Forum Discussion

Della330's avatar
Della330
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016

Need step by step help de-winterizing

I'm paranoid to mess this up! Last fall we bought a used TT, an '08 Salem. We paid a dealer to winterize for us and now it's time to de-winterize in a hurry to get the camper pulled to the fairgrounds for our once-yearly use. The camper came without any manual or instructions and the guy we bought it from didn't know much of anything. We had a camper when I was a child 30+ years ago but never used the plumbing in it. This is all new to me.

Can someone here walk me through exactly how to de-winterize, step by step? (I promise to print it and never ask again!) Seriously, step by step. Break it down.

We have a well water head nearby I can use to fill and flush tanks, but I'm not sure where to start. The camper is currently without power as well but can be hooked up. I'm also unsure what to do with the black and grey tanks as they fill during this process. The dealer who winterized also provided a new rod, but I'm unsure where that goes or when to install.

I know all this is second-nature to many here; please help a newbie out!
  • SoundGuy's avatar
    SoundGuy
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2016
    There really isn't any "step by step" procedure ... just open the low point drains and allow any RV antifreeze to gravity drain, run the pump if you want to help the process. Fill the fresh water tank with water, make sure any water heater bypass valves are set correctly, and use the pump to pressurize and purge the system of air. Some also choose to sanitize the water system at this time by adding a bit of bleach (1/4 to 1/2 cup) to the fresh water tank and running it through using the pump but you'd probably want to do a second flush with fresh water to minimize any bleach after small. That's about it, not much more to than that.
  • Della330's avatar
    Della330
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2016
    This is all foreign to me. I don't know how to set the water heater correctly. Do I keep it set as the dealership left it during this whole process, or when should I open the valves? Do I need the hot water heater to be lit during any part of this?

    I located what I believe is the fresh water holding tank drain (should there be others? If yes, where?) It's ok to drain the antifreeze into my lawn? After all this flushing and rinsing and my grey/black fills, what do I do with it?

    I'm sorry for all the newbie questions. We dove into this head-first with basically no knowledge and no help nearby. I'm hoping someone here can hold my hand through this!
  • jerseyjim's avatar
    jerseyjim
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2016
    How long at the fairgrounds? Days, weeks? When I de-winterize, I hook up the hose and open each faucet until the (pink)antifreeze does not show anymore. Sometimes I have to open then more than twice...opening them in sequence. Then...once that is done, keep running the water thru to flush the system. Of course, you should drain the greywater tank after this...you have a dump station nearby? Personally, I have never used the freshwater tank except to fill it about 1/4 full when on a trip...for the bathroom toilet. For "insurance) I have 2 one-gallon bottles of tap water available if we want coffee or anything on the road due to anything unexpected..

    What you should REALLY do, in my OPINION, is to use the TT more than your "once a year" thing....to get familiar with it. Go to a nearby campground where they offer a full utility site (water, electric, sewer (and cable?)...get to KNOW your trailer...then all mysteries will go away. Who knows? You might enjoy the thing more if you use it more !
  • Della330's avatar
    Della330
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2016
    jerseyjim wrote:
    How long at the fairgrounds? Days, weeks? When I de-winterize, I hook up the hose and open each faucet until the (pink)antifreeze does not show anymore. Sometimes I have to open then more than twice...opening them in sequence. Then...once that is done, keep running the water thru to flush the system. Of course, you should drain the greywater tank after this...you have a dump station nearby?

    What you should REALLY do, in my OPINION, is to use the TT more than your "once a year" thing....to get familiar with it. Go to a nearby campground where they offer a full utility site (water, electric, sewer (and cable?)...get to KNOW your trailer...then all mysteries will go away. Who knows? You might enjoy the thing more if you use it more !


    Thanks for the feedback. We are at the fairgrounds for a week, hooked up to city water. We pay there to have the tanks emptied by a truck about halfway through. There's no dump station around here that I'm aware of - we're out in the country.

    How do I know the sequence of faucets?

    And while I'd LOVE to use the camper more, having 3 young children and a farm makes getting away impossible in this stage of life. The camper at the fair is our "vacation" as it gives us a place to sit in a/c and sleep at our exhibit.
  • WNYBob's avatar
    WNYBob
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2016
    Go look at you tube. There are lots of de-winterizING videos.
  • brirene's avatar
    brirene
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2016
    First, welcome. We'll all get you through this. Not as difficult as you think. To dewinterize, open low point drains (should be 2 lines dropping below trailer). Open any faucets, hot and cold. The antifreeze won't hurt your lawn, but you can catch it in a bucket, either way. You'll know when it's drained. Close the low point drains. Hook up the city water, open each faucet until no pink antifreeze comes out. Turn off the city water. Next, set the valves on the water heater. You should have 2 lines, one going in, one out. You probably have a line between them. Open the 2 going in and out (valve handle in line with pipe). Close the one in between the 2 (handle at 90 degree angle). Are you drinking from the water system? If not, I wouldn't bother worrying about sanitizing the system at this time until you're more familiar and confident. When you turn on the water again the water heater should fill. Open a hot water faucet near it. It will take a while to fill, and when it does the water will sputter. Let it run until it runs smooth. ONLY THEN turn on the water heater. NEVER turn on heater unless you know the water heater is full. You really don't need to do anything with black and gray tanks except empty them. More questions or things look different? Post them here. Have fun!
  • dewey02's avatar
    dewey02
    Explorer II
    Aug 15, 2016
    Here's a diagram of common water heater valve system.
    I took this from a previous posting by our friend Roy Braddy.
    If you have this system on your Trailer, the dealer likely closed the valves to the water heater (photo 2). Once you rinse the antifreeze out of your system, you need to open up the valves (photo 1) so water goes into your heater before you attempt to turn it on and heat water.

  • brirene's avatar
    brirene
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2016
    Della330 wrote:


    We have a well water head nearby I can use to fill and flush tanks, but I'm not sure where to start. That will serve as your "city water", so hook it to that connector on the trailer. The camper is currently without power as well but can be hooked up. Plug it in. Battery needs to be charged. I'm also unsure what to do with the black and grey tanks as they fill during this process. Shouldn't fill enough to worry about if you're only dewinterizing. The dealer who winterized also provided a new rod, but I'm unsure where that goes or when to install. That's your anode rod. It keeps your water heater from rusting. You can change it if necessary by removing the same sized bolt on the outside of the heater. TAKE PRESSURE OFF THE WATER HEATER BEFORE REMOVING, or you'll have a projectile. Then slide the new one in and tighten, after putting a couple rounds of Teflon tape around the threads. Pressure relief valve should be near the rod. If the old one is add thick SD the new one, or nearly, it doesn't need to be replaced yet. Do this before you fill the water heater, if possible, as it will also drain your heater.

    I know all this is second-nature to many here; please help a newbie out! We've all been there!

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