I'm pretty new to the RV world, I added RV antifreeze to the pressurized part of the water system last fall, not the water tank. To prepare it for use I should fill the water tank, pressurize, and wash the antifreeze out opening all the faucets etc doing a normal type of flush? Is it really that simple?
The previous season, when we bought the camper, it had just been blown out so I flushed the water system out but it didn't have antifreeze.
hyattjlbb wrote: Fill your tank with bleach/water mix and run through the lines. Let sit over night then drain it all. De-winterized and sanitized.
I agree, but would drain as much antifreeze as possible first by opening the low point drains and a faucet. Then fill the fresh water tank, adding 1/4 cup household bleach for every 15 gals of tank capacity, including your water heater. Run pump and open each faucet until you smell bleach, then let sit for several hours or overnight. Don't forget to fill the heater tank. Drain, flush with another tank of water. Ready to go.
hyattjlbb wrote: Fill your tank with bleach/water mix and run through the lines. Let sit over night then drain it all. De-winterized and sanitized.
About 1/2 cup bleach, pour it into fresh water holding tank, then fill the tank with water. Pressurize the system and run water through toilet and all faucets until antifreeze is flushed. Turn off pump and let it set over night. Next day, drain and flush with plain water.
First make sure it's not bypassed by making sure any valves in and/or out of the tank are open. If there is a third just in front of the tank running between the two lines, close that one. Then you can run the pump and either open a hot water valve or open the pressure release valve on the heater. The tank will be full when you get a solid flow of water with no spitting (or when water comes out of the pressure relief valve).
Often the bypass valves for water heaters are behind a panel hidden on the back side of your water heater. If it's not in the vented area, thats where it likely is.
2011 Silverado Crewcab 4x4
2012 Passport 238ML
Hope your travels are safe and the friendships made camping are lasting.
Good advice by all, just finished my annual dewinterizing. I would like to add a few more steps.
If you used RV antifreeze:
1. Fill freshwater tank with water/bleach ratio of 15 gallons to 1/4 cup bleach.
-add bleach early to assist mixing with water (especially if you dewinterize stationary)
2. Fill your lines with previous made water/bleach mixture, via onboard pump, by opening all valves sink(s), shower, etc.. Each line should take appoximately one quart of discharge to ensure proper filling. Make sure you open all your hot water valves and long enough to ensure you have pumped enough mixture thru your hot water heater. (average hot water tank is 6 gallons) With the proper ratio, you should notice a faint bleach odor on discharge.
3. Let this mixture sit for several hours or overnight. Think like a good "marinade"!
4. After "marinade" drain freshwater tank and hot water tank.
5. Refill freshwater tank and hot water tank.
6. Open up all lines and flush liberally making sure to open hot and cold water lines.
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