Another Winterization Question Please

[RKassl]

Is there any other water line in the Montana besides the black tank flush that doesn't receive antifreeze when you use the winterize port in the convenience panel? I am going to do it this year rather than the dealer. With the pump on does the system allow the pink stuff to get all the way to the washer connections in the front closet? If I open the power fill to the fresh water tank, will I get antifreeze through that line into the fresh water tank?
Thanks. Any other info will be appreciated.

[BB_TX]

If you have a washer you would need to run it, both hot and cold, to get antifreeze thru those lines. And also into the washer pump and drain.

No need for antifreeze in fresh water tank. Just fully drain it.

[rmthelen]

Don't forget the outside shower.

[beeje]

If you do not have a washer installed you will have to bleed anti freeze through those lines. I use to just use a short piece of washer hose with the end into the washer drain. I have installed valves in those lines now so I don't have to do that anymore. They stay winterized now.

If you set the water valve to tank fill you will send antifreeze through that line to the tank.

Some people do not like my winterizing method, but I simply put 3-4 gallons in my fresh tank (I have a gravity fill port) and use the pump to pump it through all fixtures. Takes me 10 minutes tops. In the spring I run several tanks of water through the lines to flush out the antifreeze.

[cliff]

Winterizing the Black water flush is important because the backflow preventer is higher than the toilet and sometimes is hard to find. We missed winterizing it. When we decided to flush the BW tank we had a stream of water coming out of the closet in the kitchen. that was because the backflow preventer was made from thin polycarbonate and when it froze it broke into many pieces. They hid it in the broom closet.

Next you'll have to make sure the city water line entering the system is full of pink stuff. Depending upon your system you may have to run the pump and push in the check valve (after removing the screen) until the fluid comes out. Some systems have you connect there so it's one less worry.

Don't forget the toilet and make certain you have run enough pink stuff into the p-traps under all the sinks.

[beeje]

Best thing you can do for yourself is to get rid of that worthless backflow preventer. Find the two pipes in the basement/ cut them off and plump them together.

[kjmcdowell77]

I pay my RV mechanic 100 bucks in the fall and that includes winterize and de-winterize next spring. He also covers any plumbing issues if we let him do the winterizing. Not worth it to me to do it myself.

[dieselguy]

I trust my abilities … that $100 would cover better than 7 years of winterizing by my own hand. However … that's your price of peace of mind and I understand.

[beeje]

I have said it in the past and I will say it again. If you own an RV you better have deep pockets or know how to, and be willing to do any and all repair/maintenance stuff yourself of you are going to get yourself in deep doo doo.