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cms4140 · 12-10-2010, 08:22 PM

Winterizing question: Is a cup of antifreeze in the toilet bowl - a good idea or bad idea?

dznf0g · 12-10-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cms4140

Winterizing question: Is a cup of antifreeze in the toilet bowl - a good idea or bad idea?

Good idea, I always keep AF in the bowl, if for no other reason than to keep the seals from drying out.

cms4140 · 12-10-2010, 08:35 PM

Thanks for the reply. I was a bit concerned about staining the bowl with it. Perhaps that is not an issue.

dznf0g · 12-10-2010, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cms4140

Thanks for the reply. I was a bit concerned about staining the bowl with it. Perhaps that is not an issue.

My old trailer was 17 years old, with a Thetford toilet and had AF in it for 4 - 5 months every year. Never stained. Also, the AF doesn't evaporate very readily. If there's AF still in the bowl after months, you know your seal is good.

cms4140 · 12-10-2010, 08:43 PM

Again, thanks for the feedback. Still learning...
I wasn't expecting to have to deal with this so early in December down here. Unusually cold already.

dogfather · 12-10-2010, 09:25 PM

I have a washer dryer combo in my 2000 airstream.. Is there an easy way to winterize the washer or do you have to run a cycle to get the antifreeze in ..also the drain for the washer trap lets fumes into the coach if you dont use the washer for a while..can I silicone around the hose and still have it work?thanks JIMMY dogfather motor yatch

dogfather · 12-10-2010, 09:26 PM

can anyone tell me how to get to the water pump in a 2000 thirty five foot land yatch:?freightliner chasis..thanks JIMMY t dogfather

Gene · 12-11-2010, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cms4140

Winterizing question: Is a cup of antifreeze in the toilet bowl - a good idea or bad idea?

I leave some in the bowl too. No stains after a couple of winters and I'd rather have a stain than a blown seal.

The question about a washing machine is a good one. I don't know if they are designed differently from household models so there are no low points in the hoses or pumps, but I'd check it out thoroughly and run some antifreeze through it. The trap should have antifreeze in it too—it should go to a grey water tank and that wouldn't smell all that bad when the trap dries out. If for whatever reason the washing machine drain is connected to the black tank, then it would smell much worse.

Gene

rapz · 02-01-2011, 10:50 AM

I have my AS plugged in at home on a 30amp plug and we've got four days of freezing temps coming in (mid 20's and only at night). What should I do? Do I "winterize" the whole thing or are there limited things I need to do? I can run the furnace at about 50 for the indoor stuff, but what about the tanks. I'll drain the grey water and fresh water, but the black water (sewer) has about an 1/8 to 1/4 of a tank full (no solids). I don't have a local spot to go to to drain that tank. I've read all of the previous messages, but not sure I caught a situation like mine where I'm still powered up, but freeze is on the way. Appreciate any recommendations. Thanks!

dznf0g · 02-01-2011, 01:36 PM

Relax. Keep the furnace on as you said. How cold is the forecast?

dznf0g · 02-01-2011, 01:36 PM

in the day?

rapz · 02-01-2011, 02:10 PM

28 tonight; Wed: 47/27/ Thurs 36/28; Fri 45/29; then back to 60s on Saturday!

dznf0g · 02-01-2011, 02:56 PM

I don't know all the models as well as I should, I suppose. I assume you have an enclosed underbelly with heat ducts to the tank areas. With just barely going below freezing and well above during the days, I think you'll be fine. Leave the furnace on and make sure you have enough propane.

If you have an outside brass spigot, you probably have a shut off for that spigot inside the trailer. I'd close that valve and open the spigot.

Leave all the cabinets (with plumbing in them) ajar so the heat can flow into them. Some would suggest filling the black and gray tanks. They say that all that mass of water will freeze much more slowly than a small volume. Seems logical, but I have never tried that, so I have no personal experience.

Since you're hooked to shore power, turn on the water heater on electric (if it has water in it and not bypassed). I doubt that the tank will come close to freezing at those temps, but it would make me sleep better.

Gene · 02-01-2011, 06:41 PM

A tank with a lot of water in will take longer to freeze than one with an inch or 1/2 inch at the bottom. Water can store a lot of heat or cold. The more water, the more BTU's in it. I'm sure this isn't the best scientific explanation. But if the temp goes much lower than predicted, a full tank, if it freezes and the furnace fails, means the water expands when frozen by 11%. But the furnace has to fail and the temp drop a lot.

Our thermostat goes down to 40˚ and that will be ok I think at 27˚ so long as it doesn't stay there all day and it isn't very windy. Cranking is up to 50˚ should make the tanks a bit warmer. I think a black water tank with urine and water will freeze at a lower temperature than water only. You can test this by putting out a bowl of black water contents (or provide the contents yourself) and seeing when it freezes.

Gene

Westfalia · 02-01-2011, 10:56 PM

You'll be fine. You have shore power; make sure you have full propane tanks. The grey and black tanks are heated when you run the furnace. Just set the furnace at the lowest level (I think that it 40 with the duo-therm control), open some cabinets and walk away. I winterized mine today but we are set for several nights of 12-14 lows in an unpowered lot. I drained and blew out all lines with air, removed all shower heads and pull out faucets and hit all of the drains with RV anti freeze. This all took me 15 minutes to do.

Good luck. 27 isn't cold, except in Texas. Right now, it's -20 where I used to live.

Riverrat6270 · 02-02-2011, 07:02 AM

I sitting in Springfield, Illinois looking at the AS and wondering why I didn't hook on and head south? Snowdrift made it difficult to get out of the drive this morning and temps in the morning are of the negative type. I wish I'd hit the lottery and me and the pup would be in Mexico today. LOL

dznf0g · 02-02-2011, 07:12 AM

Me too! 17 inches of snow last night....55 MPH winds...18 degres and dropping to near 0 today with wind chills -20 degrees! Only 6 1/2 weeks till my trip down south though!

noreen&sal · 02-02-2011, 07:37 AM

Good news! The groundhog didnt see his shadow this morning.

Brian Hobin · 02-02-2011, 05:50 PM

Fromo the sound of it,
1) pour RV antifreeze into the black water tank.
2) blow the lines with an air compressor (60 lbs.)
3) suck one bottle of RV antifreeze into the line so that it will settle in the low spots were water may be.
Regards
Brian

Gene · 02-02-2011, 08:25 PM

More thoughts needed—

Also pour antifreeze in all the traps, suck antifreeze through each spigot, kitchen sprayer, toilet. Suck enough to get to the grey water tank so it lubricates the valve. Pour some into black tank through toilet for same reason and then leave some in toilet to lubricate that valve. Drain water heater. Don't forget outside shower or spigot.

Now I'm thoughtless.

Gene