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

mrad
Explorer II
Explorer II
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.
23 REPLIES 23

mrad
Explorer II
Explorer II
I donโ€™t believe I use the outside shower when I drained the lines.
I didnโ€™t put any in a freeze in my freshwater tank, I just used the winterize mode on my water control panel.

It also looks like one of my mistakes may have been using the city connection when I went to drain all the lines.

pianotuna
Nomad III
Nomad III
Install the antifreeze.

Immediately blow the lines and save the antifreeze for next time.

Treat the P traps.

When trailer is put back in use; fill water tank, turn on pump, then turn off the pump and blow the lines.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.

Yosemite_Sam1
Explorer
Explorer
Same problem I had which took me some 4 rinsing. So I stopped using anti-freeze on the lines (just on p-traps).

I bought an air-compressor instead and now may picket fences is newly painted and the back fence is sealed and weatherproofed.;)

QCMan
Nomad III
Nomad III
DS Canuck wrote:
The good news is that the pink stuff you used is non toxic and will eventually become so diluted it will not be noticeable!

I no longer use antifreeze ,I just drain everything and blow the lines out with compressed air!

A compact tire inflator works fine !

I have used the same method to clear our Lawn sprinkler system and drain the water from our home plumbing when taking a winter vacation!

^^^^^x2
If you are methodical and get each system blown out, dewinterizing just entails putting the caps on the low point drains, closing the fresh water tank drain, replacing the plug/anode in the water heater and running the water in the hot and cold lines until they run without sputtering. If you use the fresh tank for drinking you may want to sanitize it.

2020 Keystone Cougar 22RBS, Ram 1500, two Jacks and plenty of time to roam!
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits. A.E.
Good Sam Life Member

DS_Canuck
Explorer
Explorer
The good news is that the pink stuff you used is non toxic and will eventually become so diluted it will not be noticeable!

I no longer use antifreeze ,I just drain everything and blow the lines out with compressed air!

A compact tire inflator works fine !

I have used the same method to clear our Lawn sprinkler system and drain the water from our home plumbing when taking a winter vacation!

valhalla360
Nomad III
Nomad III
If you got antifreeze in the fresh water tank, fill and flush several times. If you are lucky there is a bottom drain on the fresh water tank, you can leave that open while filling, which accelerate the process. As mentioned, use a hose to draw direct form the bottle of antifreeze and just leave the fresh water tank empty.

Otherwise, the pipes, make sure to run water thru them all. Bypassing the washer, could allow antirfreeze on that branch to back feed over an extended period of time, so flush that branch out also.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV

noteven
Explorer III
Explorer III
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

๐Ÿ™‚

enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
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.

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow


2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker

schlep1967
Nomad
Nomad
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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