Winterizing a motorhome

[TEDDE]

I live up here in Canada where during the winter it can get to minus 40 below with alot of snow..YUK.. So I have to winterize my coach for the cold.

My question is...If I bypass my hot water heater with the bypass valve and drain the hot water heater I now need to use RV antifreeze (plumbing antifreeze). I am aware that I do not want antifreeze in my hot water tank. My coach came with a clear hose that is into the suction side of my water pump where I can suck antifreeze into my coaches water system. I will close the water line that comes out of my fresh water tank. By doing that....... am I getting antifreeze to all the necessary water lines?? By turning on the kitchen and bathroom and shower and outside shower faucettes until pink antifreeze comes out..it is good to go...or is it????? Then I will put antifreeze into the traps of the drains by pouring into the sinks.

So now my grey and black water tanks have RV antifreeze in them from pouring in antifreeze into the sink.My faucettes have antifreeze in them from pumping into the system with the clear hose from the pump. My fresh water tank is drained and the suction valve from this tank is closed. I have no antifreeze in my fresh water tank or hot water tank..

Is this correct or am I missing something???

Anyone want to trade minus 40 and 3 feet of snow for your hot climate..LOL

Thx
Ted

[JimM68]

The only things missing are icewqaker and washer dryer if u have them.

And I'm kinda foggy on those myself.

I'm thinking also about just blowing the lines out with compress air this time, I hate trying to flush out all that antifreeze

[okmunky]

It seems like such a shame to be retiring your coach the first week of September. And what a job it seems to be! I'm glad I am able to follow good weather south in the winter. You have my sympathy.

[HDinCincy]

In my experience I DO put RV antifreeze in my water heater. As long as you can isolate the tank (and it sounds like you can) you should be able to rather easily flush out the heater tank in the spring by closing the output side and opening the drainplug (on the outside of the tank.) keep pushing water through until it's clear.

[wa8yxm]

Try this: Get a blow out plug (Any RV store, or supply) and glow the lines out with air, Blow till you no longer see water coming out the low point drains, then pause for a few minutes and do it again, at least 10 times.

(I do this with all valves open by the way, Some folks think you should close the inside valves, suggestion, Both, do it first with all open, then with all closed save the low point drains)

Now empty the waste tanks if you can (Even if you did it first)

Now use PINK STUFF in the drains and traps. also add some to the waste tanks.

Don't worry about the heater

You can put pink stuff in the heater, not really a problem, takes six gallons and that's a lot of pink, why spend the money?

Logic: If air freezes: You won't be worried about the lines in the MH.

[TEDDE]

Thanks to all who replied. Yes it is a shame to put the MH away for the winter in Sept. but my DW has to work and my holidays are all done. Also our provincial parks close for the winter. We can still camp there but no facilities ( who cares we don't need any) but they do away with all the firewood. I carry everything except fire wood...and to buy 4 days worth of wood get expensive.

I think I will try the air method as desribed above. I do not have a washer /dryer combo and I just found my ice maker solinoid and it was broken due to freezing I imagine. I never used it before as we only got our coach this summer. Something else to fix next spring. But now I know how to winterize the solinoid ..thanks to all of you..

Thanks to all

Ted

[Our Time]

Ted,
Even though you don't have a washer you probably still have the water supply lines for it. You need to locate those and open them so the anti freeze or air runs through them.

[TEDDE]

Very good point. I have already found a broken ice maker solinoid i don't want to do that on my roughed in washer/dryer.....good thinking..

ted

[glennb100]

I would strongly suggest the use of air to blow out the lines followed by pumping "pink stuff" through the plumbing.

Even after blowing out the lines, there are still nooks and crannies where water can accumulate and freeze. Don't assume the "low point" drains are in fact the low points. They certainly are not on our Camelot.

RV antifreeze is cheap and easily flushes out of the system in the spring. Simply flush the plumbing with fresh water until the pink color is gone.

To prevent future problems, don't take "the easy way" (just blowing out the lines).