Community Forums

lenjen · 03-04-2012, 10:59 AM

I paid someone to winterize my RV. He is not available this week and I need an oil change so I asked the RV Shop what they charge to de-winterize. They said starting at a $100. Is this reasonable or is it just running water through the system, adding the chorine and flushing the lines? The instructions seem simple enough but many things do when you are reading.

Jim_HiTek · 03-04-2012, 11:13 AM

How was the winterizing done? With the pink stuff, or were the lines just blown out with air?

If it's the pink stuff, just drain it out of the fresh water tank, fill the tank with water (or half fill it), and run it through the on board pump, kitchen, bathroom, shower, toilet, & outside shower until it's not pink anymore.

Since the pink stuff is drinkable, that's about all you need to do. I've never used the pink stuff to winterize...always just use air to blow the lines, but I understand it does flavor your water a bit for awhile. I haven't heard about using bleach after doing this but I don't think it would hurt anything. I'd flush it, then refill using hydrogen peroxide, 1oz/60 gals, along with 1/2 cup baking soda/60 gals to sweeten the water.

$100 for that to the dealer is just helping sweeten their bottom line. Which is OK, it's your call.

lenjen · 03-04-2012, 11:20 AM

It was dewinterized with the pink stuff. The chlorine was mentioned in the manual to sanitize the systems.

The $100 is just the shops hourly rate and I think this is more time than skill unless I'm missing something really important.

Ed S · 03-04-2012, 11:20 AM

$100.00 to much if all you need to do is add water to your fresh tank and run thru all lines as stated above. You want to make sure the water heater valves are turned the way they should be after flushing lines and if there is a on off toggle switch under the panel outside it is also turned back on.

Think thats all I have to do.

Jim_HiTek · 03-04-2012, 11:32 AM

Oh, I just remembered that usually, the hot water tank is just drained, and the bypass valve is opened so no pink stuff should be in there. Leave it that way when you're pumping out the pink stuff. After that's done, then you close the bypass valve and fill it with the mostly pink free water.

Cat320 · 03-04-2012, 01:06 PM

Way too much money, very easy to do at home.

JimM68 · 03-04-2012, 02:22 PM

agree with the others. While I know everyon is not a DIYer, some things, such as dewinterizing and sanitizing your RV's fresh water system, should be on anyone's cando list.

Doi you "call the guy" to change light bulbs in your stick house?

Check your manuals, and git-er-doneu

ga traveler · 03-04-2012, 02:35 PM

In fifteen years, I don't think I ever had anyone pay us to dewinterize. I had several people call or come by and ask for advice but it is so simple anyone can do it.

Ed S · 03-04-2012, 02:39 PM

$100.00 saved, = 25 gals of fuel = 200 miles???? Its a good day!!

dls461 · 03-04-2012, 03:32 PM

Just finished getting ready for spring. Used the pink stuff in the fall to winterize. To de-winterize I use a 1/4 cup of bleach for every 15 gals of fresh water to sanatize the system. Fill the tank 1/2-3/4 full and then run the bleach and fill the tank. I pour mine down the fill hose to sanatize that as well. Run all the faucets until you can smell the bleach coming from each. (usually about 1-2 minutes) I let my set overnight but 4-5 hrs can work as well. Leave the bypass to the hot water so as not to get this into the hot water tank. The next day, I run the faucets again for 1-2 minutes each and then drain the fresh water tank. Refill the tank and run all faucets again until the bleach smell is gone from each. Make sure you do this to the shower or the DW will have bleached hair if she takes the 1st shower. Drain the system again with fresh water and that should be all you need to do. Its is time consuming (mainly waiting) but as easy as filling and draining the system. Easy money saved for something better!

Steve N Sal · 03-04-2012, 03:44 PM

I would do it myself. Being you didn't winterize it make sure to check your washing machine hoses to make sure they are hooked up if you have one, check the water heater if they had to take your anode rod out to drain it. I guess just make sure everything is tightened up before you start running water into your coach or you could have a big mess.

JimM68 · 03-04-2012, 03:47 PM

Yup. washer if you have one, water heater, ice maker.

They should have taken the elements out of any water filters before pumping in the pink stuff, make sure first, anbd make sure you have a mnew set of filters. They go on last, after the system is flushed and sanitized.

genesimmons · 03-04-2012, 03:52 PM

come spring i try to blow out the pink stuff and catch what can back into the jugs it came out of.it's close to $4 a gal and every little bit helps

lenjen · 03-05-2012, 07:39 AM

Thank you for all your advice. I am going to do this myself tomorrow. Buying new filters for the kit sink and icemaker. I'll let you know how it goes.