Winterizing Our Rigs

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Catch this with a container so that it does not dilute the antifreeze going into the drain traps and tanks. A “completely drained” grey or black tank will still have about 1/2” of water in the bottom. The more antifreeze you can put into these tanks to mix with this water, the better.

Interesting. When winterizing I keep all the tank drains open and don't really care about the remaining water freezing. I get some AF in the tanks from winterizing the traps, but, I can't see the problem with any water left in the tanks freezing? A couple litres of water to freeze in a 160 litre tank? No harm in getting lots of AF in there but, not sure anything is being accomplished.

[Jlawles2]

Guest Jim, I used the sharkbite style ball valves on my low point drains and added https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 to the ends to keep the critters out (because where I come from mud dobbers like to use the pipes for nest).

[Guest]

Guest Jim, I used the sharkbite style ball valves on my low point drains and added https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 to the ends to keep the critters out (because where I come from mud dobbers like to use the pipes for nest).

Joseph,

I could have gone this route too where its a good solution. Maybe I like redundancy too much but I felt the overseas valves needed a backup with the caps since I will not have spares. Now the question...are the valves lead free? I'll write them through Amazon.

A fast confirmation:

• Made with Lead Free DZR Forged Brass

Jim

[Jlawles2]

Joseph,

I could have gone this route too where its a good solution. Maybe I like redundancy too much but I felt the overseas valves needed a backup with the caps since I will not have spares. Now the question...are the valves lead free? I'll write them through Amazon.

A fast confirmation:

• Made with Lead Free DZR Forged Brass

Jim

Jim,

I went with the https://www.homedepot.com/p/SHARKBIT...16A2/312445563 as they were readily available and easy to connect.

[Country Campers]

Interesting. When winterizing I keep all the tank drains open and don't really care about the remaining water freezing. I get some AF in the tanks from winterizing the traps, but, I can't see the problem with any water left in the tanks freezing? A couple litres of water to freeze in a 160 litre tank? No harm in getting lots of AF in there but, not sure anything is being accomplished.

One issue I can see if water is left in a holding tank is that the water will be up against the valve. If water would seep into the valve sliding part it may freeze and break or damage the slide. Before I had indoor storage I used to leave all the holding tank valves open after the last trip in hopes that the tanks and valves would dry out and I would not have any icing issues. I did not have any issues so whether it worked or not is debatable.

Brian

[Guest]

Jim,

I went with the https://www.homedepot.com/p/SHARKBIT...16A2/312445563 as they were readily available and easy to connect.

Joseph,

Those look good. HD is 25 miles from the area where we live so Amazon sends stuff to me regularly.

Here is what I purchased.

https://www.amazon.com/Brass-Valve-W...A3TAFKYWOEOVSN

Jim

[Jlawles2]

Jim, Understand completely. I actually ordered both the 3/4 and 1/2 form HD and had them delivered to the house as they do not stock them at the local store. Amazon is one of man's best friends when it comes to needing parts.

[Scott'n'Wendy]

One issue I can see if water is left in a holding tank is that the water will be up against the valve. If water would seep into the valve sliding part it may freeze and break or damage the slide.

I must admit when I first started going the air only route, this, along with the water pump was my main concern. But since '98 I have not had a broken valve or pump come springtime yet. My theory is the valves seals whatever is in the tank so if it was leaking by, I'd notice when dumping prior to winterizing. And if it's not leaking by....no worries.

I did have a black tank valve fail on me in the middle of camping season one year on our 21' Jayco 5th wheel. Ya 21'!
Was it 'compromised' earlier from freezing? Maybe...hard to call. That was a fun job to replace.

[Canyonlight]

I have the 1/2" PEX ball valves here so I will cut the low point cap fittings off and will use a PEX tool to install the valves. Then for additional insurance a 2 inch PEX line off each valve with a sharkbite cap. The low point drain caps are beginning to fail to seal so its time to eliminate them. This will make future winterizations dry and easy.

Dan, I use air on the black tank flush which would push out any water.

