Anti freeze in fresh water tank.

[JayLynn]

I’m winterizing my 2007 Winnebago Voyage just as I’ve always done. Valves on Winterize and Bypass Water Heater. Turn on the water pump and the antifreeze disappears but does not go up to the faucets. It appears it went into some lines but mostly to the fresh water tank. What am I missing?

[CountryB]

Do you have a fresh water tank "Fill Valve" switch that is open? are you connected to outside water source?
Also check that the hot and cold valves for the exterior hand shower (if equipped) is shut off.

["007"]

Close off the line into your FWT and look at links in this thread.

[powercat_ras]

If you had the 2 way valve that can be set to City Water or Fill Tank set to Fill Tank it ties the cold water line on the pressure side of the water pump to the line that feeds into the top of the water tank. That would have caused all the RV antifreeze to be sucked into the water pump and down some of the cold water lines and into the fresh tank.

I would put more water into the fresh tank and repeat drain it right away so that the dye in the RV antifreeze does not stain it.

To winterize, you want to:

1. Put the water valve into City Water Position
2. Put the Hot Water Heater Bypass Valve into Bypass position
3. Have all hot and cold valves closed
4. Put the Winterize intake tube into the jug of RV antifreeze
5. Move the Winterize intake valve to Winterize Position
6. Turn on the Water Pump

7a. At this point your pump will draw antifreeze into both hot and cold water lines and you can open faucets, outside faucets, and shower valves one at a time until you get red flow out of each one.

7b. Push the check valve button on the fresh water intake connection until you get red flow

7c. On my Vista, there is a low point drain valve on the cold line by the water heater, that gets opened briefly to get the antifreeze soluiton down to there. Depending on your Winnebago's design, you may not have this.

7d. If your RV has a refrigerator with ice maker and/or water filters follow your Winnebago Operator Guide instructions, generally you don't put antifreeze into them you drain and/or remove the water filters over winter.

On my Vista it takes more than one jug.

7e. Use the remaining antifreeze from the 2nd jug to pour into the sink and shower traps and into the toilet.

[WyoFree]

I don't like anti-freezing-up my coach. I drain the black and gray tanks and fill the fresh water tank. It takes a long time to freeze 80 gallons plus of water and by putting a heater (some use a 60 or 100 watt bulb, I don't but some do) in the water bay that handles that. I also put a sensor in the bay that signals my iPhone if it drops below 40 degrees. Meaning the heater is not working for some reason.

I also put two heaters inside the coach. One in the kitchen with all cabinets open, including the refrigerator. And one in the bath, with all doors open including the shower door. I also have a sensor inside the coach (between kitchen and bath) to alert me if temps drop below 40.

This all assumes you have 50 amp service and are in a reasonable (30 min) proximity to your coach!

Harry

[Easyrider]

On our 2005 Sunrise there are 2 diverter valves that need to be turned when winterizing. Check to make sure you have both of those turned if yours is equipped the same way. The 2 valves are in the same bay the water heater is in but are not mounted directly on the water heater.

[JayLynn]

Thank you all for your help. This forum is amazing. I had left the City Fill valve open. My manual says to open it for draining, but no where does it say to close it before winterizing. In past years I must have closed it, but this year did not. Live and learn.

[JayLynn]

I see my reply looks confusing by using the term "open" in reference to the City water/fill valve. I meant I left the valve in "Fill".

[Diggerdan17]

I did the same thing this year winterizing my new trailer, left the tank fill valve open. Had antifreeze coming out of my drain on fresh water tank .

Oh well, live and learn, next year I'll remember .

My previous trailer has a separate fill tube for freshwater tank, city water was in another location so I never had to deal with that.

Also previous trailer didn't have the clear hose with valve for siphoning antifreeze( had to unscrew hose clamp on water pump inlet and add a piece of garden hose to antifreeze jug)


I think it will go smooth next year!

[Azpugman]

Originally Posted by powercat_ras

If you had the 2 way valve that can be set to City Water or Fill Tank set to Fill Tank it ties the cold water line on the pressure side of the water pump to the line that feeds into the top of the water tank. That would have caused all the RV antifreeze to be sucked into the water pump and down some of the cold water lines and into the fresh tank.

I would put more water into the fresh tank and repeat drain it right away so that the dye in the RV antifreeze does not stain it.

To winterize, you want to:

1. Put the water valve into City Water Position
2. Put the Hot Water Heater Bypass Valve into Bypass position
3. Have all hot and cold valves closed
4. Put the Winterize intake tube into the jug of RV antifreeze
5. Move the Winterize intake valve to Winterize Position
6. Turn on the Water Pump

7a. At this point your pump will draw antifreeze into both hot and cold water lines and you can open faucets, outside faucets, and shower valves one at a time until you get red flow out of each one.

7b. Push the check valve button on the fresh water intake connection until you get red flow

7c. On my Vista, there is a low point drain valve on the cold line by the water heater, that gets opened briefly to get the antifreeze soluiton down to there. Depending on your Winnebago's design, you may not have this.

7d. If your RV has a refrigerator with ice maker and/or water filters follow your Winnebago Operator Guide instructions, generally you don't put antifreeze into them you drain and/or remove the water filters over winter.

On my Vista it takes more than one jug.

7e. Use the remaining antifreeze from the 2nd jug to pour into the sink and shower traps and into the toilet.

Potable antifreeze, at least the West Marine -100F variety, does NOT leave a stain in general. If, on the off chance it did stain the HDPE water tank, why would it be a problem?