Most Common Method Used to Winterize?
Just curious how many folks drain their freshwater (FW) tank, then refill the FW tank with RV antifreeze to winterize their system? I tried this method for the first time a week or so ago. It took a...
Forum Discussion
Thanks for everybody's input.
As I suspected, not many winterize by putting antifreeze in the FW tank. In my previous TT's I used the water pump's intake hose to input the antifreeze---just like many of you do.
As I mentioned earlier, thought I'd pour antifreeze directly into the FW tank once to see how it goes. On our new rig the water hose runs from the FW tank to the pump within a fully enclosed underbelly (water hoses were easily accessible for repair and replacement on our previous TT's). If this hose were to freeze it would be a major hassle to locate and repair. Using antifreeze via the FW tank 100 percent erases any chance of these lines freezing. Even though a few inferred this hose can't be damaged by freezing . . . I've had "empty" water hoses in my yard split a time or two during a hard freeze, so . . . unless someone's willing to offer me a cheap, non-deductible, winterizing insurance policy I'd prefer not to take any chances--lol!
My 2nd reason for adding antifreeze directly to the FW tank is my rig requires the removal of a basement wall to access the water pump inlet. For me, using an extra 2 gallons of antifreeze, at $2.50 a gallon, is a fair trade-off to not have to spend 30 minutes to R&R the basement wall, along with a 100 percent assurance my FW tank hose won't freeze. So far doing it this way appears to be a win-win.
If I run into any problems when I de-winterize I may go back to using the pump inlet. We'll see.
Thanks again!
As I suspected, not many winterize by putting antifreeze in the FW tank. In my previous TT's I used the water pump's intake hose to input the antifreeze---just like many of you do.
As I mentioned earlier, thought I'd pour antifreeze directly into the FW tank once to see how it goes. On our new rig the water hose runs from the FW tank to the pump within a fully enclosed underbelly (water hoses were easily accessible for repair and replacement on our previous TT's). If this hose were to freeze it would be a major hassle to locate and repair. Using antifreeze via the FW tank 100 percent erases any chance of these lines freezing. Even though a few inferred this hose can't be damaged by freezing . . . I've had "empty" water hoses in my yard split a time or two during a hard freeze, so . . . unless someone's willing to offer me a cheap, non-deductible, winterizing insurance policy I'd prefer not to take any chances--lol!
My 2nd reason for adding antifreeze directly to the FW tank is my rig requires the removal of a basement wall to access the water pump inlet. For me, using an extra 2 gallons of antifreeze, at $2.50 a gallon, is a fair trade-off to not have to spend 30 minutes to R&R the basement wall, along with a 100 percent assurance my FW tank hose won't freeze. So far doing it this way appears to be a win-win.
If I run into any problems when I de-winterize I may go back to using the pump inlet. We'll see.
Thanks again!
