Winterizing T Valve - What, how, why

[fbalexander]

Trying to plan in advance. I see that the Winterizing T Valve is an option that the former owner did not take advantage of. Where is it installed and how does it help with the winterizing process? Would it be possible to install one myself, or is it too late once the trailer is completed?

-40F is not uncommon in Northern Ontario!

Fred Alexander

[bdornbush]

I'll be interested, too. The Winterizing T Valve was not offered when I got my trailer in May, 2015. I was assured by ETI that I could winterize just fine with the standard equipment.

[elongest]

If you are talking about this item http://www.amazon.com/Camco-36543-Pu.../dp/B0006JJ588 it is a fairly easy modification. If you have a Shurflo pump it has an adapter that lets you screw it directy to your pump input line.
You must ensure the pick up valve is installed so when the pick up port is selected it connects to the pump input. If not paying attention it can be put it on backwards and it won't work. The other issue is where is your pump strainer is located. If it is located in the middle of your tank pick up line (Like Casita does it.) your strainer can freeze and crack if you don't drain it. If your strainer is located on the input of your pump with a hose barb connector it will be infront of your winterization valve when you done. You will have to remove the bowl to drain the strainer to keep it from freezing.
You can buy a strainer to install after the pick up valve but you will have also by a hose barb fitting for the valve.
Bottom line it works great. Hope this helps.
Eddie

[fbalexander]

Eddie!
Thank you for the explanation! I've ordered one and will install before freeze-up. That way I don't have to have any pink stuff in the fresh water tank and know that places that need the antifreeze (like the toilet flush thing) will get it. Thanks very much!

Fred Alexander

[gbaglo]

I use RV anti-freeze and none of it goes in the fresh water tank. That tank is simply drained. The anti-freeze is pumped in through the city water inlet, with the water heater drained and bypassed.

[fbalexander]

Are you using a hand pump to pump it in?

Fred

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by fbalexander

Are you using a hand pump to pump it in?

Fred

Yes. It's from Camco ( like everything RV ). I do have a 6 gal. compressor and connections to blow out the lines, but I feel more secure when I see pink coming out of the taps. I can't see air.

[fbalexander]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Yes. It's from Camco ( like everything RV ). I do have a 6 gal. compressor and connections to blow out the lines, but I feel more secure when I see pink coming out of the taps. I can't see air.

Are you blowing out first, then pumping in the antifreeze second? I see that the antifreeze I bought today is good to -50 "if it is not diluted with water in the lines"

Fred

[gbaglo]

I don't bother with the compressor.
I just keep pumping until I hear a shout from inside the trailer. That's my wife saying pink is coming through.
She's in there opening one tap at a time, starting at the sink, until she sees pink.
Don't forget the shower hose, the toilet and outside shower.
If you use the Google search site here and look up winterizing, you will find step-by-step instructions for various methods.

[Kountrykamper]

Buy one of these and cut the line before the pump and install it. Add a piece of tubing to the branch outlet long enough to extend out of the cabinet and reach a gallon of antifreeze. Then use your pump to winterized. Total install time was about 5 minutes. Works great.

Flair It RV Water Line 3 Way Valve All Are 1 2" PEX | eBay

In this picture it does not have the branch tubing on it. I leave a cap on it when not in use which you can buy at the same place but it's not necessary.

Flair It RV Fresh Water Line Fittings 1 2" FPT End Cap | eBay

Parker gets the credit for the idea not me.

[Iowa Dave]

Good advice, that's the one I installed. Works well and is out of the way during the camping season and ready to go in the late fall when it is time to winterize. I like using the pink stuff too. I watch for it to go on sale about this time of the year and buy a six gallon case for about $16 and use it for several winterizing projects. I low point drain my fresh water tank and I pull the Anode in the water heater tank and leave it out and isolate the inlet and outlet before I start. So no pink stuff in the hot water tank. Use a little bleach in the spring to sanitize and flush a couple of times and we're like Willy. On the Road Again. Logic logic logic and don't be tight with the winterizer.
Dave

[kstock11]

Is it really necessary to fill the showerhose with antifreeze? It seems to me that the water drains out when the shower valve is turned back to the sink.

[escape artist]

Hi: All... I'm vary wearisome of pink stuff in my water!!! I'd rather just blow down the entire system and leave it dry. IMHO it looks better that way. I save the pink stuff for the drains... it's cheaper that way!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Iowa Dave]

On the shower head I either unscrew it where it is attached to the sink, hold it straight and open the shower head cross valve or make sure the diverter is pulled up with pump off and take the hose and head out of the holder so the hose is straight and above my head and then open the valve. The water will then drain back out of the hose for sure. Without doing this some could get trapped above the valve but below the spray head. I caught this the first year when I was making my final check of the trailer a couple of days after winterizing.
Dave

[bdornbush]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

If you use the Google search site here and look up winterizing, you will find step-by-step instructions for various methods.

There are also instructions in the ETI instruction manual.

[gbaglo]

I had a look at the ETI instructions for RV anti-freeze. I don't want to use 6 gals. of the stuff, putting it in the fresh water tank and using the trailer pump.
I use my hand pump through the city water inlet.

[Iowa Dave]

Just noticed that RV anti freeze is on sale at the local farm store for $ 2.67 per gallon so it's approaching the season. This is the good to -50 F it says but I always check the rating on the bottle so there's no bait and switch. I usually use a couple gallons to do what I need on the 19. None in the fresh water tank or in the hot water, plenty through the other lines and flushed. Pull the anode and leave that tank to dry for the winter. Rinse the scale out in the spring. Works for us
Dave

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I had a look at the ETI instructions for RV anti-freeze. I don't want to use 6 gals. of the stuff, putting it in the fresh water tank and using the trailer pump.
I use my hand pump through the city water inlet.

That's the point of a winterizing tee-valve: you can still use the trailer's pump, but avoid putting any antifreeze in the fresh tank, by inserting the valve in the line between tank and pump. The extra volume to fill the pump is negligible, and the pump itself and piping from pump to city water tee fitting is winterized.

[gbaglo]

If you read the ETI instructions, it says to put up to six gallons of RV antifreeze in the fresh water tank - enough that the pump is able to draw it through the lines.
As mentioned, there are other ways.

[padlin]

I checked the pump will draw it on the 5.0TA a while back, it pumps all but 1 gallon out of the fresh tank, meaning you could get away with roughly 2 gallons of the pink if you need to do it that way. I have the T valve so 1 gallon is enough.