Community Forums

b1rider · 08-03-2017, 09:03 PM

I bought my '12 Bounder just a few months ago and was wondering the purpose of the white hose with the screw on cap in the bay next to the "whole house" water filter (maybe the second bay back on the passenger side)? It looks like a hose I could use to stick in a gallon of antifreeze to winterize the MH.

I also read to fill the fresh water tank with 5 gallons of antifreeze and use this to pump antifreeze throughout the MH. Kinda like this method better.

Any help is appreciated.

BobGed · 08-03-2017, 09:45 PM

The main purpose of the short hose you're referring to is to attach it to your water pump to keep the RV antifreeze from getting into your fresh water tank.

I can't even imagine how long it would take to get rid of the residual antifreeze when you dewinterize.

Also make sure you remove the filter element from your onboard water filter cannister prior to winterizing.

Ray,IN · 08-03-2017, 10:05 PM

DO NOT put antifreeze into your fresh water tank, in addition to unnecessary extra expense of buying more RV antifreeze, the plastic storage tank will absorb the RV antifreeze and impart a bitter taste to future fresh water.
Use your onboard water pump and the short hose to pump RV antifreeze directly into the water line-after you have bypassed your water heater, which does not require antifreeze either.
How to winterize your RV
And this from KOA, step by step winterizing
Now if you have a residential refrigerator, the procedure is different than RV refrigerators, however the simplest way is to just allow the frig run after you winterize you MH, until you see pink slush in the ice cube tray(RV antifreeze will not freeze solid, but will turn to slush) this requires you maintain line pressure during this procedure. Then do the opposite when you de-winterize the residential frig.

b1rider · 08-03-2017, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobGed

The main purpose of the short hose you're referring to is to attach it to your water pump to keep the RV antifreeze from getting into your fresh water tank.

I can't even imagine how long it would take to get rid of the residual antifreeze when you dewinterize.

Also make sure you remove the filter element from your onboard water filter cannister prior to winterizing.

So you do use this hose to pull in the antifreeze and not through the city water inlet? But the city water inlet can bypass the onboard water tank, but I would be short cutting somewhat to the pump.

This hose is already connected to something, I will have to look up and see to what. I would assume the water pump. When I removed the cap on the short hose, antifeeze came out.

So you are saying I use this hose to stick down in a gallon jug of antifreeze and not to pour antifreeze in my holding tank?

Spk64 · 08-03-2017, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b1rider

So you do use this hose to pull in the antifreeze and not through the city water inlet? But the city water inlet can bypass the onboard water tank, but I would be short cutting somewhat to the pump.

This hose is already connected to something, I will have to look up and see to what. I would assume the water pump. When I removed the cap on the short hose, antifeeze came out.

So you are saying I use this hose to stick down in a gallon jug of antifreeze and not to pour antifreeze in my holding tank?

The hose should be connected to a valve. There should also be a second valve that shuts off the hose from the freshwater tank.

To winterize the valve from the tank to the pump is closed. The valve from the winterize hose is opened. Hose placed in gallon jug of antifreeze and pumped through out plumbing system. All sinks, toilets etc must be opened one at a time to clear the water and allow the antifreeze to fully fill the system.
1. Hot water heater should be bypassed and drained.
2. Ice makers may require special treatment depending on type.
3. Remove any filters in system
4. Make sure all water outlets cycled including low point drains.

Any antifreeze in holding tanks is fine and you should have some in all traps.

There are shortcuts to this but you should first be comfortable with doing it the way the Mfg's recommend.

nothermark · 08-03-2017, 10:24 PM

You probably use a length of plastic tubing connected to a fitting attached to that short hose. That gives you the extra hose you need. The fitting is probably a capped 1/2 inch NPT. There is probably a valve between the fresh tank and short tube.