A Simple Way to Winterize Your RV
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- Опубліковано 23 жов 2023
- A Simple Way to Winterize Your RV. Winter is coming, and it's time to prepare your RV for the chilly months ahead. In this video, we'll walk you through a simple, step-by-step guide to winterize your RV, ensuring it stays in great shape during the cold season. No need for complicated processes or costly services - we've got you covered with straightforward tips to protect your home-on-wheels.
Make sure to check out Todd's other channel @TechTipTNT
Sanitizing your RV water systems: • Sanitizing your RV wat...
Have your own winterization tips or questions? Share them in the comments below, and don't forget to hit the like button, subscribe for more practical RV advice, and stay tuned for upcoming videos.
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This was the LONGEST "Todd's 2 Minute Tech Tip Tuesday" I've ever experienced. Luckily, I have winterized my RVs enough times to not have to decipher all of the info you shared. It can be a bit confusing trying to cover all of the different kinds of systems.
I did learn one thing: I never considered running the antifreeze through the black tank flush system, as I rarely use it anymore. Not to worry, I have my own system for the black tank that works very well.
Been told it’s a long two minutes.
I have known how to winterize my camper for several years. I enjoy watching your videos and was damn glad that I watched this one. Your reminder to remember to winterize the outside faucets just saved me from finding a FUBAR this spring. As soon as I heard you talk about the outside faucets I looked and my wife and said that Todd just saved us a real mess. Thanks Todd!!!!
I've been blowing out my lines with 25 lbs. of air pressure for 15 years and then add antifreeze to the drain traps and never had a problem yet even with he tankless water heater. To each his own.
I don't bother with blowing the air out since the antifreeze will push the water out anyway. Seems redundant.
@@EarlBalentineI do both, I like being redundant to be safe and not sorry.
I can winterize my 2018 KZ Spree in about 10 minutes. Winter Proof antifreeze, stick the intake from the pump into the jug of antifreeze, close the intake from the freshwater tank, turn the faucets until good and pink. Then open low point drains and low point drain on the freshwater tank. Simple.
Great info. Perhaps you should separate the tankless water heater discussion from the regular water heater to prevent confusion.
Again I learned something I did not think about. Winterize the black tank flush connection! I was sure I had treated every water line and trap now learned I missed this one. This is why I watch Todd
I have always drained the water heater and use the factory installed water heater bypass. Our Jayco camper also has a factory installed fresh water bypass ahead of the water pump intake allowing me to use its bypass hose to siphon RV antifreeze directly from the bottle. We live in New Hampshire and go below zero for several days during the winter. So far I only had to replace the water valve in the back of the toilet. I now run it for several flushes to be sure it’s all pink going through. To replace this bugger It’s best to pull the toilet to replace the valve.
So glad I only had to do that once in 6 years. Knock on wood 😊.
His 2 minute tech tip turned into 20 minutes that I don’t have time for.
Todd! Your ballet lessons show when you demonstrated “stand to the side” of the pressure relief valve. I see a même in your future. 🤣. Nice tech tip. And entertaining too!
EXCElLLENT presentation ! For me the easiest way to drain my hot water tank is thru the low drain valves. I have two on my tt. Did on my last tt as well. One drains the hot water lines and tank. I use "Plumbers Grease" a couple times a year around the inside seal inside the bowl. The one that holds the water in the bowl. Keeps it from getting hard.
Just getting ready to winterize our trailer this week. Your tip about using the outside shower to pressurize the city line feed and add pink juice to those valve selections and black tank flush was the answer to my question. I always make sure that my water tank heater gets a little juice as well after draining water. Thanks
Don't forget about adding a small amount of antifreeze to the condensate drain line of a ventless dryer. This will protect the condensate pump inside the dryer.
Thanks for the information - this is the first time to winterize RV. I agree with previous comment to have two - one with regular hot water heater & one for tankless water heater. You do a great job
I never use the Temp/press Relief valve. They can get stuck open if they're old. Use the faucet to relieve pressure. Then drain the tank.
I use a new weed sprayer with a hose to push antifreeze through the city water end works great takes 2 people but so easy
Thanks Tuesday Todd!
So thorough, thank you!!
Seems last year people were saying not to do this. I did it anyway and it is insanely easy. Took a few flushes to get it out of the holding tank after draining in the spring.
Thanks a bunch. You are the Neil Degrasse Tyson of RV stuff.
If you look up the words "RV Expert" in the dictionary there's a picture of Todd there : )
Open ALL your valves ALL of them! Faucets, both valves on the water heater and drains drive it around. Works for me.
