first time winterizing, questions

[missionman]

I have a good handle on how to drain the water from all pipes and the hot water tank, then refill with antifreeze.

Is there anything else you guys do? I will have it stored indoors (not heated obviously). anything for mice or anything I may be forgetting? Do you leave top vents open?

[Bobbo]

NanciL wrote:
Another thing:
Use an eye dropper and put a bit of pink stuff in the city water connection.
If not the check valve is liable freeze and then leak.

From one who learned the hard way!

Jack L

Another way to do this: After everything else has pink stuff in it, open a cold water faucet in the RV, go around and use a key or screwdriver to press in on the valve that closes the city water inlet. The pink stuff in the water lines will flow backwards, out of the valve, protecting both the valve and the water line going to the valve.

DO NOT DO THIS WITH THE SYSTEM PRESSURIZED! Be sure a faucet is open and all pressure is released. If the system is pressurized, it can dislodge an O-ring and stop the valve from working.

[RJCorazza]

NanciL wrote:
Another thing:
Use an eye dropper and put a bit of pink stuff in the city water connection.
If not the check valve is liable freeze and then leak.

From one who learned the hard way!

Jack L

Good point... Easily overlooked. you can also depress the one way valve by hand while the system is pressurized with antifreeze, just cover with a rag or you'll get a face full.

[NanciL]

Another thing:
Use an eye dropper and put a bit of pink stuff in the city water connection.
If not the check valve is liable freeze and then leak.

From one who learned the hard way!

Jack L

[lanerd]

ddndoug wrote:
If you blow out the lines with air, you don't need to fill the lines with antifreeze. By all means don't put antifreeze in the water heater. If you're pulling the anode rod to drain the water heater, do yourself a favor and open one of your hot water faucets to bleed off the pressure before unscrewing it. (don't ask how I know)

Doug

Doug... I thought all water heaters had a pressure relief valve that you open to release the pressure? :h

[ncrowley]

You do not fill the hot water tank with antifreeze. You drain the hot water tank and then bypass it before you fill the lines with the antifreeze.

[Howie3]

Keep your fridge/freezer doors ajar so as to not build up moisture and stale odors.

Howie

[ddndoug]

If you blow out the lines with air, you don't need to fill the lines with antifreeze. By all means don't put antifreeze in the water heater. If you're pulling the anode rod to drain the water heater, do yourself a favor and open one of your hot water faucets to bleed off the pressure before unscrewing it. (don't ask how I know)

Doug

[2oldman]

General discussions...

winterizing in section 23 of FAQ
Winterize 2010 with pictures[url]
Winterize 5er
Winterize black tank 2014
Winterize Sept 2009

Some other subjects you may not think of...

Winterize batteries Oct2009
Stay plugged in in storage?


Winterize - propane 2009

[paulcardoza]

Stored indoors, I would leave the roof vents open to vent moisture.

Be sure to bypass the HWH after draining it, so you don't fill it with 10-12 gallons of antifreeze! 😉

Put a few cups of antifreeze in the toilet bowl and the each of the sink drains to keep the p-traps from freezing. Be sure to include an outside shower or hose connection when winterizing. And don't forget the waterlines to the fridge if you have an ice-maker in it.