I wanted to thank you immensely for posting this video. My husband died 4 months ago, unexpectedly, and I was faced with doing this solo. We always worked as a team. Your instructions were clear and transferable to my camper and horse trailer with living quarters. The manuals that come with these things are pretty much a waste of paper. I like being independent and knowing how things work. Now, I can take a much needed trip away, with my dogs. With much gratitude…..😁💕
Sorry for your loss. I am glad to hear that you were able to watch the video and dewinterize your trailers. I hope you have many more adventures. All the best!
Sorry for your loss Michelle. I too am a single traveler (dog comes along), And have made my RV care a Hobby! I now look forward to learning everything I can. (John Marucci is always spot on for guidance!) Traveling makes life better for me! YOU CAN DO THIS!!
Sorry for your loss Michelle. My husband died unexpectedly 9 months ago and I had to learn how to winterize and now dewinterize the camper. You’ve got this! This video was just what I was looking for. Like you, I like learning to do stuff on my own. Next up - towing. Hang in there.
I did it! Even though I have a motorhome as opposed to a trailer, I was able to follow along and get it done. I’m so proud to myself. I’m 74 and it was easy to follow your steps, once I found all the valves to open and close. Thank you so much.
I have had my Outdoors RV Backcountry 4 years now and every spring I read or watch a lot of on line advice. NONE was as logical and simply explained step by step as yours. THANK YOU SO MUCH. You saved me time and worry. I don't subscribe to anything...but yours I did.
Thanks! Glad the video was helpful. I have a list of maintenance videos in one place on my site if interested. It is under new to RVing, but helpful to have them in one location for reference: johnmarucci.com/getting-started-with-rving-18-videos/
Hey John! Newbie hear. Your vid’s are great. I was able to de-winterize my newly acquired used camper with this process. Worked like a charm. I’m all set for my first trip. I’ll be going through all your vids to learn more. Thx again for all the hard work you put into these.
Wow - I really appreciate how thorough your instructions are, the fact that you provide a checklist, AND how you didn’t discount the questions regarding introducing diluted bleach into the water heater. So much research and time went into this analysis, and as a newbie, it is invaluable. THANK YOU!
John, my wife and I are RV newbies. We purchased a 30 foot 2023 Freedom Express travel trailer which has opened up an entirely new world of how-to RV questions. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to create this excellent step-by-step video. Well done & appreciate all of the videos you've posted on UA-cam!
Great to hear! Sounds like you have already discovered my New to RVing videos, but here is the link if needed: johnmarucci.com/getting-started-with-rving-16-videos/
Thank you SO much for this Wonderful, Instructional Video that I could understand, follow & DO without having a frustrating, emotional meltdown. My Husband passed away recently & he always Winterized & DeWinterize the campers, my Sons helped me after he passed, but I was able to DeWinterize my Mavis Motorhome By myself, for the FIRST time, following your video❤
Thank you so so much! I bought a DIY campervan 2 years ago, and thanks to this video was able to complete this process for the first time solo (without the previous owner's help)
Wow I have been doing my Jayco winterizing and dewinterizing for a few years and glad I checked out your video. Your process is much more in-depth than I was shown at the dealership.
This is one of the most helpful UA-cam videos I have ever seen. Very clear concise; both video and audio, as well as content were very well presented,. Thank you very much!
Thankyou for allowing me the opportunity to learn and be able to take on projects like these on my own. Its truly a amazing, Keep up the good work Mr.Marucci.
John, a tip of the hat to you Kind Sir! Your videos are very detailed, professional AND helpful. The links to your website and corresponding printable pdf's are especially thoughtful. We appreciate the content on your channel. Thank you!
Thanks so much for the comment. I am glad the videos are helpful. I am also very glad that the work put into publishing the downloadable pdfs. are being used. Thanks again!
A great game to play while watching this video. Take a drink every time you hear "bleach solution". Seriously though, this is a great video.. I watch it every spring.
Glad I found this video as my wife and I just purchased our first travel trailer: 2022 keystone bullet 290 BHS and I’m needing to flush it out cuz it was already winterized before we bought it
John, that was a fantastic video! Clear instructions and great visual aids. I'm headed outside to de-winterize my RV for our first camping trip in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the help!!
Thank you John! We just purchased our first RV last month and will be de-winterizing it this weekend. Your video is really helpful and I love the step by step breakdown
Lots of people use the compressed air method and blow out the lines. Saves using antifreeze as long as you understand exactly how to do it. All the best!
