When used as directed,
RV antifreeze is NOT toxic to humans
and is not a risk to an RV plumbing system, including the fresh water tank and system that delivers water to your drinking glass.
Will RV antifreeze hurt you?
No, RV antifreeze will not kill you
. It's a valid concern, especially if you drink the water out of your RV's plumbing system. Even though you won't die, you should still do your best to make sure to flush your system at the start of each season thoroughly.
Will RV antifreeze hurt the hot water heater?
The antifreeze won't hurt the tank
, but don't forget to flush it out before firing it up next spring. This will help you get the antifreeze flushed out without messing up your existing winterize job on the rest of the plumbing.
Do you put RV antifreeze in fresh water tank?
The RV Doctor's Orders
It can be easier to pump it backwards through a faucet spout using a backflow kit with a hand pump, but
it is totally acceptable to pour the antifreeze directly into the fresh tank
and use the RV's water pump to pump it throughout the system as well.
How cold is RV antifreeze good for?
There are two options for RV antifreeze:
minus 50 F or minus 100 F freeze burst protection
. The minus 50 degrees F antifreeze has an ice point of +12°F. However, it can freeze at full strength at +12°F, but freezes at minus 50°F.
Can you dilute RV antifreeze with water?
Never dilute
and just drain the tank, don't waste antifreeze on the water tank.
How many gallons of RV antifreeze does it take to winterize a camper?
Non-toxic RV antifreeze (The amount depends on the layout and length of your plumbing lines.
Two to three gallons
will normally do).
What do you do with RV antifreeze?
Most RV antifreeze is biodegradable and safe to the environment, but you should check before disposing of it. Much of it can be
drained into a large bucket and then disposed of properly
.
How hot can RV antifreeze get?
Most RV antifreeze has a temperature rating of
-50 degrees Fahrenheit
, also known as burst safety. You want to use a non-toxic solution so that you can use it in your drinking water system without fear of damaging your children or pets if they ingest the antfreeze.
What's the difference between RV antifreeze and regular antifreeze?
Usage. Car antifreeze and RV antifreeze are not meant for the same kind of usage. Car antifreeze is strictly for the engine and to keep its temperature stable; while, RV antifreeze has a wide range of applications ranging from the water tank, plumbing to even substitute for emergency ice removers.
Can I put antifreeze in my black tank?
Clean and flush your black and gray water tanks, drain the fresh water tank completely, then close the drain valves.
Pour one quart of special RV antifreeze into the gray and black tanks to protect the drain valves and seals
. Do this through all sink and shower drains—you want antifreeze in the pipe traps as well.
Is plumbing antifreeze the same as RV antifreeze?
It's important to note that
RV antifreeze is not the same as antifreeze you use in your car
. RV antifreeze is non-toxic and designed for use in the plumbing systems of your RV, whereas automotive antifreeze is often toxic and can only be used in the engine cooling system of your car.
Will RV antifreeze hurt my septic system?
RV antifreeze is non-toxic
. The primary component is propylene glycol. Propylene glycol-based antifreeze is usually dyed pink and is safe to put in your septic system.
How do you get RV antifreeze out of a freshwater tank?
Can you drain RV antifreeze on the ground?
No, you shouldn't dump RV antifreeze on the ground
, even if it says it's non-toxic and biodegradable. Because it is a still chemical material, dumping RV antifreeze on the ground will be harmful to the environment on many levels. Often, materials used in RV antifreeze are flammable too.
Do you have to put antifreeze in camper?
If your RV does not come equipped with a water heater bypass, it is recommended that you install one so you do not have to fill the water heater with antifreeze
. Depending on the size of your RV and how it is equipped, most people will need 1 – 3 gallons of RV non-toxic anti-freeze.
How do I keep my RV black tank from freezing?
- Installing an RV skirt.
- Purchasing an aftermarket heating system or heating blanket.
- Purchasing a pipe heating cable.
- Keeping heavy rugs or foam board on the floor to trap heat inside.
- Continually adding RV antifreeze to your gray and black tanks.
Does RV antifreeze get slushy?
The grade of RV antifreeze indicates the temperature where the liquid will become frozen and expand, causing pipes to burst (ie burst point).
The -50F RV antifreeze will begin to freeze or become slushy at +20F but will not cause damage until -50F
.
How cold is too cold for RV water lines?
As a general rule, the water in an RV's pipes could freeze when the temperature dips
below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for a day
. But in many cases, it would need to get well below 30 for an extended period of time for most RV pipes to freeze.
Does RV antifreeze gel up?
Does RV antifreeze freeze?
RV antifreeze does not usually freeze up to the “burst point,”
which is the stage when a water pipe may burst. The burst point is lower than the water's freezing point through the use of RV antifreeze. At best, it will take on the consistency of gel rather than freeze solid.
Can you mix RV antifreeze with toilet chemicals?
As long as you keep adding antifreeze to your wastewater tanks in regular intervals, it's unlikely any freezing issues will arise
.
How do you neutralize RV antifreeze?
After flushing your water system for several minutes, your water should taste clean and fresh, but if it still has a residual antifreeze taste, you can
add baking soda
to help remove this unpleasant flavor. Simply sprinkle baking soda directly into each drain or dissolve it in water and pour it down the drains.
How long can you leave antifreeze in RV?
Does RV antifreeze go bad? As long as it's stored properly and the cap is tightly sealed, RV antifreeze will typically have a shelf life between
1 to 4 years
but can often remain effective long after that. Most brands will have an expiration date as well to help guide you.
Can I use the toilet in a winterized RV?
It's possible to use your RV toilet for brief periods in freezing weather
. Purchasing a four-season RV or modifying one to handle sub-freezing weather is one possibility. I have done this previously with good success. This requires a coach with completely enclosed and heated holding tanks.
Do you leave RV antifreeze in lines?
By putting the RV antifreeze into your plumbing system, it replaces any water in the system.
If there's water left in your water lines or other locations, you risk damaging your water lines and other connections
. You typically won't know there's damage until you pull your RV out of storage to de-winterize it.
