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Topic: Winterize with less antifreeze waste? (Read 482 times) previous topic - next topic

Winterize with less antifreeze waste?

Hello fellow RVers! Today when I was winterizing the FT for the first time I had some new ideas that I tested and think I will implement for future seasons.

If you have Aqua Hot or a hot water heater bypass this probably does not apply.

I have the 10 gallon WH and no bypass (or easy way to add one).  Here in MN I want to make sure and run antifreeze through all the water lines before storage. On all previous RV's I have had I installed a WH bypass and then used the water pump to pump antifreeze through the system. Pretty standard I think. On this system the best way I could tell how to do this (and I read some other threads saying to do this as well) was buy 10 gallons of juice and fill the WH then flush each faucet. I was able to accomplish this but towards the end I wished I had a couple more gallons to make sure the last faucets were thoroughly flushed.

Here is where my ideas came in, why can't I drain the WH back into my bucket and use the same stuff to keep flushing the lines. Then I had an even better idea,  I took my hose out of the antifreeze bucket and put it right on the end of my WH drain valve! I essentially created a loop from the WH tank right back into my water pump and so on. I am pretty confident you could do the whole coach this way with only a few gallons at most. Plus at the end when I drained everything again I thought why not drain as much as you can from the HW tank and collet all that!? In the end I bet you could effectively flush all the water line, fill all the drain traps, and only use a couple gallons!

I was barely able to get one pic and next time I do this I will get some barb fittings and make this really easy to do. Anyone else think this is a good idea? I know antifreeze is cheap but I don't like being so wasteful, I mean owning a beast like this already is so wasteful just in fuel :) At least that doesn't just get dumped on the ground in the end  :D

Re: Winterize with less antifreeze waste?

Reply #1 –
Funny you should mention this as yesterday I did the the antifreeze thing but just put a drain line on the Water heater and once the system was full opened the valve and drained it all back out of tank to plastic containers for the next time. I do not have the bypass  either.
Johnh
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Winterize with less antifreeze waste?

Reply #2 –
May I add one thing? Filter it (paint filter or something) before you run through system again. Small particles in it, otherwise, good Idea.

I have actually installed bypass kits on FT's, with heater inplace. Can you say 'gynecologist"?

Chris
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Winterize with less antifreeze waste?

Reply #3 –
Great idea. I used air this year and no anti freeze, Spring will tell all
1996 U295-36, Cummins 300hp, 8.3. Build number 4864. Vin number 1F97D536XTNO54271. Purchased October 31, 2019.

Re: Winterize with less antifreeze waste?

Reply #4 –
I made a bypass that works at the manibloc. Then added a antifreeze T at water pump for the antifreeze to be sucked into the system.
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.

Re: Winterize with less antifreeze waste?

Reply #5 –
I waited too long, and my advisor has moved to warmer territory, so I'm on my own this year. Bought the blow-out plug and three gallons of antifreeze. Next challenge is to hook a hose from the antifreeze jug to the pump. Of course, the threads on the pump aren't hose threads. Why would they be that simple? So, what thread is it?

Since all of the water is long since drained out, I could go pull the pump, but that's a lot of work.

In the past winterizing meant moving to warmer temperatures, but we're stuck here until summer.

Re: Winterize with less antifreeze waste?

Reply #6 –
Did my winterizing today I'll do an insurance test again tomorrow.
First open all the system drains then all the taps inside then crack the pressure relief on the hot water heater.
After 15 minutes or so back in the coach and close everything.
Switch on the water pump and head to the rear compartment, take the cap off the rear water fill and depress the center and watch the water shoot out.
When the water starts spitting and coughing stop depressing and switch off the pump, back to the rear and depress to release the air.
Wait 5/10 minutes and repeat.
With the coach set up so that the left rear is the lowest point.
Back tomorrow for the insurance test.
No bypass No antifreeze in the system other than the pea traps.
9 winters and counting.
88 Grand Villa 36' ORED 3208 (throwaway)Cat.
 Build # 3150
Happiness is the maximum agreement of reality and desire.
 

Re: Winterize with less antifreeze waste?

Reply #7 –
Quote from: dans96u295ft –
Great idea. I used air this year and no anti freeze, Spring will tell all

Dan, blowing out the lines can often work, and I've done the same.  Now I'm more cautious and blow out the lines, and then bypass the water heater and run the pink rv water antifreeze thru all the sink and shower faucets and the toilet.  Since I also have a Splendide washer/dryer, I also follow their instructions. 

If you just blow out the lines make sure to at least pour antifreeze into all the sink and shower drains.  No use having to replace a blown p trap.  I am not sure the shower has a p trap or not, however, to replace one may not be fun.

How I add antifreeze to winterize.  I also installed the water heater bypass myself.

Camco Permanent Pump Converter Winterizing Kit- Allows You to Use Boat/RV Water Pump to Fill Pipes With Antifreeze - Lead Free, CSA Low Lead Content Certified (36543) Amazon.com: Camco Permanent Pump Converter Winterizing Kit- Allows You to...

Camco 35963 12" Supreme Permanent By-Pass Kit for 10 Gallon Tank - Lead Free Amazon.com: Camco 35963 12" Supreme Permanent By-Pass Kit for 10 Gallon Tank...


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