Winterizing Antifreeze- all the same?

[MTSam]

Our first year winterizing and it's going to be in the 20s Friday night...


So do you have any preferences when picking out antifreeze for your waterlines? Any thing I should look for, etc?

Thanks

[Indy Glenn]

Nope - - - - as long as it claims to be RV Anti-Freeze.

We do look at price as it can vary, sometimes up to 2 bucks per gallon.

We generally get ours at either Wal-Mart or Lowes.

Man - - I can't remember exactly what we have paid but I don't think it was ever over $2.50 per gallon.

You might pay a little more as Northern MT is out in the middle of no where - - I used to be a frequent visitor to Harlowton.......

Good luck....

g

[wingnut60]

There are low-point drains somewhere in the trailer--that should take most of the water out of the unit lines. Then drain the water heater and there should be a heater bypass system in place--turn the valves to isolate the heater, meaning water goes by it not into it. Then there should be a suction line on the water pump where you can use it to run pull the pink antifreeze into the system. Run the pump with the suction line in the AF container--it will pull the AF into the water system as you open each water faucet. The fluid coming out of the faucets should push fresh water out of the P traps under each faucet sink. Be sure to wipe any AF residue off the surface where it has splashed. Once you have AF coming out of each faucet and letting it run into the drains, you should be done, unless you have a washing machine.
You can also use an air compressor adapter to the water fill line if you have one (lower pressure, not real high) and it will blow excess water out of the lines.
Be real patient and thorough as you don't want to find out next summer you missed some water in a line.

[MTSam]

Thanks Indy Glenn. I'm thinking it's a bit more, and I'm thinking 4 jugs for my first time doing this... since it'll be a good hour on the road to fetch and I don't want to be short on supplies. You know the drill...

Hey wingnut60, that's really helpful thanks. No washing machine were just cutting our teeth on a simple 20 ft TT -- that does have an outside shower.

We ordered across Amazon like fools probably with everything coming in by tomorrow night.

>>> where do you get the suction line??? The piece that attaches to the water pump and tube end that goes into the antifreeze????

[Indy Glenn]

Originally Posted by MTSam

Thanks Indy Glenn. I'm thinking it's a bit more, and I'm thinking 4 jugs for my first time doing this... since it'll be a good hour on the road to fetch and I don't want to be short on supplies. You know the drill...

Hey wingnut60, that's really helpful thanks. No washing machine were just cutting our teeth on a simple 20 ft TT -- that does have an outside shower.

We ordered across Amazon like fools probably with everything coming in by tomorrow night.

>>> where do you get the suction line??? The piece that attaches to the water pump and tube end that goes into the antifreeze????

I'd say your fine with 4 gallons. Our motor home has water lines that run from the center to the rear and a washing machine and ice maker, we use 5 gallons. If you have left over anti-freeze, no problem. It does not go bad, save it for next year.

The suction line is called a "Pick-Up Tube". It is nothing more than a clear plastic tube and "should be near your "wet-bay", where your utility connections (Water/sewer) might be. I have never owned a TT.

Bottom line - the pick up tube should have come with your rig.

Follow your rigs winterization instructions - ezy-peezy.

Wingut60 walked you through the process - make sure enough anti-freeze goes down the p-traps, I pour a little more down the drain once it starts coming out of the faucets, and flush the toilets to let the pink stuff come through - I leave a small amount in the bowl itself.

Hot water heater by pass is important and of course draining the water heater itself.

We order from Amazon all the time!!!!! LOL

Good luck, if you have questions, fire away, I look at iRV2 every morning.

g

[lynnmor]

There are two types of RV antifreeze, the cheap stuff with alcohol and the good kind like was always used in past years. Alcohol can evaporate out and cause some degradation of soft plumbing parts. I use the good stuff, found it at Lowes last year.

[nothermark]

Operate all the valves once you have anti freeze in the lines. You want antifreeze not water in the valve bodies.

[wingnut60]

MTSam,
Locate the water pump, which is buried somewhere under/behind something...it will have two white plastic lines on it--one is suction from the water tank, the other is pressure to the trailer system. The suction side should have a bowl with a strainer visible in it, and there should be a valve in that line with another plastic line on it--that is the suction line for AF, you just put the line into the AF jug, turn the valve to that line and run the pump as needed to pull the AF out of the jug and into the trailer system.

