I've never done anything with that and have been lucky so far. I didn't know until recently anything needed to be done. But in checking a list of winterizing steps it said to turn off the pump after all faucets have antifreeze, remove the screen and open the valve with a screw driver "until" you see pink stuff. Is that saying opening the valve relieves pressure and allows some fluid to back up? I'm not understanding.

The city water inlet has an anti siphon valve built into it. This prevents water from backing up into the hose and then into the public water supply. The anti siphon valve allows water to flow in only one direction unless you defeat it temporarily for winterization. When you pressurize the water system with anti freeze and then defeat the anti siphon valve, anti freeze will apear at the valve due to the pressure in the system.Most of these valves are plastic and can be broken very easily. What I suggest is a shot of air using an air valve adapter. You do not need to take anything apart. Do this before introducing RV anti freeze and open all faucets and drains before introducing air. The air will clean out all water in the valve area and most of the water in the system. After the air I winterize with antifreeze.

cekkk wrote:Is that saying opening the valve relieves pressure and allows some fluid to back up? yes.

I would not push that valve - it breaks EASILY. Just use some air to clear it out.

Thanks, I didn't mention I've already winterized. How about if I give it a shot of air but say 20 psi? Or use something soft like a cotton swab to open it? Or should I just forget it?

You can forget it if you want and it will probably be ok. However me I wouldn't dare.If you got the system pressurized and stick a screwdriver in there with enough force to dislodge the one way valve that water and stuff will initially shoot out of there like a cannon. If you want to do the valve release thing, go inside or use the outdoor shower to depressurize, release the valve in the inlet and then stand clear while holding the ball valve in and have someone turn on the pump.I got tired of all that and made an adapter to go from the outdoor shower to the city water inlet. I simply turn on the outdoor shower and let it put the pink stuff in the city water tube.BTW I know a guy that broke his city water inlet valve first time out of the chute. :S

Winterizing City Water Inlet Question | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

MFL
Nomad II
Oct 03, 2014
cekkk wrote:
DAVE, "I am not sure but I just got finished replacing a fitting in the black tank flusher hose and the anti siphon valve that is located under the bathroom sink." Huh? My plumbing expertise ends just after flushng the toilet. What and where and how to protect that valve???

If you have a black tank flusher, you can modify your outside shower hose, like Dave did, to run pink through the city water inlet, and the black tank flusher inlet.

At the least, you should blow air through both.

Jerry
cekkk
Explorer
Oct 03, 2014
DAVE, "I am not sure but I just got finished replacing a fitting in the black tank flusher hose and the anti siphon valve that is located under the bathroom sink." Huh? My plumbing expertise ends just after flushng the toilet. What and where and how to protect that valve???
Arn
Explorer
Oct 02, 2014
With the pump turned off I open a tap in the trailer to relieve pressure. You can then safely, but carefully, press the valve. I then get DW to cycle the pump on & off until the pink stuff comes out while pressing the valve.
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2014
0rion wrote:
is there enough water left in that line to freeze enough to bust the hose? I've always just assumed there wasn't and I've never winterized the city connection. No problems so far but maybe I've just been dodging a bullet. As cold as it was here last year I would imagine if it was bustable it would've done it. :D

I am not sure but I just got finished replacing a fitting in the black tank flusher hose and the anti siphon valve that is located under the bathroom sink. Something busted them over last winter. :h
NanciL
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2014
A simple way to protect the check valve in the city water inlet is to just use an eyedropper and put some pink antifreeze in the filler hole.

Jack L
0rion
Explorer
Oct 02, 2014
is there enough water left in that line to freeze enough to bust the hose? I've always just assumed there wasn't and I've never winterized the city connection. No problems so far but maybe I've just been dodging a bullet. As cold as it was here last year I would imagine if it was bustable it would've done it. :D
old_guy
Explorer
Oct 01, 2014
I broke one once and just use air to clear out that section of hose now.
Robin1953
Explorer
Oct 01, 2014
Dave H M wrote:
BTW I know a guy that broke his city water inlet valve first time out of the chute. :S
I resemble that remark...:o Instead of fixing it I just bought an inline check valve and used a water hose plug to seal the inlet when I wanted to use the on board water pump. When I wonteriize now I let all the pressure off the system and press in the valve. There is generally enough antifreeze pressure remaining to let the antifreeze to come out.
cekkk
Explorer
Oct 01, 2014
Thanks again. I'm ordering the hand pump and will use it when it arrives and again in April when we head back from AZ, where we'll be going later this month. Last April it was around 90 the day we left but low 20s where we spent that night. I don't dewinterize until late May up here. So getting winterizing right is important, although no problems so far and I've missed the city water inlet and the flush-out in both campers we owned from '09 to 2011/2012, the last winter we spent here at home. The campers saw lots of sub zero temps in the openeded pole barn. Still, it never hurts to make things safer.
xaugievike
Explorer
Oct 01, 2014
I use this to ensure I get the pink stuff in the city inlet run, as well as my black tank rinser

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/plastic-winterizing-hand-pump-kit/4411