Dewinterizing systems

[nbking]

This may sound like a stupid question, but where do you dump your tanks when you are emptying the antifreeze from your tanks?

[austinjenna]

I dump it out into the driveway

[2oldman]

nbking wrote:
Roadtrek recommended pouring antifreeze into the water holding tank then pumping it through the system.

The seasoned pros do not do this. No AF in any tanks. The real seasoned pros are never in freezing weather!

[gbopp]

I dump it on my gravel parking area.
The weed killer I use is a lot more toxic than RV antifreeze. And the weeds keep coming back.

[Bobbo]

Since this antifreeze is non-toxic, I dump it where I dump the black tank.

[mayble]

Thanks for asking this "stupid question" - I was wondering the same thing 🙂
I just bought my mh (used) over the winter. Every little thing has been a learning experience.

[bpadamson]

If you forget to close your low point drain valves after you drain the water out of plumbing lines it takes a bit more than a gallon-- depending on when you finally close the low point drains! True story happened to my wife's husband...

[nbking]

As I mentioned, it was the easiest method to winterize and was the system recommended by Roadtrek. I would do it differently next year with help from others.

Anyway, that is the answer I hoped for. I was concerned about just dumping it on the ground. If it is commonly done, then there should be no problem.

Yes I did use RV antifreeze and not automobile antifreeze.

Thanks to all who responded. Makes my job easier this year.

[coolmom42]

double post deleted

[coolmom42]

MOST RVs come with a valve and intake before the pump that lets you suck antifreeze directly out of the antifreeze jug with the pump. That way you don't have to put it in the FW tank.

But if it is in your tank, assuming you used RV antifreeze for winterizing and not automotive antifreeze, you can just drain it on the ground, then fill and drain the tank multiple times. Then pump water through the system to get the antifreeze out, then sanitize the system using bleach.

[beemerphile1]

My driveway. RV antifreeze is nontoxic, in fact it is in many coffee flavorings.

Why do you have antifreeze in your tanks? I winterize the entire rig with less than one gallon.

[nbking]

Roadtrek recommended pouring antifreeze into the water holding tank then pumping it through the system. I don't know how much is in the tank now but I think I put more than a gallon in last fall.

I am sure there is a better system to do it but with arthritic hands, it was the easiest way I could do it last year.

I know I can flush it out and use baking soda to improve the taste. I was wondering where I could flush the water with the antifreeze in it.

[windviewer]

nbking wrote:
The fresh water tank has to be emptied, sanitized and then refilled or partially refilled with clean water. That could not wait until the first dump. The gray or black tank could wait.

Assuming there is little anti freeze in the fresh water tank, you should be able to just dilute it with water and flush it out.

I don't see why you have anti freeze in the tank; normally (AFAIK) you only put antifreeze in the plumbing lines (pumped in from a separate line source put in the anti freeze bottle that bypasses the source line from the water tank). That is what I do anyway.

[nbking]

The fresh water tank has to be emptied, sanitized and then refilled or partially refilled with clean water. That could not wait until the first dump. The gray or black tank could wait.

[downtheroad]

How much antifreeze is there in your tanks? Normally there should be around a quart or less. I just leave it and dump at a dump station or campsite when I dump for the first time after the winter.

Also remember that RV antifreeze is non-toxic and doesn't need special handling like automobile antifreeze does.