How to Understand Best way to Antifreeze Your RV or Motor Home

There are a few things you need to know about antifreezing your RV. First and foremost use NON-TOXIC Antifreeze. NOTE: If you use automotive antifreeze you will ruin your system. Also you have to get all water out of the water lines and appliances, such as pumps, toilets and whereever else water will settle. The water freezes and form ice. The ice will expand, splitting water lines and cracking water valves, water pump head and the split water heater tank. There are couple of things you can do to protect your RV.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Non Toxic Antifreeze
• Blow out plug
• Water Heater By Pass Kit
• Compressed Air

1. 
   Water heater should have a drain valve you can remove.

   You need to know if your RV is exposed to freezing templatures, the water in the lines and appliance water valves will freeze, expand and damage your water system. So getting all the water out of your system will prevent damage. How you do this, is drain all water lines and fresh water tank. Your RV should have drain valves under your unit. Open your faucets, open your valves and let the water drain out. Also make sure and drain your fresh water tank, or tanks. Try and find any place water will be standing and try to drain all you can from your water system. Your water heater holds several gallons of water, so also drain it. Also when you drain your water heater, open the pop-off valve. Spring loaded valve.

2. 
   Find your water fill fitting.

   Once you have drained all lines the best you can, use a blow out plug fitting to blow air thru your lines. A blow out plug has a shader valve, like a tire valve to air up your tires. Find your fresh water line hook up, same fitting you attach your water hose to when hooking up your trailer. Screw in the blow plug. Then use compressed air to blow out your lines. When you apply the air, your faucets should be open, flush your toilet also while air pressure is in the lines. Now most of the water should be out of your lines. To avoid using several gallons of antifreeze, install a water heater by-pass kit. If you do not by pass your water heater, you will have to fill it with Non Toxic Antifreeze.

3. 
   One of many kinds of by pass kits. Routes water around the water heater's tank.

   Ok, now that you have removed all the water you can from the water system, close all faucets and drains. Then pour one, or two gallons of Non Toxic Antifreeze into your fresh water tank. Now turn on your water pump. Flush your toilet until you see the antifreeze (normally pink fluid) come out of the toilet rinse. Then go to each faucet and open the valves until you see the antifreeze come out. What this does is, gets Non Toxic Antifreeze in water lines and low areas where water settles. Also gets Non Toxic Antifreeze in your toilet and water pump. If there is not enough Non Toxic Antifreeze in the water tank to flush your system, you will have to add more Non Toxic Antifreeze until your pump picks it up and sends it thru your system. Note: If you do not by pass your water heater, you will have to add about 6 gallons of Non Toxic Antifreeze to fill the water heater tank.

Tips & Warnings

• Always good to empty black water tanks
• Check anywhere water might settle and stand in your water system.
• When using your RV after winter, flush all water lines thoroughly and take by pass off water heater. (or switch valves back to normal)
• Some Places to buy NON Toxic Antifreeze, RV dealers, Wal Mart, Tractor Supply, some Marine dealers.
• Never use anything but Non Toxic Antifreeze in your water system.
• Double check each faucet, toilet, water pump that is protected with Non Toxic Antifreeze before storing your RV for winter.

[lindam58]

on 10/1/2009 Very good also