WINTERIZING: updated Oct. 29, 2013

[cpaharley2008]

Yes, there are several ways to winterizing, mine was specific to the "E-Z Winterizing" set up.

 

[cpaharley2008]

Where in the winterizing instructions does it say to push the button in the water hookup?? I don't doubt you, I just don't see it anywhere.

Page #13 in the Escape 19 owner manual under winterizing section mentions this valve in winterizing, as all Escapes use the same water hookup it should be done on all models.

 

[jxoco]

When we got our trailer it had been winterized.
It had pink stuff in it.
We drained everything and flushed everything and for many many refills of fresh water we could not drink it.
In fact I still use bottled water for cooking and coffee and drinking and only use the on-board fresh water for washing and showering.
I hear that other people put in antifreeze and then flush it out at the beginning of the year and I assume that they can then use the fresh water for drinking.
Is that right? Does the proper RV antifreeze flush right out with no left over chemical-ness in the water?
Maybe the previous owner put automotive antifreeze in ours.
And he must have put the antifreeze in the fresh water tank because it took probably 20 to 25 refills and draining's of the fresh water to get the pinkness gone.
I use the compressed air method to winterize but I've found that unless I unscrew the clear plastic part of the filter screen on the input to the water pump, the clear plastic gets split.
And don't forget the outside shower taps.

 

[thoer]

John we use antifreeze and then in the spring the normal bleach sanitation procedure has always left no hint of antifreeze taste. And yes we drink water from our well maintained fresh water system whenever we are camping.

 

[cpaharley2008]

I have never put antifreeze in my fresh tank, only in the lines. Therefore once the lines are flushed, I can drink the water I put in my fresh tank. That said, I always take water for drinking, I use water from the fresh tank for washing and flushing toilet and if it is my water in the tank, making coffee. I plan to sanitize my fresh tank every spring.

 

[Dave Walter]

If you drain the hotwater heater and your fresh, grey, and black tanks, and then force the water out of the freshwater lines, faucets, and valves using compressed air, there is no need to use any RV antifreeze in any component of your freshwater system. Just add a small quantity of RV antifreeze to fill the traps in your sink and shower drains and you are winterized. Dewinterizing then consists of filling your fresh water tanks again and using the trailer. No worries about flushing RV antifreeze from your freshwater system or drinking from the trailer water.

 

[Donna D.]

I always have bottled water. Because I want my coffee to taste exactly the same. Every. Single. Time. What a miserable way to start the day if the coffee isn't any good. I use the pink stuff to winterize and then flush with bleach water in the spring. IF I fill the water tank with water from home, I notice no difference in taste from the trailer to home kitchen sink.

 

[thoer]

I always have bottled water. Because I want my coffee to taste exactly the same. Every. Single. Time. What a miserable way to start the day if the coffee isn't any good. I use the pink stuff to winterize and then flush with bleach water in the spring. IF I fill the water tank with water from home, I notice no difference in taste from the trailer to home kitchen sink.

Oh you are such a coffee snob Donna! We never put any water into our fresh tank without running it thru an RV carbon filter and then water we drink (and make morning coffee from) goes thru a PUR filter pitcher. The water that comes out of the PUR always tastes great, well at least to my old taste buds!

 

[rubicon327]

Does the proper RV antifreeze flush right out with no left over chemical-ness in the water?Maybe the previous owner put automotive antifreeze in ours.

Like others have said the system should not have any residual after it is flushed well and then sanitized. Since it was pink I wouldn't worry about it being automotive antifreeze. The pink color distinguishes it as a non-toxic RV antifreeze.

And he must have put the antifreeze in the fresh water tank because it took probably 20 to 25 refills and draining's of the fresh water to get the pinkness gone.

That is possible. The outdated winterizing directions (probably written prior to offering the winterizing t-valve) that are still on the ETI website instruct the user to put antifreeze in the tank. This is NOT necessary if using the t-valve that intersects at the pump suction and pulls from an antifreeze container or if using a manual hand pump via the outside city water connection.

