How safe is Camco antifreeze

BB_TX wrote:
I flush the lines until the water runs clear. Then don't worry about it.

• Safe • Odorless • Tasteless • No mixing required • Non-Toxic • according to Camco.

X-2

Never any problem.

BarbaraOK wrote:

John&Joey wrote:

BarbaraOK wrote:
Why are snowbirds discussing ways to winterize their RVs. You guys are 'snow birding' in the wrong place if you have to winterize your rigs?:B

Barb

Note that the OP was a FT'er, we make exceptions for them :)

Even worse - fulltimers should chasing that 75° mark and be south before the thermometer starts to drop. You make allowances for 'snow birders' getting late starts. :R

Barb

LOL, I tried pretty hard to be part of that exclusive 70 degree club. Worked all the way up to mid Iowa, then I had to make a run for the boarder. ;)

John&Joey wrote:

BarbaraOK wrote:
Why are snowbirds discussing ways to winterize their RVs. You guys are 'snow birding' in the wrong place if you have to winterize your rigs?:B

Barb

Note that the OP was a FT'er, we make exceptions for them :)

Even worse - fulltimers should chasing that 75° mark and be south before the thermometer starts to drop. You make allowances for 'snow birders' getting late starts. :R

Barb

BarbaraOK wrote:
Why are snowbirds discussing ways to winterize their RVs. You guys are 'snow birding' in the wrong place if you have to winterize your rigs?:B

Barb

Note that the OP was a FT'er, we make exceptions for them :)

Why are snowbirds discussing ways to winterize their RVs. You guys are 'snow birding' in the wrong place if you have to winterize your rigs?:B

Barb

When I did winterized...In the spring I would go to a FHU campground and hook up city water and sewer. Open all the taps and run until there was no white bubbly water coming out (about 20 minutes.) Disconnect city water, fill the water tank 1/3 full, add bleach, run pump, open each valve until I could smell bleach, then closed that one and go to the next. BTW, I never put AF in the water tank, I would hook a hose to the pump then into a jug of AF. Worked for me.

There are two types of RV antifreeze on the market. One has propylene glycol and the other has ethylene gylcol. Both are pink and don't assume just because it is pink (as opposed to the green automotive stuff) that it has the same characteristics. Camco makes both types so read the label before purchasing...

Pros & cons of each type:

http://mainecamperdealer.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-rv-anti-freeze/
http://www.fraserway.com/discover/blog/fraserway-blog/2013/09/25/battle-of-the-antifreezes

Propylene glycol is used in a lot of ordinary consumer products that are ingested or applied to the skin and is considered safe. This is the one you want to put in your water lines.

Ethylene glycol is the primary ingredient in automotive antifreeze which is highly toxic. It is a poor choice for RV water lines for a number of reasons as in the above links but the RV product is not considered toxic.

Unfortunately the ethylene glycol version costs less to produce and is what you'll usually find on a shelf. A lot of users don't know that there are two types and buy simply based on price. I've found that with some of the containers you have to look hard to find the ingredients on it. I had to hunt all around locally to find the "good stuff" and only one place had it. It was only like $1 more a jug than the cheap stuff.

Why do you leave it in the lines over winter?Do your thing for winter then drain it out and leave the lines etc. empty.You are not going to get any water into the lines.If you did have an area that water tended to pool or stay it will be full of antifreeze,including pumps and valves.Leave all taps open.Dump some in black and grey tanks.Done deal your water heater is drained as usual so what is going to be accomplished by leaving the anti freeze in the lines over winter,nothing, except harder to flush taste in spring.

It's food grade and meant to be safe for water lines for Marine and RV. It has been around and used for many many years.

I have been winterizing my MH with that stuff for over 10 years now.
AND I put it directly IN my fresh water tank and then pump it thru the lines.

Makes no sense to say you can't put it in the tank when you ARE putting it in all the lines.:R

Come spring all you do is run fresh water into the fresh water and and open all the faucets until it is all gone. It is hogwash that it leaves a taste. And by no means is it not safe.

johnalavery wrote:
How safe is the water to drink from the rig's water lines after using Camco antifreeze for the winter storage,and then draining it for the summer season.
, We were full timers for 6 years and never had to store the rig so this is new for us. We are very cautious when it comes to food and drink and although Camco says that the antifreeze is safe so I am curious as to how others feel or deal with this. Thanks in advance for any responses. John in OR.

The primary ingredient in Camco's RV antifreeze is propylene glycol, listed by the EPA as GRAS, "Generally Regarded As Safe". Propylene glycol is a common food additive, as well as being used in cosmetics and medications. Ingesting more than several spoonfuls of it undiluted may cause diarrhea, but then it's also commonly prescribed for constipation and colonoscopy prep. The bottom line, with no pun intended, is the stuff is quite safe and will not cause any problems if a small amount is not flushed from the water lines.