Extremely well done. Been searching for vids that make winterizing and dewinterizing more understandable. Although I have a Class B Coachmen Galleria, the basic steps and methodology will do the trick. I should be able t o handle both processes now. Thanks so much for posting!
Perfect. The dump station guidance is huge for a newbie like me. I haven’t had to do it yet (have been using the rig all winter in MN without water) so I’m a bit anxious for the first time. Mine will be a little different, but your steps all apply and make it very easy to understand. The extra pointers are helpful. Thanks again.
Great video! I would add that you need to be sure to turn off the electric element in the hot water heater when you drain it (a lesson learned the hard way!)
@@kylequintana there may be a switch for the electric heating element behind the outside water heater panel and then a switch for propane heat on the inside control panel…this is how ours is configured.
Thanks! You and your videos are amazing. You've save me LOTS of $ and aggravation that comes with bringing my RV into the dealer for basic stuff. Thank you, thank you.
John, I do have a question. I tried to drain the gallon of water/bleach into the Fresh Water tank input and the opening must have some kind of "anti-backflow" feature, because nothing would flow into the tank. The only way to get water into the Fresh Water tank seems to be a hose with water pressure. Any suggestions. I have a picture of the interface if you need that. Thanks
It sounds like the entry to your fresh water tank may have a backflow preventer, as you mention. This would mean you likely will need to pump the solution into the tank. You may want to try a hand pump like this one from Camco (link below). Disclaimer, I have not used this product, so please consider the online reviews carefully before purchasing. Most reviews appear to be for winterizing, but there would be no reason why it couldn't be used to introduce the bleach solution into the freshwater tank. Here is the link to the product from my associate account: amzn.to/3PI3Yhb
Thanks a ton, John! Makes sense, and great “for dummies” style. Just like the army😂. I learn best with videos like this. Awesome content throughout your channel as well
I find that flushing brakes sediment free and I usually have to take apart the faucets to remove debris. I do this every year now, helps keep the water pressure up in my RV.
Great video, but I think there's is one mistake here where you instruct to unbypass the hot water tank before flushing the antifreeze out, that will cause antifreeze to go into the hot water tank.
I unbypass first as there is only a cup or two of RV antifreeze in the lines between the water pump and hot water tank, and it gets flushed pretty much immediately. There is little to no risk of damage to the tank if this little amount of RV antifreeze gets diluted and expelled from the tank in short order. Thanks!
Excellent video very detailed as is your winterizing video. A few words of caution, only use NSF approved chlorine for sanitizing, even with flushing, household bleach is not a safe alternative made for use in drinking water applications. If you HAVE to use regular bleach, make sure it is unscented. Full 4-log inactivation of viruses only takes about 20 minutes, no need to wait 3-6 hours to flush the lines. Thanks for the video!
Question about the 4-log inactivation of viruses taking only 20 minutes. At what level of dilution is that measured? The ratio used and recommended by most RV manufactures is the 1/4 cup bleach per 15 gallons of water or 1 part bleach to 960 parts water when sanitizing. Any clarification for users is appreciated. Thanks.
@@JohnMarucci In the absence of a reply from RVSailing, I thought I might chime in with my professional experience in the medical virology and microbiology laboratory setting. When I disinfected surfaces in the laboratory, I used a 1:10 solution of bleach for 20 to 30 minutes. So much more concentrated than what we're using in the RV sanitizing procedure, and I had a different objective in the lab. Personally, I'm sticking with the recommendations from the RV manufacturers. John, thanks so much for your videos. Extremely helpful to me as a newbie RV owner!
Great video… my girlfriend and I just used this step by step to dewinterize super easy … if I was a betting man I would bet you are a vet and know how to prep and deliver training for soldier/airman training events :) thank you sir
Thanks! Glad the video was helpful. I wasn't in the military but am a teacher by nature and had a fairly disciplined upbringing as a soccer player. Both have helped when developing material. Thanks again for commenting!
Hi John, Thank you so much for all your videos. Deeply appreciated here due to newbie Rv ing again!Just purchased a gently used 40’ Heartland cyclone toyhauler we haven’t used a camper since 1995 and it was a 24’pull behind..so all these videos are great. I’m trying to write things down to keep a binder for memory sake I can always read it instead of watching the videos until getting used to everything…Thanks again and Happy Camping 🏕
Super helpful video. Thank you! I suppose I shouldn't drain the bleach water near my wife's flowers.... I know its diluted but thats a mess I don't want to make!
You can keep the valve closed if you want to. There is very little risk to allowing a small amount of RV antifreeze in the hot water tank right before flushing the system. Thanks!
