Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 12, 2025 ...

Winterizing the hot water heater

September 10, 2020, 11:45:50 am

I don't have a bypass on my new 10 gallon water heater. The installer didn't put one in? So, Do I need 10 gallons of antifreeze to pull thru the heater and then more to go thru the cold water lines? Just needing an estimate of how many gallons to buy for this fall. Also I have the washer valves roughed in but no washer. Should  I crack those and drain until antifreeze comes out?
I usually use air but will probably do both this fall.
Thanks

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Re: Winterizing the hot water heater

Reply #1 – September 10, 2020, 03:19:36 pm

Don't you just drain the hot water tank?

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Re: Winterizing the hot water heater

Reply #2 – September 10, 2020, 03:37:48 pm

Drain all lines. Open faucets, valves, for air and drain. Don't forget the ice maker and undersink filter.

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Re: Winterizing the hot water heater

Reply #3 – September 10, 2020, 04:44:40 pm

When I'm pulling the antifreeze into the coach, the hotwater heater will fill but maybe I can open the faucets so it runs threw them before filling 10 gallons into the heater that I would then drain and waste

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Re: Winterizing the hot water heater

Reply #4 – September 10, 2020, 05:17:47 pm

Another thought, drain the hot water heater and then fill your hot water heater with the antifreeze and do your hot water side and
then drain the antifreeze out of the hot water tank  and do the cold water with that antifreeze. Or better is to drain the hot water heater and put in a bypass around the hot water heater and do the hot water that way.

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Re: Winterizing the hot water heater

Reply #5 – September 10, 2020, 06:00:19 pm

I have the Primus heating system but assume you and I have the same 10 gal. water heater. I don't have a bypass on it.
When It comes to winterizing I have learned not to take any short cuts and play it safe. A busted, forgot about, water fitting, pipe, or drain can be a nightmare to repair in the spring.

I drain all the water. I disconnect the water line to the residential refrigerator and suck the water out and leave disconnected. I remove the water filter from the refrigerator and the under sink unit and turn the small valve off after it drains. I buy 20gal. of RV antifreeze at Menards (usually on sale for $3 a gallon or less). I remove the inlet water hose from the water pump and replace the inlet hose with a 5' hose. I take a 5 gal. bucket and fill it with the RV antifreeze and put the water pump inlet hose in the bucket. I turn on the water pump and let the antifreeze pump into the system constantly adding antifreeze into the 5gal. bucket. After 10 gal. the water heater is full. Now I open the faucets (don't forget the outside faucet) and shower head in the RV until antifreeze comes out and runs down the drain. I have a washer dryer. I run the washer until I get a fill and drain cycle complete. I also have a dishwasher. I let that run a cycle. Just to be sure I add whatever RV antifreeze I have left over down each drain. I leave all the faucets open.
I have complete piece of mind that everything is covered, its well worth the yearly $60 spent on the RV antifreeze.

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Re: Winterizing the hot water heater

Reply #6 – September 11, 2020, 12:03:53 am

Got it. Thanks

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