Winterizing tanks

When you pump antifreeze thru the lines a small amount of water is run into the tanks before the faucets run red. To me, that amount of antifreeze that goes into the gray and black tanks is probably enough to keep them from freezing. So, I just leave that amount of water/antifreeze mixture in the tanks all winter. This also gets the a/f into the traps. My whole 42 footer uses less than 2 gallons of a/f to winterize it all. Have done this for years with no problems, even in Alaska.

jalichty wrote:
If you drain the tanks, why put anything in them? Even if the small amount of water left in the tanks freezes, it would seem to me there is plenty of space for the small amount of ice to expand without harming anything. I have never put any antifreeze or pink antifreeze in my tanks in 21 years and, to the best of my knowledge, haven't had a problem. Help me understand if I have a problem.

It does not matter if the tanks freeze with a small amount of liquid in them, true there is plenty of room for expansion. Draining them IMO is not good on the knife valve seals. It is best to keep some amount of liquid in them. I prefer they do not freeze and use rv antifreeze in them.

What is this thing called "Winter"??????

Thanks for the replies. I know what to do with the rest of the trailer. Just wondered if I shoud do anything different with the much larger holding tanks. I have always used air and blown the lines out. I see no reason not to continue.

Mark

If you drain the tanks, why put anything in them? Even if the small amount of water left in the tanks freezes, it would seem to me there is plenty of space for the small amount of ice to expand without harming anything. I have never put any antifreeze or pink antifreeze in my tanks in 21 years and, to the best of my knowledge, haven't had a problem. Help me understand if I have a problem.

A little A/F in black and gray. Never A/F in Fresh or water heater. A cup in the drains, then in water lines, and pump. Don't forget toilet flush valve, washer dryer, outside shower.

3 dog nights wrote:
Use pink in the fresh, but don't waste the money in the grey and black. Use windshield wiper antifreeze, just pour in all the drains and let sit in toilet bowl.

Bad, Bad idea, drain the fresh don't put pink in it. Drain the Black and gray and put some digestive chemical in it. It will need to get real cold to freeze it and as it has places to go should not cause damage.

Use pink in the fresh, but don't waste the money in the grey and black. Use windshield wiper antifreeze, just pour in all the drains and let sit in toilet bowl.

I put about a gallon of pink stuff in the black and gray. I also pour it in all the traps. The fresh is just drained but the pump is winterized with pink stuff. Some leave the tanks dry but IMO that is bad for the seals on the knife valves.