RV antifreeze

[DBBRanger]

R Baker: I used that fitting this past weekend to evacuate my fresh water tank and lines. It worked like a champ.

I blew out the storage tank, head and galley faucets, cockpit shower and hot water tank. Now there is no need for antifreeze in these lines. Saves about 7 gallons.

I have used that kind of fitting on my camper trailer before, but because of the way it was plumbed, I had to independently insure that there was antifreeze in the pump itself. Generally, the dockside water connector bypasses the tank and pump. It does do a great job in removing the water in the lines downstream, but not at the pump. Certainly one needs to insure that the pump is protected from freezing. Because the pump is not that easy to get to, I don't use the "blow out method" on my R25.

 

[Barry Cohen]

All true about the pump.

 

[GA-Midnight Cruise]

If you currently have a check valve on your bilge system, you might want to research this subject further. ABYC standards, re: bilge component locations and configuration specifications.

 

[DBBRanger]

Because the pump is not that easy to get to, I don't use the "blow out method" on my R25.

I'll modify that statement after this year's winterizing. What I did this time is to blow out the water using the adapter at the dockside water inlet. I then added antifreeze to the fresh water tank and pumped it through the system. I feel that this is a little better procedure to ensure water isn't left in the system to dilute the antifreeze. Maybe I'm being to anal, but.....

 

[JamesTXSD]

Another option instead of putting the pink stuff in your fresh water tank (takes forever to get that foamy stuff out next spring) is to disconnect the hose on the supply side of your water pump and put it into a jug of the pink marine antifreeze... it takes care of the pump and lines, but doesn't gunk up the fresh water tank. Also, a bypass for the water heater (so you don't have to pump 6 gallons of antifreeze into that).

We used to live in the frozen northland and had to winterize our boats and RVs. Blowing out the lines is a great way to go, as long as you know you have gotten all the water out.

Be sure to put some of the pink stuff in the shower sump, until it runs pink on the output. If any of your sink lines have a loop in them, put in some pink stuff to displace the water at the low points. Same with bilge pumps.

Of course, the other option is to head south 'till you get below the freezing level. 😎