Thank you so much for this video. Perfect step by step tutorial on dewinterizing after anti freeze winterization. We owned a 20+ year old trailer for 5 or 6 years and we always winterized by blowing the lines with compressed air. We very recently bought a new to us 2020 Coleman and the dealer had it anti freeze winterized. After watching and rewatching multiple times this video, I confidently got this done. Thank you. Would you recommend the anti freeze over air winterization? Is there pros and cons?
Thanks for sharing your experience! Glad the video was helpful. I have always used the RV antifreeze method for winterizing and have a step-by-step video on subject if interested. Some people use forced air without issue. I suppose it depends on how cold it gets where the trailer is stored off-season and how confident you are in removing all water from the plumbing lines and water pump.
Thanks John - I'm a virgin RV owner walking through this process for the very first time. Not to mention that my RV has a very different (Nautilus) water management control panel, so nothing is the same. But this video was tremendous! Do you also have one for winterizing the camper? I'l love to follow your same clear directions for that process at the end of the year. Thanks again!
Good Day, Newbie here. So if you unbypass the hot water tank, the anti-freeze will naturally go in there until it's flushed through with the bleach solution. This is okay? I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything here, lol. Thanks!
John I have a few questions about this process: 1) Isn't it toxic to mix RV Anti-Freeze and Chlorine in the lines or from the drains going to the Grey Tank together? 2) Wouldn't it be better to flush the lines of the Anti-Freeze first and then do the Chlorine steps? Great video!
The bleach mixture is very diluted and shouldn't be an issue. You can always run a water hose directly from your house water into the city water inlet of your RV and flush things prior to adding the bleach solution. All the best!
I watched your video on winterizing my R.V. and it worked perfectly!!! Now I am getting ready to DE- WINTERIZE my R.V. and I watch your video and it has me filling my fresh water tank with bleach. My question is why can't I just siphon from my water pump and have that bleach water go through there instead of going through my fresh water tank that wasn't used in the winterizing stage? NOT doubting you it's just confusing to me where i'm thinking I can do the same process but from the siphon at the water pump. Can you tell me cause i'm getting ready to DE-WINTERIZE my trailer. Thank you and I love your videos.
You really will want to sanitize the freshwater tank before using it. It can get nasty in the freshwater tank off-season, and likely will need this after sitting for so long. I suppose if you will be camping with only city water hookups and won't be using your freshwater tank, you can pass on this; otherwise, you really should sanitize the freshwater tank.
John happy spring and new camping season! Wondering if you had any video or recommendations for trailer hitch locks when storing camping in summer at a storage yard. also do you remove the battery and/or LP gas tanks so they can't be stolen? As always great job on your videos and updates. thank you. Bruce
Bruce, I remove the battery and propane tanks while storing my unit at the local public storage facility. Here is a link to my Amazon store with the lock I’ve used for years: amzn.to/4b2XXDN
You’ll still need to get fresh water into your tank to flush. I’ve used Jerry cans at times from a water source to fill my fresh water tank. Once the water is on the tank, you can engage the water pump flush the system. Thanks!
You just introduced the pink antifreeze into the water heater per your first step of the un bypassing of water heater. It should have been flushed with clean fresh water only
Michael, Is your concern corrosion to the tank or contamination of the water system? If the former, the two quarts of water left in the tank off-season after winterizing (see Dometic Atwood hot water heater user manual, pg. 20) and about 3+ cups of RV antifreeze in the line between the water pump and tank are diluted pretty much immediately with this method, then flushed. If contamination is a concern, RV antifreeze isn't toxic and is fully flushed with the sanitizing solution when the system is purged. Let me know why the concern. Thanks!
Nice tutorial but I have one major item I disagree with which is allowing bleach into your hot water heater. If you have aluminum in your hot water heater, bleach is NOT what you want to use as it’s corrosive to aluminum. Your better bet would be to use a vinegar solution. If you used an air compressor to blow out your lines in the fall, your system should be dry and fine but don’t use bleach in your hot water tank if it’s made of aluminum.
Eric, at 1 part bleach to 960 parts water (1/4 cup bleach to 15 gallons water) which is manufacturer recommended mix, the bleach solution is very diluted and shouldn't be a problem on the tank for only a few hours in this diluted form. Then the solution is throughly rinsed as you run plenty water through the tank. I agree if the solution were more concentrated or it was left for long periods and the tank is aluminum. No issues on my side doing this for several years. Thanks.
