RV Antifreeze
I just came from an RV repair place and the owner warned me not to use RV antifreeze containing alcohol because it deteriorates the rubber seals. He then went into a sales pitch for his own rv antifr...
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I looked at the plumbing in mine and realized if I simply opened the low point drains and all the faucets and removed the water filter and run the pump till the water was out of it, all the water would drain out of the lines and water heater and I'd be done. No compressed air, no antifreeze. No drain plug removal on the water heater, no need to isolate so antifreeze doesn't corrode the anode. I did put antifreeze in all the drains so the traps wouldn't freeze, but not the lines. Probably used a half a gallon for that.
How'd I do? Well, after a record setting -30 °F last winter, everything was undamaged except the toilet valve. Had I read the instructions for the toilet, I would see that draining the water works fine for winterizing, IF you unscrew the hose from the toilet and open the valve to let the water drain, as otherwise a backflow preventer will keep water in the valve and it will crack. Ah well, a $30 lesson.
This winter, low point drains with faucets open, water filter, run pump till dry, and remove line from toilet and everything will be good. I can probably do this faster than pumping in a bunch of antifreeze, and it's free! Plus to antifreeze to flush out later, which is good as we bought heaters for the tanks and plumbing so we could winter camp with use of water so messing with antifreeze pumping and flushing once a month would suck.
Please note my method may not work with all faucets or plumbing layouts, and may need compressed air instead. Be sure to check your toilet in particular and what it recommends for winterizing without antifreeze if you go this route.
How'd I do? Well, after a record setting -30 °F last winter, everything was undamaged except the toilet valve. Had I read the instructions for the toilet, I would see that draining the water works fine for winterizing, IF you unscrew the hose from the toilet and open the valve to let the water drain, as otherwise a backflow preventer will keep water in the valve and it will crack. Ah well, a $30 lesson.
This winter, low point drains with faucets open, water filter, run pump till dry, and remove line from toilet and everything will be good. I can probably do this faster than pumping in a bunch of antifreeze, and it's free! Plus to antifreeze to flush out later, which is good as we bought heaters for the tanks and plumbing so we could winter camp with use of water so messing with antifreeze pumping and flushing once a month would suck.
Please note my method may not work with all faucets or plumbing layouts, and may need compressed air instead. Be sure to check your toilet in particular and what it recommends for winterizing without antifreeze if you go this route.