[Winemaker2]

I like to blow out lines w compressed air priorto adding pink. You know when you see pink OK to turn off faucet...no need to let it run cause inital flow is diluted. Use less AF but thats a minor side benefit. I just have more confidence that way.

[MTSam]

You guys are really confidence builders!!

Got a #^€??~>>!*%#~ great sleep last night at S&B. I'm seriously considering a major bed upgrade lol but back to the subject ...

You all have really made me feel I have this under control. Such a big investment for us and I don't want to screw it up through stupidity or lack of knowing. There good stuff and really bad stuff on YouTube and we are loosing more and more faith in our dealership...

You all have been so helpful and I'm so incredibly thankful.

Found the pick up tube just by chance after getting home and before heading off to shop. Thought I'd better have an idea of pump attachments thinking I might have to build one. Man was I delighted to find that tube. Even had some red juice residual still in it!!

Lynnmor, I think you're right. If I were further south I could see the temptation of going cheaper. After an hours drive to walley world, I found a brand called Sta - bil. A name I recognize from my childhood, and my dad with his boats. No second guessing I grabbed that instead of a cheaper version that didn't go as 'cold'.

Looks like my job awaits me this am, but I want to lay in this dreamy bed with coffee a little longer. Lol.

Sam

[jarwiebe]

Originally Posted by MTSam

You guys are really confidence builders!!

Got a #^€??~>>!*%#~ great sleep last night at S&B. I'm seriously considering a major bed upgrade lol but back to the subject ...

You all have really made me feel I have this under control. Such a big investment for us and I don't want to screw it up through stupidity or lack of knowing. There good stuff and really bad stuff on YouTube and we are loosing more and more faith in our dealership...

You all have been so helpful and I'm so incredibly thankful.

Found the pick up tube just by chance after getting home and before heading off to shop. Thought I'd better have an idea of pump attachments thinking I might have to build one. Man was I delighted to find that tube. Even had some red juice residual still in it!!

Lynnmor, I think you're right. If I were further south I could see the temptation of going cheaper. After an hours drive to walley world, I found a brand called Sta - bil. A name I recognize from my childhood, and my dad with his boats. No second guessing I grabbed that instead of a cheaper version that didn't go as 'cold'.

Looks like my job awaits me this am, but I want to lay in this dreamy bed with coffee a little longer. Lol.

Sam

The only Sta-bil I am familiar with is a fuel additive and not an potable water line antifreeze, be sure to double check before you pump this into your water lines.

[emuller1]

RV antifreeze is usually a 40 - 50% mixture of Propylene Glycol and deionized/distill water. Propylene is food grade approved, that does not mean you should drink it.

Do not use any other type of glycol in your system.

Make sure you open all you low drains, remove the anode from your hot water tank to drain and bypass your hot water tank.

We do not have a bypass so I add a jug to the fresh water tank and use my water pump to pump through out. open up each tap till the fluid runs out usually a nice red colour. Do hot and cold, allow a little more to run to get some in the grey/black water tanks and also the traps, u piping.

Finally flush the toilet of few times and then let the propylene build up in the toilet bowl3 - 4inches.

If you do the winterizing at home and move the unit to a storage lot as I do, I always carry a jug of propylene glycol to pour down each drain just in case.

You are set, our winters can have -20 to -30 days here and never had a problem.

Spring time flush, drain and thoroughly flush fresh water tank.

[keymastr]

Sam, I also grabbed some jugs of STA-BIL and yes, it is RV antifreeze marketed by the same company that makes the fuel additive. Says it is good to -75 where the cheaper stuff they sell said -50. Either way is plenty safe. I bet you can winterize your whole trailer for about a gallon leaving you plenty if you decide to un-winterize for a quick weekend.

[NLOVNIT]

How many gallons you'll need will depend on size & number of appliances to winterize. We had a 24ft TT that took barely 2gal. Our 32ft 5-r took 3-4. Our 37ft coach (with an icemaker & W/D) takes close to 5. I've not paid over $2.50/gal for it. I don't get the name-brand expensive stuff as I don't see a reason for it, personally.

Lori-