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ryanw821's avatar
ryanw821
Explorer
Oct 03, 2015

Just Confirming I winterized correctly.

First time winterizing my rig, had dealer do it last year, just confirming if I did it right.

Bypassed and drained water heater, pulled drain plug on fresh tank.
Ran winterizing bypass line from pump into jug of RV antifreeze and pumped till it came out all fixtures and low point drains.

Did I get it all? Is this all I need to worry about?

Thanks!

18 Replies

  • You may want to give your roof a quick check. Make sure there is no loose or missing caulk, damage, etc..
  • Other than checking the city water, outside shower, and black tank flush as mentioned, sounds good.

    BUT, how much antifreeze did you use? You need to make sure you pushed all the water out the lines, and make sure there is enough antifreeze in the p-traps of the sinks and tub/shower as mentioned.

    For next year as reference, this is how I winterize (right or wrong! Lol): I hook an air compressor up to the city inlet to blow all the lines out, one by one, for some time. While doing this, when possible I try to catch in a bowl the water in the lines (maybe overkill???). Going back through a second time to all the faucets. I then take any p-traps accessible out and drain them into the bowl. Also drain the hot water heater and fresh tank at this time. New to me this year is having a black tank flush, outdoor shower, and outdoor kitchen- need to remember those!!!! I then pump the antifreeze through the pump to all faucets, toilet, and the city inlet. I then blow the lines out again (maybe crazy at this point!!! Lol), pour antifreeze down the p-traps and toilet into the holding tanks, little in the toilet, and good to go!

    For those with a black tank flush, do you put any antifreeze down it also with a hand pump?
  • Two things:
    1. Did you run it through your shower. Then leave the shower hose hanging down
    2. Did you put a bit in your city water inlet. There is a check valve in there and it will freeze and break if you didn't.
    I usually use an eyedropper and squirt a bit in from the outside

    Jack L
  • Take batteries out of smoke detectors and leave the fridge/freezer cracked open!
  • City water inlet and black tank flush connection????

    Shower drain 'P' trap?
  • Golden_HVAC wrote:
    I am guessing that the black tank is empty, and that you put a splash of the pink stuff in the toilet, so it will not go dry this winter.

    The fresh water pump should have some anti-freeze in it, so it will not crack.

    Good luck,

    Fred.

    Yeah, I should have mentioned I had just emptied gray and black tanks at the end of our last trip.

    I ran the toilet and sink for a while pumping the antifreeze, so there should be a bit in the tanks now too (and in the pump), and I left about 1" of antifreeze in the toilet bowl too to keep the seal "wet".
  • I am guessing that the black tank is empty, and that you put a splash of the pink stuff in the toilet, so it will not go dry this winter.

    The fresh water pump should have some anti-freeze in it, so it will not crack.

    Good luck,

    Fred.