I use the compressed air method to winterize but I've found that unless I unscrew the clear plastic part of the filter screen on the input to the water pump, the clear plastic gets split.

This would be odd because your compressed air connection is made on the outside city water connection and you have the pump with a check valve between that and the plastic filter on the inlet of the pump.

 

[Donna D.]

I've learned more about compressors in the past year, than I ever thought I needed to know. IF you're using an oil lubricated compressor to blow out the water lines, I hope you also have an inline oil/water separator. Otherwise you're possibly blowing oil and water out of the tank into your trailer's water lines. Ewwww.

 

[cpaharley2008]

Rather than using a compressor, there is a little hand pump that works really well and accomplishes the same end result without any oil issues. https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...d=2E2Z3URIE52KO&rh=i:aps,k:rv+antifreeze+pump

 

[jxoco]

This would be odd because your compressed air connection is made on the outside city water connection and you have the pump with a check valve between that and the plastic filter on the inlet of the pump.

I didn't explain myself well enough.
The inlet water filter is a little like a cup, the water doesn't drain out. during the winter the water in the cup froze and expanded and split the top of the filter. Like you say the air blow out doesn't blow out that line. just gravity drains it.

 

[steve dunham]

If you drain the hotwater heater and your fresh, grey, and black tanks, and then force the water out of the freshwater lines, faucets, and valves using compressed air, there is no need to use any RV antifreeze in any component of your freshwater system. Just add a small quantity of RV antifreeze to fill the traps in your sink and shower drains and you are winterized. Dewinterizing then consists of filling your fresh water tanks again and using the trailer. No worries about flushing RV antifreeze from your freshwater system or drinking from the trailer water.

When we owned our Scamp I decided one fall to blow out my water system and not use antifreeze . Unfortunately when spring arrived I had two leaks due water collecting in low spots ( cracked fittings)
I now blow out my lines and then pump antifreeze through the system.
Come Spring I flush the lines and then disinfect with bleach and flush again
The water in our system runs clear with no after taste.
We often encounter temps in the 30 below range during winter so I am overly cautious.
The unfounded fear of RV antifreeze is something that escapes me.

 

[Donna D.]

The unfounded fear of RV antifreeze is something that escapes me.

Other than the fact it STINKS because of so much "perfume," I don't have issues with it. It does seem to take a couple of days for the perfume smell to dissipate from my trailer when I de-winterize. I think the fabrics/carpet absorb some of the odor.

 

[Dave Walter]

...The unfounded fear of RV antifreeze is something that escapes me.

It is not the "fear of RV antifreeze" but rather the desire for simplicity that leads me to use the compressed air method. Plus, not having to dewinterize is also a bonus.

 

[gbaglo]

I reverted to RV anti-freeze because I can see with my own eyes that pink stuff is coming out of the tap. With compressed air, I was never certain that there wasn't a pocket of water somewhere.

 

[thoer]

I reverted to RV anti-freeze because I can see with my own eyes that pink stuff is coming out of the tap. With compressed air, I was never certain that there wasn't a pocket of water somewhere.

I'm belt and suspenders, compressor, then antifreeze.

 

[float5]

We were far below freezing in Iowa and never used a compressor. No problem with the EZ Winterizing or the hand pump out of a jug.

 

[skiman-ESC]

I've learned more about compressors in the past year, than I ever thought I needed to know. IF you're using an oil lubricated compressor to blow out the water lines, I hope you also have an inline oil/water separator. Otherwise you're possibly blowing oil and water out of the tank into your trailer's water lines. Ewwww.

Oil/water separators are only partially effective. Even if it's a non oil lubricated compressor, water condenses and sits in the air tank. If it doesn't have a tank then it won't have enough volume to blow out the water in the trailer.
Ewww is right. I only use antifreeze.

 

[cpaharley2008]

It is not the "fear of RV antifreeze" but rather the desire for simplicity that leads me to use the compressed air method. Plus, not having to dewinterize is also a bonus.

You have to dewinterize just like everyone else, you turn on your pump until you have water coming out of every opening, those who use antifreeze do the same process.