You unbypass the line so water will flow into the hot water tank, then leave it open for the season. I do drain the tank if I am not going to be using the RV for a while during season. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the video John. One question I have is that I have heard from multiple other sources to never put bleach in the black tank as the bleach will kill the good bacteria that is necessary to break down the waste. So after filling the fresh water tank with the water/bleach mix, you flush the toilet multiple times, which introduces bleach into the black tank. Should flushing the toilet be skipped altogether, and only flushed after all the bleach has been pushed through the water system? Also, what's the point of sanitizing the toilet? Why not just flush it with clean water to purge the pink antifreeze through. Thanks!
Tom, thanks for the question. There are a lot of opinions on whether to run bleach solution (1:960 ratio bleach to water) into the black holding tank. Both Forest River and Keystone don't mention it when talking through sanitizing the plumbing systems. I think they don't mention it because the very minimal amount of solution that sits in the black tank is diluted with antifreeze and other water. Also, the fact is that you wouldn't be dewinterizing if you didn't plan to take the trailer out fairly immediately, use it, add more liquids to the tank and flush it. Once you do use the black tank, flush it, and add water and Happy Camper (or the like), you are adding back bio breakdown mechanics to help the tank. Hope this helps. Thanks!
Great video, but I have a question. I have two 45 gal. fresh water tanks. When dewinterizing, do I fill the first 45 gal. tank 1/3 full then do the bleach process, or do I figure both tanks?
I always fully dump before I winterize in the fall, so i don’t need to do it again before dewinterizing. If you didn’t do this when winterizing, then it’s up to you and would depend on how full your tanks are.
Loved the video - as a newbie it walked me through the process flawlessly. Appreciate that very much. One question: Where did you get the fitting that you put on the end of the filter so you could attach the clear flex tube? I went to a local store and didn't find anything like that. TIA!
Hi John. Great video with very clear instructions. I am new to this and did my first winterizing last fall. Now, I am thinking of flushing out the antifreeze using the city water attachment before doing the bleach sanitization. The instructions I had for winterizing was to bypass the water heater to prevent antifreeze from entering. So my thinking was to flush out the lines before opening the water heater lines. Does that make sense? Thanks!
Your call. I unbypass the hot water tank in the first step as there is little risk to the tank of having a small amount of RV antifreeze in the tank for a very short time before flushing.
I was told not to un bypass the hot water tank until you get the antifreeze out of the system byt running all water until it runs clear, then un bypass the hot water tank. I was told you never want to get anitfreeze into your hot water tank - is that correct
Michelle, I had the identical question a few days ago. Here is my reply... I think the few cups of rv antifreeze in the line between the water pump and tank get diluted by the 2 quarts or so remaining in the tank off season (according to the Dometic Atwood manual) then with the 6 gallons of water when the valve is opened. My point is it gets diluted and flushed pretty quickly and doesn’t pose a corrosion risk. Thanks!
Enjoyed the video - newbie here we managed to winterize ourselves for the first time (Jayco jay flight) - most of the steps look the same I saw another comment about electrical on the hot water valve - what did they mean? Could the antifreeze be dumped into a septic tank?
I am not certain where the comment mentioned is, so I'll take a guess that what someone was talking about was the switch for the hot water tank at the hot water heater outside. This varies by RV model, so I am not certain as to what your RV has. If you RV has a switch to run the hot water heater on electric (whether the switch is on the inside of the RV or outside by the heater itself), you'll want to ensure this switch is off when dewinterizing. Let me know if this makes sense. As far as dumping your gray water tank that will have minimal antifreeze in it after doing this process, I usually just wait until my first visit to a public dump station after my first camping trip. I do not know how or what RV antifreeze would do to a septic system, but likely you'll want to avoid doing this. There really is only a gallon or so of the antifreeze in the gray tank after doing the process, and if you wait until you camp, it will be greatly diluted before you dump. Thanks!
I wanted to thank you immensely for posting this video. My husband died 4 months ago, unexpectedly, and I was faced with doing this solo. We always worked as a team. Your instructions were clear and transferable to my camper and horse trailer with living quarters. The manuals that come with these things are pretty much a waste of paper. I like being independent and knowing how things work. Now, I can take a much needed trip away, with my dogs. With much gratitude…..😁💕
Sorry for your loss. I am glad to hear that you were able to watch the video and dewinterize your trailers. I hope you have many more adventures. All the best!
So sorry for your loss, Michelle. You got this
Sorry for your loss Michelle. I too am a single traveler (dog comes along),
And have made my RV care a Hobby! I now look forward to learning everything I can.
(John Marucci is always spot on for guidance!) Traveling makes life better for me!
YOU CAN DO THIS!!