Jim

Jim - I have not used air in any manner on this or our last camper. I did so with our prior 3 mini-homes. I think this was because everyone used air back in the day (many still today, of course) or maybe the RV antifreeze was not invented yet. Or maybe it was we were too cheap to spend spare change then on this.......we needed beer money lol !

Jim - hope you are doing well. We'll have to catch up in the coming weeks. Carol had her other knee replaced yesterday.....I am playing nurse (to a real 4 + decade nurse like your wife) as you know.

Dan

[Guest]

Jim - I have not used air in any manner on this or our last camper. I did so with our prior 3 mini-homes. I think this was because everyone used air back in the day (many still today, of course) or maybe the RV antifreeze was not invented yet. Or maybe it was we were too cheap to spend spare change then on this.......we needed beer money lol !

Jim - hope you are doing well. We'll have to catch up in the coming weeks. Carol had her other knee replaced yesterday.....I am playing nurse (to a real 4 + decade nurse like your wife) as you know.

Dan

Dan,

The black tank flush should drain down on both sides but the moderators have warned this may not always happen so I began to blow out the line. You could use the pink stuff if its somehow forced to flow above the air gap (cannot remember the name of that valve right now) so the black tank side gets pickled. I'm tired from traveling to help my 90 year old parents today. I'm there each week to help them in whatever they may need. This keeps us from snowbirding but I do not mind where this is the priority right now in our lives. We are planning a trip to PA tomorrow for a few days to see the colors. So we still get out from time to time.

Money for beer when we were young was critical too. LOL Remember 3.2 beer?

The folks I know that has had knee replacements are like new people. Amazing what they can do these days. Tell Carol I wish her a speedy recovery.

Jim

[AlexPeterson]

Dan,

SNIP

Money for beer when we were young was critical too. LOL Remember 3.2 beer?

SNIP

Jim

Minnesota STILL has 3.2, might be the only state to still have this dinosaur...

[Cate&Rob]

The black tank flush should drain down on both sides but the moderators have warned this may not always happen

The vacuum break drains in both directions . . . but the tank side may not be a downward slope all the way to the tank. On my Reflection, this line ducks under a crossmember on its way to the higher tank attachment. Folks get away with not winterizing this line because it is soft hose and can survive water freezing inside. I use a short hose between the outside shower connection and the black tank connection to flush antifreeze through this line.

Rob

[Guest]

Minnesota STILL has 3.2, might be the only state to still have this dinosaur...

Young folks are very creative in how to get around this. 2X

Jim

[Guest]

The vacuum break drains in both directions . . . but the tank side may not be a downward slope all the way to the tank. On my Reflection, this line ducks under a crossmember on its way to the higher tank attachment. Folks get away with not winterizing this line because it is soft hose and can survive water freezing inside. I use a short hose between the outside shower connection and the black tank connection to flush antifreeze through this line.

Rob

Vacuum break!. Very creative in using the outside spray hose to do this.

Jim

[Yoda]

TucsonJim
Thanks for the reminder - go my Reflection 220RK done today - took just 1.75 gallons of the pink stuff. However I almost forgot the toilet and outside spray connection.

First drain everything, HW Tank and open the low point drains. However be sure all faucets are open.

Step two is blow the system out with air (40 psi) I use the winterize settings, but also slightly crack the valve to the HW tank and blow air through the line (HW tank drain open) and also crack the valve to the fresh water tank to be sure that line is clear too. Don't forget the toilet - I did first time through

Step 3 is pump the pink stuff through the system. I invert the screen on the city intake, prefill the hose and insert it into the jug, crack the furthest faucet valve and use the outside pump switch to prime. (still on winterize settings). Once primed I turn off the outside pump switch and go inside to cycle the faucets. You would be surprised at the amount of clear water left in the lines after blowing them out. I always start furthest from the pump and work back. Again be sure to flush the outside shower lines and toilet.

Step 4 is I use air again and blow out the system - this helps in the spring not having the system full of pink stuff. Last is open the low point drains again. Then remember to drain the residual water and pink stuff from the tanks. Also be sure all of your p traps have the antifreeze in them, including the shower drain

This is my method - so far no broken fittings in the spring.

Hope this helps
Keith