Using a hand pump siphon to winterize?

Thanks for the expanding on the issue, and how you dealt with it.

fj12ryder wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:
I would caution those that pour anti-freeze in the fresh water tank if they don't know how much plain water is in the tank that the pump cannot pick up. In my case. the tank sagging between supports and the pump pick up port being well above the tank bottom, there was gallons of water remaining. With the dilution, wasted anti-freeze and considerable flushing in the Spring, it is a poor way to winterize.

How did you get around the issue? Or was there even an issue since there was plenty of room for the water to expand?

I added more support under the tank and moved the pump pickup to the drain hose. If one knows that the tank is perfectly flat and level in both planes, and the pump will pull nearly all the anti-freeze from the tank, then I would accept this method. I send the anti-freeze in thru city water port.

Deb and Ed M wrote:
***Yes, a 3-way valve makes this necessary chore SO SIMPLE and quick.***

I have only read of these things...pump and tank located under a sleeper sofa and haven't found any quick removal mechanism to get in and plumb up some sort of antifreeze hook up.

My camper didn't even have a hot water by-pass.

After I installed the HW bypass, the hand pump is awfully darn adequate.

Lynnmor wrote:
I would caution those that pour anti-freeze in the fresh water tank if they don't know how much plain water is in the tank that the pump cannot pick up. In my case. the tank sagging between supports and the pump pick up port being well above the tank bottom, there was gallons of water remaining. With the dilution, wasted anti-freeze and considerable flushing in the Spring, it is a poor way to winterize.

Yep, it certainly isn't the best way. As you pointed out, most fresh water tanks don't lay perfectly flat and can cause problems. It also requires more anti-freeze before the pump will start pulling it from the tank.

Lynnmor wrote:
I would caution those that pour anti-freeze in the fresh water tank if they don't know how much plain water is in the tank that the pump cannot pick up. In my case. the tank sagging between supports and the pump pick up port being well above the tank bottom, there was gallons of water remaining. With the dilution, wasted anti-freeze and considerable flushing in the Spring, it is a poor way to winterize.

I can see my entire fresh water tank as it is mounted upright in the back. Nowadays many are under the bed in full view. And in both cases have low point drains leaving no water at the bottom.

Real sorry to hear your tank is defective and sagging between supports and leaves water at the bottom. :(

But you defective tank does not equate to the fact that others should be told it is a poor way to winterize. To each his own. Whatever works for you!!:W

Lynnmor wrote:
I would caution those that pour anti-freeze in the fresh water tank if they don't know how much plain water is in the tank that the pump cannot pick up. In my case. the tank sagging between supports and the pump pick up port being well above the tank bottom, there was gallons of water remaining. With the dilution, wasted anti-freeze and considerable flushing in the Spring, it is a poor way to winterize.

How did you get around the issue? Or was there even an issue since there was plenty of room for the water to expand?

I would caution those that pour anti-freeze in the fresh water tank if they don't know how much plain water is in the tank that the pump cannot pick up. In my case. the tank sagging between supports and the pump pick up port being well above the tank bottom, there was gallons of water remaining. With the dilution, wasted anti-freeze and considerable flushing in the Spring, it is a poor way to winterize.

I winterize by adding anti-freeze to the fresh water tank. And pump thru lines this IMHO, JMHO insures me that the antifreeze gets completely into my water pump. The one year I did not do it this way the following spring I had to replace the water pump. :(

That all said. This is what I finally found to get antifreeze in a pesky placed water inlet.

It bends in all ways will add water even in a 45 degree angle! AND expands and contracts to just about any length configuration you need. Then held upright and pour away.



Couple of bucks at walmart in automotive department.

Cougarnewbie wrote:
Installed the inline kit at the pump with the three way valve. Turn the valve. Hose in the bottle of Anti-freeze, Turn on the pump. Used just over 2 gallons. If I was careful I could do it with less. I just like to be certain I pushed out all of the water.

The OP has a pump that's hard to get at. As we looked at RVs (specifically small Class Cs) last year, I began to notice a trend towards making the pump difficult, if not impossible, to access for winterizing. Which is STUPID since more than half of the USA and certainly Canada, have climates that require RV winterization.

Our old Class C had the water pump right at the freshwater tank, easily accessible from an outside basement door. Yes, a 3-way valve makes this necessary chore SO SIMPLE and quick.

Installed the inline kit at the pump with the three way valve. Turn the valve. Hose in the bottle of Anti-freeze, Turn on the pump. Used just over 2 gallons. If I was careful I could do it with less. I just like to be certain I pushed out all of the water.