How to Winterize a RV Using Antifreeze

There are two commonly used methods to winterize RVs. Blowing out the lines with an air compressor, and using RV antifreeze. RV antifreeze is perhaps the easiest to do. This is not the same antifreeze you use in your car, but special antifreeze for RV water lines. This article will review the process to winterize your RV using antifreeze.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wrench to drain your hot water heater.
• RV Antifreeze, you can find this at any RV dealer, or WalMart.
• A funnel

1. 
   Example of a fresh water holding tank

   Drain the fresh water tank by removing the drain plug. Turn on all the faucets until water stops coming out in order to drain the water system.

2. 
   Drain Plug

   Make sure to drain the hot water heater. There will be a drain plug. Remove the plug using a wrench. Once drained, make sure to turn off the supply line to the hot water heater.

3. 

   Drain the gray and black water holding tanks. You'll need to travel to a location that has a dump tank in order to dispose of the waste material properly. Most campgrounds have a dump area that they will let you use for little or no cost.

4. 

   Once all the tanks have been drain and the supply line to the water heater has been turned off. Pour the antifreeze into the fresh water tank. Depending on the size of your RV between 3-5 gallons should be plenty.

5. Turn on all the faucets until you see the colored antifreeze coming out. Be sure to run a facet for a minute or two to ensure all the water is out of the line, and to fill your holding tank.

6. 

   Flush the toilet several times. Hold the water line open and fill the bowl half way before flushing. Repeat about 5 times.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to run the shower if your RV has one.
• Run the auxiliary shower. Your RV may not have one. It's the outside shower.
• In the spring, when you bring your RV out of storage, make sure to flush the entire water system with clean water several times.
• If you don't flush the system good, your drinking water may have an after taste to it.
• Again, make sure to turn off the supply line to your hot water heater. If you don't it'll hold antifreeze and increase the cost to winterize because you'll have to buy extra.