: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f458...rize-7222.html

Thank you for your consideration,

Peter

PS -- Photo in Post #1 -- it does not get much simpler than this IMO:

I asked and many kindly responded and yes I have my answer. What is it you expect me to do about helpful comments offered from nice people?

[mefly2]

Originally Posted by jcanavera

Using antifreeze will make sure you displace and residual water left in the pipes. Unless you apply enough pressure and dry out those lines, any droplets left in the system can move to a low spot in a particular line and freeze and crack it. It’s just not worth taking the chance. I sanitize my water system every spring and that alone will remove any traces of antifreeze. The antifreeze brands I use are environmentally friendly pet and animal safe.

Jack

On the mark !!!

[NormanA]

Question.
Has anyone used wiper fluid in place of antifreeze? We live in NC and it rarely gets super cold.. antifreeze cold.

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by NormanA

Question.
Has anyone used wiper fluid in place of antifreeze? We live in NC and it rarely gets super cold.. antifreeze cold.

I have not and definitely wouldn’t recommend it. RV antifreeze is non-toxic - windshield washer fluid isn’t so human- and/or pet-friendly....