Community Forums

Cola ny · 07-28-2014, 10:14 PM

Hello folks. I seen online while your coach is being used along with heat that you can put RV antifreeze in your holding tanks and that should help in cold-weather and keep your tanks from freezing true or false? Thanks

chboone · 07-28-2014, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cola ny

Hello folks. I seen online while your coach is being used along with heat that you can put RV antifreeze in your holding tanks and that should help in cold-weather and keep your tanks from freezing true or false? Thanks

Never heard that before.
If your going to be using the tanks at same time your going to need a lot. RV antifreeze actually will freeze, not sure at what temperature. RV antifreeze will not expand like water and break thing's.

Chuck

gruelens · 07-30-2014, 12:16 AM

When winterizing an RV, you can put some RV antifreeze in your empty holding tanks. If tanks are being used, that is a different story.

The antifreeze solution would become very diluted as the tank fills. This would render the antifreeze practically useless. You would risk a broken holding tank. A heat source is necessary in the tank bay.

Hikerdogs · 07-31-2014, 08:14 AM

RV or marine antifreeze does freeze to a point. It will get solid at about -50*F in full concentration. It will turn to slush at about 10*F in full concentration.

The advantage of RV antifreeze is not that it doesn't eventually freeze, but that it doesn't expand when it freezes. It's used in full concentration to displace the water in lines, pumps, faucets, drains, other related plumbing hardware. Since it doesn't expand when it freezes it will not crack pipes, or destroy pump mechanisms.

If it's used in less than full concentration the freezing point is raised. In addition it will not keep the water molecules from freezing. The water will expand when it freezes, and if the water is in large enough concentration it will damage pumps and related plumbing hardware.

doc · 07-31-2014, 08:36 AM

Where did the OP see this?

Gary RVRoamer · 07-31-2014, 11:02 AM

You can use RV antifreeze in your waste tanks while using the coach in cold weather, but you need to add or replenish to keep the concentration sufficient for the weather. Usually not a big deal if the coach is being heated - just need enough to keep the drain valves from freezing and breaking.

The fresh tank is a bit different, since you probably don't want to drink water with RV antifreeze in it, even though its not poisonous. But if you are only flushing toilets, doing dishes and washing hands, it's probably ok. Carry drinking water separately and keep it in the living area.

skigramp · 08-04-2014, 02:35 PM

We often leave Wisconsin in the middle of winter with our coach winterized .... we carry bottled water to drink for the first few days until we get to warm enough climes to dewinterize.

We purchase two or three gallons of purple (-30 freezing) windshield washer fluid ... we keep the bottles in the bottom of the shower ... we use this to flush the toilets until it is warm enough to dewinterize.

Works for us ... it is cheaper and does not leave the residue that RV antifreeze leaves behind.