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mrad's avatar
mrad
Explorer II
Jun 14, 2021

What's the best way to get RV anti-freeze out of system.

What is the best way to get rid of all the RV anti-freeze from the system? Last year when I winterized, I drained the water heater and had the antifreeze bypass it. this spring I opened both low point drains and opened the faucets in the upstairs bathroom of the 5th wheel. I then hooked a hose up to my city water connection and ran all spickets (except washer dryer connections) until clear.
We have now spent 3 days in it, and are having the pink stuff come out of faucets and toilets when we first turn them on, along with the odor.
  • 1. DON'T put antifreeze in the water tank. Use a winterizing kit to draw antifreeze into the system with the pump. Drain the water tank and leave it alone.

    2. DON'T put antifreeze in a water heater tank... see ^

    3. If the unit has low point drains open them and catch the drainage.

    When putting the unit back in service you have to identify every T and branch line in the system incuding the low point drains. You have to flush every line and T with fresh water from the tank. Don't start with the city connection.

    If you miss a T that is upstream from your tap you will taste RV anti for the next 5000 gallons

    :)
  • Brest way is to not use it!
    Flush with lots of fresh water.
    Use a box of Arm and hammer baking soda in fresh water tank. Pump solution through system. Then flush again with fresh water.
  • Did you drain and rinse the fresh water tank? Assuming you might have put antifreeze in there.

    It wouldn't hurt to connect a hose to the washer connections and flush them out also. Did you also flush out any outdoor shower faucets?

    One thing I do that really helps get the antifreeze smell out is use bleach to sanitize the system after rinsing it out. I connect my hose to the trailer to fill the onboard tank. Before hooking the hose up to the spigot I pour a cup or so of bleach into the hose. The hook up the hose and fill the tank. Run each faucet until you smell the bleach. You also want to fill the water heater with that solution so run plenty through the hot water taps. Then let it sit for the night before draining everything again. Run fresh water through for another rinse and you should be good to go.

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