Anti-Freeze in or out

[sbaxter]

Do you leave the anti-freeze in all winter, or drain it after you flush the lines?

I have watched several tutorials, and none mention draining the lines after flushing with pink until it comes out the taps.

I have also read several posts that say do not leave the AF in.

So which one is it? I was pretty laissez faire with my old 1990 fifth, but now that this is the first winter for my new Denali, I want to be overly paranoidly careful.

[colliehauler]

spoon059 wrote:
Maybe I am too stupid to understand... what is the benefit of immediately draining the antifreeze after running it through?

If your Pex lines are retaining the taste of the antifreeze, you need to replace your lines. They should not absorb, and if they are absorbing the taste of the antifreeze they are also absorbing bacteria from the water and will make you sick.

I leave the antifreeze in the lines as well. The way I look at it if you drain the antifreeze back out you introduce air and bacteria into the system.

[rbpru]

I belong with the group that; pumps anti-freeze into the lines and drain traps, leave it till spring, flushes it out with the bleach loaded sanitizing water in the spring.

The pink stuff for RVs is supposed to safe for human consumption should some sneak into your water supply.

[Bumpyroad]

spoon059 wrote:
Maybe I am too stupid to understand... what is the benefit of immediately draining the antifreeze after running it through?

If your Pex lines are retaining the taste of the antifreeze, you need to replace your lines. They should not absorb, and if they are absorbing the taste of the antifreeze they are also absorbing bacteria from the water and will make you sick.

lets see, option A, replace all lines, complex and horribly expensive; option B, drain antifreeze, cheap and easy. I'll Take Door Number B.
bacteria may form a biofilm on the plastic piping but absorbing them, I don't think so. but a standard sanitization should fix that.

bumpy

[dadmomh]

First time I've ever seen this question posted. Hmmmm. We have always left the pink stuff in all the lines and traps. Never have had a problem with any aftertaste in the spring as we sanitize and then rinse, rinse, rinse. Don't see any reason to change the system.

[GrandpaKip]

sbaxter wrote:
Climate here is also many days of -30C in the 26 months of winter we experience annually.

Don't think I'd be able to handle that much winter.

[spoon059]

Maybe I am too stupid to understand... what is the benefit of immediately draining the antifreeze after running it through?

If your Pex lines are retaining the taste of the antifreeze, you need to replace your lines. They should not absorb, and if they are absorbing the taste of the antifreeze they are also absorbing bacteria from the water and will make you sick.

[fedrocker]

doxiluvr wrote:
We have done it both ways. When we were in Upper Wisconsin, my hubby would blow out the lines and put in anti-freeze. Flushed it in the spring and the trailer was stored outside. The past 2 years we have been in Colorado and the trailer is stored in a large storage barn and he just uses the anti-freeze and flushes it when we get up there. Have never had any problems. He drains is and we let the water run a little while and it tastes fine.

When you say that you "put in anti-freeze", do you know if your husband poured it manually into the drains or if he pumped it via the water pump, bypassing the water heater? Thanks,

[doxiluvr]

We have done it both ways. When we were in Upper Wisconsin, my hubby would blow out the lines and put in anti-freeze. Flushed it in the spring and the trailer was stored outside. The past 2 years we have been in Colorado and the trailer is stored in a large storage barn and he just uses the anti-freeze and flushes it when we get up there. Have never had any problems. He drains is and we let the water run a little while and it tastes fine.

[old_guy]

I got lazy one winter and just blew out the lines. had leaks every where the next spring. learned my lesson on winterizing a RV. now I blow out the lines, add anti freeze and flush it out in the spring. no leaks now.

[Racefan1]

Why take a chance? The antifreeze is cheap insurance. I like to sanitize my whole system in the spring. After flushing with water and bleach my water is great. I don't half do anything on the RV. The repair costs are right off the Ricter Scale.

[kodiakcanuck]

I don't see why you couldn't drain it out after you ensure everything runs pink. The anti-freeze is meant to turn to slush but not expand, so leaving it in should have no harmful effects, aside from those that say you can taste it in the water in the summer. We don't drink direct from our system, so no issue for us.

I always use the anti-freeze and dont blow the lines, and I have never had a problem with our cold winters, which aren't quite as bad as "winterpeg" Manitoba, but sometimes pretty darn close :B

[Bumpyroad]

I have never gone to the trouble of blowing out the antifreeze but I think that opening the low point drains, collecting it for traps, etc. is a good idea.
bumpy

[beemerphile1]

Doesn't matter. If the temps are mild and I have time, I might actually blow the antifreeze out. Usually though it is cold and I have lots of toys to put away for the winter so I leave it.

[sbaxter]

Climate here is also many days of -30C in the 26 months of winter we experience annually.