Winterizing first time.....did I do it all?

[lukenick1]

First time winterizing a TT. Luckily for me the previous owners left a detailed note of how to winterize. It literally took me a few minutes. Here is what I did.
drained water heater, drained black and grey tanks, opened low point drains. Pumped antifreeze through all faucets bypassing water heater until they ran pink. Including outside shower. Poured antifreeze into black tank because I noticed even after emptying it there was still some water left inside. Did I miss anything?

[Dan]

Do you have a black tank flush? If so, it is common to use a hand pump to get some rv fluid in that too

[lukenick1]

No I don't have a black tank flush. Wish I did!

[Dan]

then you're good to go :0 oh, assuming you put a little in each sink and toilet bowl too

[lukenick1]

Originally Posted by Dan

then you're good to go :0 oh, assuming you put a little in each sink and toilet bowl too

Yes I did

[RoscoW]

On your city water hook up, use a small screwdriver and remove the filter screen and push in the check valve, that's the only place I've had clean water trapped.

Ross..

[lukenick1]

Did that too! Thanks!
When I started the pump with the hose in the bottle of antifreeze then turned on the water faucet in the sink a lot of clear water came out before it was antifreeze. Is that normal?

[olyelr]

Originally Posted by lukenick1

First time winterizing a TT. Luckily for me the previous owners left a detailed note of how to winterize. It literally took me a few minutes. Here is what I did.
drained water heater, drained black and grey tanks, opened low point drains. Pumped antifreeze through all faucets bypassing water heater until they ran pink. Including outside shower. Poured antifreeze into black tank because I noticed even after emptying it there was still some water left inside. Did I miss anything?

Jeez, sound pretty much exactly like the boat I was in last weekend. It was my first time as well. Only thing I did differently was drained the black and grey at the very end of the process.

I have my fingers crossed!

Oh, dont forget to pull your battery. It wont work so well next spring if you dont!

[lukenick1]

Originally Posted by olyelr

Jeez, sound pretty much exactly like the boat I was in last weekend. It was my first time as well. Only thing I did differently was drained the black and grey at the very end of the process.

I have my fingers crossed!

Oh, dont forget to pull your battery. It wont work so well next spring if you dont!

If I store my battery on a table in my basement will it be fine in the spring once I plug into the tow vehicle and it charges a bit?

[lukenick1]

Originally Posted by lukenick1

If I store my battery on a table in my basement will it be fine in the spring once I plug into the tow vehicle and it charges a bit?

Will my tanks be ok with water and antifreeze in them? There was residual water in the black tank so I poured a whole gallon of antifreeze in. Don't have any place to dump it unless I go camping again which I don't want to do.

[olyelr]

Originally Posted by lukenick1

If I store my battery on a table in my basement will it be fine in the spring once I plug into the tow vehicle and it charges a bit?

In all honesty I do not know 100% for sure yet (I am in the learning process as well!), but I do believe so. That is exactly what I have done for the time being.

One thing I do know, though, is when the battery charge is drained they can/will freeze and crack.

[olyelr]

Originally Posted by lukenick1

Will my tanks be ok with water and antifreeze in them? There was residual water in the black tank so I poured a whole gallon of antifreeze in. Don't have any place to dump it unless I go camping again which I don't want to do.

Yeah I am sure. If it's antifreeze then it is not going to freeze, so...

I was wondering myself if it would be better to drain the tanks totally or actually leave some antifreeze in them. Si far I have them drained.

[nylyon]

Prior to using air to blow out the lines, I had one freezing incident with the water heater. I did the same thing, drained and bypassed then added antifreeze. What happened there was some water between the bypass valve and water heater which froze. After that I would pump a small amount with the lower bypass valve open to get some antifreeze in there.

I now use air and only antifreeze in the drain traps.

[norty1]

Sounds like what I do when I do mine, which is very infrequent.

Nice of the previous owner to leave you some in formation like that.

[Iraqvet05]

Originally Posted by lukenick1

Will my tanks be ok with water and antifreeze in them? There was residual water in the black tank so I poured a whole gallon of antifreeze in. Don't have any place to dump it unless I go camping again which I don't want to do.

Some water in the grey and black tanks should not be an issue. The problem with water is that it expands when it freezes and in a tight space like a pipe, hose or drain valve, that presents an issue. A small amount of water in the bottom of the tank has more that sufficient room to expand without causing any damage.

[lukenick1]

Originally Posted by nylyon

Prior to using air to blow out the lines, I had one freezing incident with the water heater. I did the same thing, drained and bypassed then added antifreeze. What happened there was some water between the bypass valve and water heater which froze. After that I would pump a small amount with the lower bypass valve open to get some antifreeze in there.

I now use air and only antifreeze in the drain traps.

Oh geez......did it break? Now I am worried. My TT was very unlevel when I drained the water heater leaning on the side of the heater so I am hopeful it all came out.

[scottraycraft]

Originally Posted by lukenick1

Did that too! Thanks!
When I started the pump with the hose in the bottle of antifreeze then turned on the water faucet in the sink a lot of clear water came out before it was antifreeze. Is that normal?

yes
just did mine and was surprised at how much water came out

I made sure each faucet ran pink, hot and cold, toilet flushed pink, shower head ran pink...

also removed the battery and put that in my basement...ive had cold winters kill new batteries

I put antifreeze in
black tank
grey tank
fresh tank

antifreeze is cheap...well worth it for 6 mos worth of piece of mind

[lukenick1]

Originally Posted by scottraycraft

yes
just did mine and was surprised at how much water came out

I made sure each faucet ran pink, hot and cold, toilet flushed pink, shower head ran pink...

also removed the battery and put that in my basement...ive had cold winters kill new batteries

I put antifreeze in
black tank
grey tank
fresh tank

antifreeze is cheap...well worth it for 6 mos worth of piece of mind

Will the battery survive the winter in a warm basment on a table without being trickle charged?

[Jagiven]

Just remember, the toliet and out side shower.

[KiltDog]

Originally Posted by lukenick1

Will the battery survive the winter in a warm basment on a table without being trickle charged?

I left mine in the basement without a trickle charge last winter (first winter with the camper) and when I put them on this spring they were full charge according to the meter in ther trailer.