Forum Discussion

jstaffon's avatar
jstaffon
Explorer
Oct 09, 2018

5th Wheel Winterize and De-Winterize process

I've winterized my 5th wheel multiple times and have it down to a smooth process. I'm trying to find the correct procedure to de-winterize. The part that is confusing is the isolation of the hot water tank. The winterizing process has you drain the hot water tank and then isolate it with 3 valves so you bypass the tank when replacing the water with antifreeze. It's unclear to me if you're suppose to put all the valves back to normal (including the bypass for the hot water tank) prior to de-winterizing and running fresh water through the lines. It seems like you will run some antifreeze through the hot water tank if you do that making it harder to run enough water through the system to flush all of the antifreeze out. If you leave the hot water tank isolated when you de-winterize while running fresh water through your lines you keep the hot water tank free of antifreeze and streamline the process. Am I making sense or am I worried about a non-problem? Thanks in advance!
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Oct 09, 2018
    You got it right. You don't want to open passage to the water heater until all anti-freeze is flushed from system.

    Jerry
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Oct 09, 2018
    Keep your water heater in by-pass until AFTER you have completely flushed your lines. Once your lines are flushed of all the pink-stuff, THEN open your water heater, fill it and use it.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Oct 09, 2018
    Leave the valves in bypass position until your done blowing out and pumping antifreeze thru the lines. Then you can switch back to normal positions. Drain the tank of water and your done. Dewinterize, plug the HW tank, finn, deain as usual. BTW, I normally use water thru the drain hole to flush the crud out of the tank first.
  • jstaffon's avatar
    jstaffon
    Explorer
    Oct 09, 2018
    I've always used antifreeze when winterizing. I have the option of doing that or blowing the lines out with compressed air. What's the preference amongst you experts out there?
  • Artum_Snowbird's avatar
    Artum_Snowbird
    Explorer
    Oct 09, 2018
    Never put antifreeze into your hot water tank. In the spring when you dewinterize run the lines out to clear before you allow water into your HWT, then run fresh water into your HWT that still has the drain open for awhile longer. Shut off the input water, plug the drain, open the relief valve, fill it up until it spurts more water, then shut the relief valve and run it out the hot water taps in every location. Shower, sink, bathroom sink and outside shower all on only hot water to clear all the lines.

    Then, once you are sure it is all clear, light up the hot water tank and get it hot to make sure it works.
  • NMDriver2's avatar
    NMDriver2
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2018
    My unit does not have a bypass it is a 26 yr old Prowler. I drain and blow out the water, put 10 gallons of antifreeze in the fresh tank, pump it to all faucets and fill the hot water tank. Then I drain and blow out the antifreeze. I save the antifreeze and reuse it each year. I only ever loose the 3 or so cups I put down the p-trap and quart I pour in the black tank. Every 2 years or so I buy a fresh gallon to replace the lost stuff.

    IN the spring I just add water and away I go.

    I have been doing this for 15 years and never had a leak or problem with the hotwater heater, faucets or any other component of the system.

    BTW: Never open the relief valve when filling the tank! You need that cushion of air in the top of the hot water tank. Read your manual.
  • greende's avatar
    greende
    Explorer II
    Oct 10, 2018
    jstaffon wrote:
    I've always used antifreeze when winterizing. I have the option of doing that or blowing the lines out with compressed air. What's the preference amongst you experts out there?


    I haven't used pink stuff in over 20 years. I really dislike the smell of it. I use air and have never had a problem even at almost 20 below here in Syracuse. I even use a wet vac to suck all the water out of the sink traps. There's no right or wrong, but this is my preference due to my sensitivity to the RV antifreeze.
  • 4x4ord's avatar
    4x4ord
    Explorer III
    Oct 10, 2018
    I blow the lines out and use antifreeze in the P-traps.
  • allen8106's avatar
    allen8106
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2018
    jstaffon wrote:
    I've always used antifreeze when winterizing. I have the option of doing that or blowing the lines out with compressed air. What's the preference amongst you experts out there?


    Antifreeze is my preferred option and blow out is my second option only if I can't readily get antifreeze, which is rare.

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