I have a Girard Tankless (now owned by Lippert). I spoke with them and they said the ONLY WAY to winterize their models and keep warranty intact is to make sure it has RV Antifreeze in it. I did the “spray and pray” method a year ago and it froze and fractured one of the copper turns in the heating element (which can be replaced). I’m in Texas and it was an expensive rookie mistake! #lessonlearned! 😂😢
Victor traps make a sachet of peppermint smell that keeps critters outta yer rv. Thanks for all the tips. Love the bloopers!😂
Thank you
Great video. It would be nice to see a version where you describe everything sequentially. There was a bit of hopping back and forth which made some parts a little confusing at first. You’re a great instructor! Thanks for the detailed info.
Great how-to Video
I prefer filling my system with Evan Williams Black Label. Bring on the freezing temps. I’m gooooooooood!
Seriously though-good informative video.
My winterizing is using a lower SPF sun screen. But then again I’m a Floridian,so I have no idea of what’s winterizing!
For some of you, cheap vodka in the fresh water tank is better. If you can syphon antifreeze into your lines, a bottle of vodka keeps the fresh water tank clean. The antifreeze has for me created a film on the inside of the tank, making the water taste bad and clogging filters. Once I started doing this my water quality at the start of the season is so much better.
I don't think I would put something flammable in any tank.
Thanks I always let a little pink into the water heater then switch bypass is that wrong?
Since I never know of I'll be around to de winterize the trailer 3 months from now I switch off e water heater circuit breaker and put a note on it reminding whoever to plug and fill the water heater with water before turning it back on, the 12v fuse is also removed so propane won't light either. Good forbid I pass and my wife and son have to do it. Too many I've run across fail to fill the water tank and just turn it on and burn up the heating element.
For us snowbirds its such a pain in the.... we have to winterized in October, then drive 3300km south with a frozen water system till about texas then de winterize and then winterize on way back in end of march only to de winterize back up north in may 😅😅😅
In the case of my travel trailer, it does not have a outdoor shower. My wet bay consists of 1 water connection with a valve that switches between city water and holding tank fill. I also have a black tank flush. In order to winterize my wet bay and black tank flush I purchased a very inexpensive rv antifreeze pump to winterize these areas. The rest of the system with the water pump. Funny, nowhere in the owners manual of my trailer did it caution winterizing these areas. And neither did the pdi person at the dealer when we took delivery.
Can you bypass hot water tank in a chevy tioga arrow *1985* to winterize.i have used the drain tap to empty but not sure on a bypass tap location.thanks
Todd, last year I pulled my standard battery and put it on a trickle charge in a heated garage. I have shore power to the rig. Do I need to do that? I was concerned about cold weather on the battery but is the power from the rig good enough to protect the battery?
Great video Thanks, what if you live in the southwest and it might a have a couple days where it may get slightly below freezing 32-28 degrees for a couple hours in the morning. Do you still need to winterize?
So my situation will be a bit different i reckon i live in TX but will be gone for 11 days at a time and then in the rv for 3 days during the winter yeah i know winters here not so bad but sometimes we see 20 or lower. So everytime i come in twice a month i am going to winterize it or would the air pressure method be sufficient with some antifreeze dumped in the traps? I have a tankless water heater in a grand design with solar panels
Thanks for the great video! Is there anything you need to do to prepare a residential refrigerator for winter? Thanks again!
I always leave the doors ajar and put a box of baking soda inside. I leave a couple paper towels in the bottom of both door to collect any possible moisture.
Good info. Maybe bullet points too.
When winterizing, and you drain your black tank, do you not add chemical treatment and the recommended amount of water? Do you just drain and leave it with nothing, no treatment or anything?
Great vid, but I would never put the pink stuff in my fresh water tank. What’s wrong with just syphoning the pink stuff through the water pump, then turn on all outlets until you see pink, and you’re done?! Depending on RV size, half the pink that you mentioned needing.
Thanks for the info Todd. One question: after dumping the holding tanks and putty the pink stuff through the toilet do you add water and enzyme tank treatment too?🤔
Yes. You want to reset the bacteria content after de-winterization.
I live in MS and it doesn't freeze too often here. However, next week it's supposed to get below freezing, the camper is brand new and we haven't used it at all yet. Should I still winterize?
hi, not sure if these comments are checked. when I run the washer for 1/2 cycle, I think I should STOP it right before the rinse cycle ... correct? that means pink is in the lines both in (wash fill) & out (wash drain) and shut off washer here?
thank you if you get a chance to answer.
Kristen
Wow...whats the long version
Why thank you.
13:27 my god i'm absolutely confused now!! like trying to follow the White Rabbit down a maze.... 1st deal w/ basic basic- water heater tanks- then go to tankless- then go to dishwashers/washers/dryers.... it shouldn't be a freaking TOSSED SALAD 🤦♀️🤷♀️
Money back guarantee.
I removed my battery, do I need to disconnect my solar from the panels?
Why not just syphon the antifreeze from the jugs of antifreeze? Even though it's food grade I'd rather not introduce it to my fresh water tank. I always leave the low point drain open all winter on my fresh tank. There will never be enough water inside it to freeze and crack the tank.
