Winterizing

[lkm4321]

Live in Iowa and my first year to winterize. Rather then blow out all the lines, could you just put 2-3 gallons of food grade antifreeze in the fresh water tank and pump it through to the gray and black water tanks ? When it's time to dewinterize just flush it all out ? Thanks for your comments. 2015 FC

[Lily&Me]

That's what I do.

Make sure you run the antifreeze thru everything that water goes thru, inside and out.


Maggie

[msmcv51]

There is a winterizing kit that you can install between the water tank and the pump. It is available at Camping World. When installed The pump will suck the antifreeze out of the jug. I only use 1 1/2 gallons to do our 25' Sovereign and we have not had any issues yet and we live in NW Ohio.

[CRH]

I would blow out the lines before putting in antifreeze to avoid dilution from the water left in the lines.

The water pump in my trailer is installed at an angle that would make putting a winterizing kit on very difficult.

[ericpeltier]

I do not blow out the lines prior to antifeeze. I just make sure it runs VERY pink from all the lines before calling it good. I'd rather use an extra gallon of antifreeze than bother blowing out the lines.

Yes, you could pull it from your tank.

Remember to remove the water filter, if you have one.

ERic

[CRH]

If you have an Everpure water filter, you need a bypass plug to get the water to the spigot.

[Arcticfox]

Originally Posted by CRH

If you have an Everpure water filter, you need a bypass plug to get the water to the spigot.

I have never heard of this plug before could you give us a bit more info

Thanks

Doug

[CRH]

Out of Doors Mart is where I got mine. You take out the filter cartridge and put in the plug. You can then turn on the water supply valve and let antifreeze go thru the line to the spigot.

[Alumineer]

Make sure you drain the water heater tank (unless you have a tankless system) and set the water heater bypass valve correctly, or else you will end up filling the heater tank (six gallons!) with antifreeze before getting to the rest of the hot water plumbing.

To get the stuff to go everywhere you need, start the pump and then open one faucet at a time (start closest to the pump) and run the faucet until you're sure you're getting enough pink. Remember that the hot and cold are separate circuits and you need to do them both. Don't forget the toilet flush valve.

Having said all that... after the first or second year of doing this and having to put up with pink frothy bad-tasting water in the plumbing for half the next year on our white box trailer, I made up an air-chuck-to-garden-hose adapter that I could screw into the city water connection, and since then I've winterized by blowing the lines out with air at 50 PSI. Same stuff applies about doing one faucet at a time.

[KJRitchie]

Don't forget to blow out the black flush line with air. The is a plastic one way valve on this line that will break if it has water in it that freezes. Blowing out the lines also insures the water pressure regulator behind the city water hookup is free of water.

Then you can fill the system with antifreeze.

Kelvin

[Arcticfox]

Originally Posted by Alumineer

Having said all that... after the first or second year of doing this and having to put up with pink frothy bad-tasting water in the plumbing for half the next year on our white box trailer, I made up an air-chuck-to-garden-hose adapter that I could screw into the city water connection, and since then I've winterized by blowing the lines out with air at 50 PSI. Same stuff applies about doing one faucet at a time.

Blowing the lines from this location sounds like a slick way to handle winterization. How do you deal with residual water in the pump? Also I'm assuming your bypassing the water tank and just draining it?
Thanks

Doug

[Hiho Silver]

I use a blow plug screwed onto the city water inlet to blow out my plumbing lines.

Blow-out Plug - Camco 36104 - Winterizing - Camping World

[featherbedder]

How ever you winterize do it properly or else expensive fix next year. As others have suggested blow lines, run anti freeze thru lines etc. A must is drain fresh water tank, water heater and gray and black tanks. Pur. water heater bypass kit, water filter plug as anti freeze will ruin cartridge, make sure anti freeze in all drains if not put in 1 cup each drain also into toilet. I would never put anti freeze in fresh water tank. I made by pass for fresh water to pump with some screw in barb fittings into tee and 2 valves, and a piece of hose to suck anti freeze from jug, or else can pur. kit to by pass pump.

[featherbedder]

Originally Posted by Arcticfox

Blowing the lines from this location sounds like a slick way to handle winterization. How do you deal with residual water in the pump? Also I'm assuming your bypassing the water tank and just draining it?
Thanks

Doug

Just run pump until dry, water gone pump can run dry without damage.

[lkm4321]

Thanks for all the feedback.