First time winterizing the water sys.

THEBRAIN

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2015
Messages
199
Location
AL
First time winterizing the water sys.
05 Pleasureway Lexar RD Chevy 3500
I drained the fresh water holding tank then poured almost one gallon into holding tank.I did observe some droplets under FWHT not sure but could have been overflow from when pouring in.I used a long funnel an observed all enter into the fill didn’t see any back fill.
Turned on water pump an kitchen faucet after a few minutes of burping little water an a lot of air did observe the pink antifreeze.
Next turned on bathroom sinks cold water again after a few mintues did observe pink water however when turning off cold an turning on hot water didn’t see any pinkness same w/ the outside shower. Please advise.
 
Since no one has responded my 2cents. Does your water heater have a winterization by pass? Did you Drain water heater? If not then you might be just be drawing clear water from the water heater tank until antifreeze from the fresh water tank replaces it.
 
I redid the prevouis winterization. made a small tube attached to the water pump an spinioned another gallon of antifreeze.
this 2nd time around I drained the water tank then bypassed it.
turned on each fauchet independantly cold then hot an observed the pink fuild in both.
I was informed the proper procedure somewhere else.
right now I'm concerned that when removing the city water fills input screen nothing no water or antifreeze came out.
edit:Ive never used the city water.thanks GallenH
 
I redid the prevouis winterization. made a small tube attached to the water pump an spinioned another gallon of antifreeze.
this 2nd time around I drained the water tank then bypassed it.
turned on each fauchet independantly cold then hot an observed the pink fuild in both.
I was informed the proper procedure somewhere else.
right now I'm concerned that when removing the city water fills input screen nothing no water or antifreeze came out.
edit:Ive never used the city water.thanks GallenH


The city fill probably has a check valve in it. Reach up into the inlet with a small probe on lightly push on the valve to drain that area. Have a faucet open when you do that.
 
The city fill probably has a check valve in it. Reach up into the inlet with a small probe on lightly push on the valve to drain that area. Have a faucet open when you do that.
I opened cold water on bathroom didn't turn pump on there was a little pressure antifreeze came out.

removed city water inlets screen pressed in the checkball w/ screwdriver an little antifreeze came out.
the toilet seal is next, what seal presrver should I use?like is it in the walmart rv section?
thanks booster
excellent advice as usale.
 
Your thoughts?

I have done some reading on this subject as I have owned RV's for many years and I live in an area that can get to single digits or zero in winter. My last class B was winterized before I owned it and the smell of the non-tox antifreeze stayed in the water system for the 13 years I owned it. It never left. It is something that a blind person can identify by standing inside; They will know they are in an RV or boat by the smell. I have been winterizing by draining and blowing out the water system for 17 years now and never had a broken component. If there is a few drops in there, the water has plenty of room to expand to so freeze damage really can't occur. Think like water. If the water is trapped in a confined place and it freezes, it will expand and you can't stop it. If water is just a tiny amount in a pipe open at both ends, should be fine. Antifreeze is for my drains, traps, macerator. Your thoughts?
FWIW. Joe
 
We have a 2000 RT 190V, the first year we owned it (2018) we used the RV antifreeze, the smell did hang around as another person has said. Subsequently I have connected an air compressor regulated to about 20psi to the city water inlet to clear the system of most all water with the assumption that the last few drops remaining will not be enough to damage the system, this seems to be the case as we live in northern Vermont.
Once the compressor is hooked up I open the valve to fill the main freah tank from city and blow this out, then open the drain on the tank. Next I open the sink, hot and cold, flush the toilet, open the old shower hook up....basically open all valves to clear the system.
The only problem is that when summerizing I need to send water back to the water pump to prime it. It does not seem to self prime from the main fresh tank on it own. I accomplish this by using an adapter to put the female end of a garden hose on to the threads of the aeriator on the kitchen sink, I have an RV pressure regulator on the garden hose and an inline on off valve on the hose so I don't just blast a stream of water into the system and the pump diaphragm.
Guessing I am opening myself up to big questions regarding my methodology, but it works and I have very few concerns about a freeze issue!
 
Does your AL stand for Alberta or Alabama? If Alberta don't read on as you get a little colder than I do. If Alabama, read on. I live outside Seattle in the foothills. I have never needed to winterize. We may get a week of 20 degrees F once a year if so I keep an electric heater (750w) in the van. I'm more concerned about my lithium batteries than my water. I do have a wi-fi thermometer so I can check the temp in the van. One reason I don't winterize is our van is a daily driver. When not underway we keep it plugged in to shore power.

Give PW a call and get their expert opinion.
 

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