Normally that’s what we teach. This is a simple way.
I love the I dont wanna taste antifreeze in my holding tank…it’s still going through all the lines even if you pull just from the pump to the fixtures…you will need to flush the whole system multiple times in the spring anyways…but but but the holding take is tainted now and forever!!!!!
@@ChuckNorris-yo3hu I was thinking the same thing all day.
👍👍👍👍👍
Never considered the black tank flush! Awesome news! Now, where to get the adapter?
Also, to clarify, did you say drain black and grey? Leave nothing in the tank?
My RV came with a pig tail water hose. I connect one end to the outside shower and the other end is the correct connection to the blank tank flush port.
I took the lithium batteries out this year and it was a pain in the butt
With the charge controller trick set to 3 Amps, will the batteries survive a Colorado winter (some days at -11F)?
I did some research and found that it is too cold here for the 3 Amp trick
In cold places the batteries need to come in for the winter
Hey Todd, I have a 2010 Phaeton and it does not have a way to pour water into the fresh water tank. whats the best way to get the pink stuff into the tank so i can do this.?
I found a hand pump on Amazon to hook up and pump anti-freeze in.
I got something similar to this.
Question, is it necessary to winterize if freezing temps are only for 2 or 3 nights and day temps will be above freezing?? We will be using the RV in a few weeks so didn’t want to winterize then have to prep again before using.
Here's the thing, large body of water like a ditch, pond etc takes longer to freeze, like a half a day at 32 degrees. A 1/2" water line can freeze in a couple hours. It will take you longer driving your RV to the dealer for repairs then it would to spend the time and winterize. I personally just put 6 gallons of antireeze in my fresh water tank, turn my valves for dry camping, turn on the pump and run water out my hot & cold faucets, showers, black tank flush until I see pick. If I go camping I just open the fresh water dump valve and capture the left over antifreeze back into a gallon jug. I open my low pint lines and capture that antifreeze too.
I have a tankless water heater but was afraid the antifreeze would harm it. Are you saying it’s safe to run antifreeze thru a tankless water heater? It’s not going to damage any of the components?
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Read the manual for instructions on the best way. I have a tankless heat and it states do not put antifreeze through it. I bypass it, relieve pressure in the hot water, open up a valve and it drains out.
Why can't I (1) drain all the tanks, (2) drain the water heater, and (3) add some pink stuff into all the "P-Traps"?
Because you've done nothing to remove water from all the hot and cold water lines, valves...
Nope, nada, no. Ain't putting it in the fresh tank. I use the winterizing method in the wet bay and just suck it from a 5 gallon bucket.
And still getting antifreeze in all your lines and fixtures but just not in your precious fresh tank…lol…clowns
"Lithium doesn't charge well in freezing weather." I think it should be stated that charging lithium batteries in freezing temps can permanently damage the batteries. Two options to counter this might be a lithium battery with low temp charge protection. Another option is a heated battery or battery heater. If those two options aren't available, disconnect the battery. It's not worth the risk of damage.
So correct me if I'm wrong, you mean that you can put rv anti-freeze in the fresh water tank and go inside your RV, and start turning on all of the faucets starting in the kitchen? Is that okay to do that and if so you just flush the fresh water tank with water?
Food-grade antifreeze.
@@NationalRVTrainingAcademyOkay I have to go and find some.
😁
So much good info here, but it plays like it was written by Quentin Tarantino.
How much for a class B
I used 1.5 bottles of RV anti freeze today to winterize my 2006 Roadtrek Adventurous
Geeeeewhizzzzzzz. This could of been done 1/4 of the time
Winterize your RV? Hmmm, for me living in SoCal, that means closing the windows ;) I feel for those that have to do this annually
Must be nice, says the Sonic from OHIO 😜
ha ha
Greetings from Minnesota
I did mine on Monday lol
I tuned out. Too much jabber. Get the water out, get the "food grade anti-freeze" in. Got it.
Double your money back if you aren’t fully satisfied.
It’s free info and if you’re not satisfied then don’t watch it. PS. We don’t need your jabber and negative rude attitude.
Jees free info is rough isn't it? 😉
Don’t be an ass. Thank you Todd for all your hard work educating us. I enjoy your videos! 😊
@@carolwhelan6901 Right. Because your delivery is so much better. The difference is, I know I'm an ass. You think you're virtuous. hah ha ha
Very confusing. Good thing there are other UA-cam videos that go step by step and not back n forth and roundabout and back n fill and verbal corrections and out of order. This guy should go over his videos and listen to them and take notes and write a script and simplify them and explain the steps In Order BEFORE recording. Good tips but need to be deciphered.
Money back guarantee!!!
Nothing simple about this conversation! Lol
He just rambles
You’re telling us!
Ugh
This video is not simple