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.
How do you winterize a black tank flush on an RV?
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.
Do you winterize the black tank?
Member. You
should not only drain the black water tank
, but also flush it real good so that most of the solid stuff is washed out. Let the flushed tank drain a few hours, then flush again. When you feel it has been thoroughly cleaned out, add a little water and RV antifreeze, no more than couple gallons combined.
How do I winterize my RV toilet?
The process involves using
potable RV antifreeze
instead of water to flush the toilet. Starting with a completely empty black water tank, add at least 3-4 gallons of RV antifreeze to the black tank, and continue to use the RV antifreeze to flush the toilet as necessary.
How do you thaw a black-water tank?
Put on gloves and safety goggles when working with black-water and gray-water tanks.
Use a blow dryer to slowly thaw the RV holding tank
. Hold the blow dryer six to 12 inches away from the tank. Slowly pass the blow dryer back and forth over the entire exposed area of the tank.
Can your RV black tank freeze?
Having your holding tanks freeze can cause substantial damage that isn't just a hassle to fix, it's expensive too! The potential to freeze is largely
dependent on your holding tank's location within your rig
. If they are above floor level, the ambient heat of your interior furnace will help to delay freezing.
Can I put RV antifreeze in my freshwater tank?
Do not pour antifreeze into your fresh water tank to run it through the pump into your water system
. This will take a lot of antifreeze and is not very efficient. Even when the tank is drained there remains some water in the bottom of the tank which mixes with the antifreeze and lessens its protection level.
How do you winterize a black and gray tank?
Gray and black water tanks should be
dumped, rinsed, and a small amount of antifreeze added
( 2-3 cups should do). Don't forget the sink traps and run antifreeze through your stool flush system (flush toilet till pink comes out).
How do you maintain an RV tank?
- Treatments and Cleaners. In order to properly clean out your RV's tank, you will also need a treatment of some sort. …
- 1) Dump Your Tank. …
- 2) Remove Buildup by Flushing Your Tank. …
- 3) Add Water. …
- 4) Add Treatment or Solution. …
- 5) Rinse. …
- Knowing the Time and the Place. …
- Toilet Paper.
How do I drain my RV water tank?
Open all of the faucets, including the outside shower, if you have one. If applicable, set the RV water heater to the bypass position to prevent water from entering the heater tank. Open the fresh water tank dump valve and
let the water drain out
. Open the low-point drain plug or valve.
Is RV antifreeze good for 2 years?
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.
How long does it have to be below freezing for RV pipes to freeze?
In general, the temperature has to dip below freezing (32 F) for
approximately 24 hours
for RV pipes to freeze. This is all dependent on many factors such as if you have an enclosed underbelly, heated underbelly, heat tape, insulation, or other preventative measures in place.
Is blowing out RV water lines vs antifreeze?
While air used for blowing out is free,
Antifreeze can discourage RV dealers
as it requires you to invest in a few gallons every season. Plus, the water in RV may taste slightly bitter after winters because it had Antifreeze resting in the plumbing for months.
How do I unfreeze my water tank?
This will often be the case. You can check by simply touching the water heater to find the spot where it's ice cold.
Use a space heater or other heating element to apply heat indirectly to the frozen area
until it thaws.
Will RV antifreeze melt ice?
Does antifreeze melt ice? Sadly,
no. RV antifreeze will not melt ice for you
. RV antifreeze is used to prepare the RV plumbing for winter, including flushing out any remaining water from the pipes, faucets, and other places.
How do you unfreeze an RV sewer hose?
Hot water
will freeze quicker than cold water so if you try just putting cold water down the drain, it will cool and freeze before you can thaw out a 10 foot section of solid frozen sewer hose. Take the old hose, prop it up at an angle and begin using your wife's hair dryer on it and thaw it out.
