There was a discussion in the Class C area about winterizing and my post had me go look in the manual of my new Class C as I had not done yet, to see their recommendations for winterizing. One of the comments on there had me wondering. It mentioned draining the black tank and gray tank. I never drained them completely in my TT. Nearly empty, but just some still in there. I did make sure there was plenty of pink stuff in them too. But if you drain the black tank completely, will you run the risk of odors? I would still put some pink stuff in, but wondering about what possibly could still linger in the tank. So with avoidance of whether you blow the lines or do it the wet method of pumping it through the lines from the water tank, do you drain the black tank completely? Or do you leave a little water in there as well?

Drain tanks completely, and I blow out the lines then replace with the pink stuff.

a little bit of water freezing in the bottom of your black tank won't hurt anything. just be sure tank sprayer is winterized. pink stuff sits in toilet bowl and keeps that gasket wet.bumpy

I always drain completely in fact I leave the valves open. I know some will say don't do that though.

I drain all lines then pump the pink anti-freeze throughout then open the drains again. I've found that because the anti-freeze has a different density than water, when I reopen the drains there is always an accumulation of water in the line at the exit points.I drain the grey and leave what ever pink is in there after winterizing the sinks & shower. I drain the black, then put some chemical in with about two gallons of fresh water and then winterize the toilet lines with the pink. I also pour some pink directly down into the toilet and on into the tank. I leave some pink in the toilet bowl to keep the seal moist.Been doing it this way for many years on different rv's without any issues.

I always drain the black and gray completely and then leave the valves open and the cap loose.Some water in the tank isn't the problem. Water in the drain pipes can freeze, expand, and crack the pipe.

Winterizing Survey | Good Sam Community

21 Replies

gbopp
Explorer
Oct 23, 2013
I drain the black & Gray tanks then pour some antifreeze in both.
For the water lines, I just blow them out and use antifreeze in the traps.
WyoTraveler
Explorer
Oct 23, 2013
Everyone does itdifferent. Probably doesn't make much difference. After I drain my black and grey tank I close both valves. I dump enough pink stuff in my toilet to cover black tank valve then close toilet flush valve and pour enough in toilet to keep odors from coming up into MH. I pour enough pink stuff in the traps to make sure grey dump valve is covered. I don't want the valves to dry out. Since I blow out my lines pouring the pink stuff in is the last thing I do. On my MH and previous RVs the manuals say either method. Blow out lines or pink stuff. Whatever is more convenient. Since I may winterize more than once or twice in the winter I just blow the lines out.
aruba5er
Explorer
Oct 23, 2013
I drain until NOTHING comes out. I am always afraid that a small amount of water may break the valves. Then I close the valves and pour some pink into the toilet ( all other winterizing had been done)
brirene
Explorer
Oct 23, 2013
In the spring I recapture the pink stuff from the lines, then use that in the black tank the next fall. Possibly not as effective as fresh af, but better than water. I also subscribe to the"don't ever leave your black tank dry" school of thought.
skipnchar
Explorer
Oct 23, 2013
My black tank is NEVER left sitting empty.
relaxin
Explorer
Oct 23, 2013
blow out the lines then flip it on its roof so the traps drain out then put some pink stuff in the traps and toilet (don't use it after that)
I leave my dump valves open, after having done a very thorough flushing on the tanks, emptying your tanks will not cause odors to get into the trailer, emptying your P traps will, that's why you put anti-freeze in them.
I had a friend left his closed and some water was still in the grey tank(probably remnants and what came out of the traps) and not enough antifreeze, and he dewinterized in spring to a split pipe at the dump valve.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Oct 23, 2013
I always drain the black and gray completely and then leave the valves open and the cap loose.

Some water in the tank isn't the problem. Water in the drain pipes can freeze, expand, and crack the pipe.
Anonymous
Not applicable
Oct 23, 2013
I drain all lines then pump the pink anti-freeze throughout then open the drains again. I've found that because the anti-freeze has a different density than water, when I reopen the drains there is always an accumulation of water in the line at the exit points.

I drain the grey and leave what ever pink is in there after winterizing the sinks & shower. I drain the black, then put some chemical in with about two gallons of fresh water and then winterize the toilet lines with the pink. I also pour some pink directly down into the toilet and on into the tank. I leave some pink in the toilet bowl to keep the seal moist.

Been doing it this way for many years on different rv's without any issues.
dave17352
Explorer II
Oct 23, 2013
I always drain completely in fact I leave the valves open. I know some will say don't do that though.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Oct 23, 2013
a little bit of water freezing in the bottom of your black tank won't hurt anything. just be sure tank sprayer is winterized. pink stuff sits in toilet bowl and keeps that gasket wet.
bumpy

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Winterizing Survey

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