Sorry for your loss Michelle. My husband died unexpectedly 9 months ago and I had to learn how to winterize and now dewinterize the camper. You’ve got this! This video was just what I was looking for. Like you, I like learning to do stuff on my own. Next up - towing. Hang in there.
I did it! Even though I have a motorhome as opposed to a trailer, I was able to follow along and get it done. I’m so proud to myself. I’m 74 and it was easy to follow your steps, once I found all the valves to open and close. Thank you so much.
Congrats!
I have had my Outdoors RV Backcountry 4 years now and every spring I read or watch a lot of on line advice. NONE was as logical and simply explained step by step as yours. THANK YOU SO MUCH. You saved me time and worry. I don't subscribe to anything...but yours I did.
Thanks! Glad the video was helpful. I have a list of maintenance videos in one place on my site if interested. It is under new to RVing, but helpful to have them in one location for reference: johnmarucci.com/getting-started-with-rving-18-videos/
Hey John! Newbie hear. Your vid’s are great. I was able to de-winterize my newly acquired used camper with this process. Worked like a charm. I’m all set for my first trip. I’ll be going through all your vids to learn more. Thx again for all the hard work you put into these.
Great to hear! I have a new to RVing video list if interested: johnmarucci.com/getting-started-with-rving-16-videos/
Wow - I really appreciate how thorough your instructions are, the fact that you provide a checklist, AND how you didn’t discount the questions regarding introducing diluted bleach into the water heater. So much research and time went into this analysis, and as a newbie, it is invaluable. THANK YOU!
Thanks!
We appreciate the level of quality you maintain in your videos. Thanks for these step-by-step clear directions.
John, my wife and I are RV newbies. We purchased a 30 foot 2023 Freedom Express travel trailer which has opened up an entirely new world of how-to RV questions. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to create this excellent step-by-step video. Well done & appreciate all of the videos you've posted on UA-cam!
Great to hear! Sounds like you have already discovered my New to RVing videos, but here is the link if needed: johnmarucci.com/getting-started-with-rving-16-videos/
Thank you SO much for this Wonderful, Instructional Video that I could understand, follow & DO without having a frustrating, emotional meltdown. My Husband passed away recently & he always Winterized & DeWinterize the campers, my Sons helped me after he passed, but I was able to DeWinterize my Mavis Motorhome By myself, for the FIRST time, following your video❤
This is so good to hear that the video was so helpful. I have several other how-to videos for owners: johnmarucci.com/how-to-videos-for-rv-owners/
I bought my RV last year and your videos has been invaluable for me to be able to handle the maintenance on my own. Thank you.
Great to hear!
Thank you so so much! I bought a DIY campervan 2 years ago, and thanks to this video was able to complete this process for the first time solo (without the previous owner's help)
Glad the video was helpful!
Wow I have been doing my Jayco winterizing and dewinterizing for a few years and glad I checked out your video. Your process is much more in-depth than I was shown at the dealership.
Glad it was helpful!
this is the best de-winterization video i found online. thanks, john!
Glad it was helpful!
This is one of the most helpful UA-cam videos I have ever seen. Very clear concise; both video and audio, as well as content were very well presented,. Thank you very much!
Glad it was helpful!
Thankyou for allowing me the opportunity to learn and be able to take on projects like these on my own. Its truly a amazing, Keep up the good work Mr.Marucci.
Great to hear this! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for getting right to the point and explaining things without too much fluff!
Glad it was helpful!
Just got my first travel trailer last year and this video was exactly what I needed to unwinterize the trailer. Very much appreciated!:)
Great to hear. Glad the video was helpful!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write everything out on your website. It's my first RV and first dewinterize. Thanks!!
Glad to help!
Just bought a used 97 Lance Truck Camper. All of your instruction was very helpful. Thank you
Great to hear, thanks!
John, a tip of the hat to you Kind Sir! Your videos are very detailed, professional AND helpful. The links to your website and corresponding printable pdf's are especially thoughtful. We appreciate the content on your channel. Thank you!
Thanks so much for the comment. I am glad the videos are helpful. I am also very glad that the work put into publishing the downloadable pdfs. are being used. Thanks again!
A great game to play while watching this video. Take a drink every time you hear "bleach solution". Seriously though, this is a great video.. I watch it every spring.
Thanks Justin!
Glad I found this video as my wife and I just purchased our first travel trailer: 2022 keystone bullet 290 BHS and I’m needing to flush it out cuz it was already winterized before we bought it
Great to hear that the video was helpful!
John, that was a fantastic video! Clear instructions and great visual aids. I'm headed outside to de-winterize my RV for our first camping trip in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the help!!
Great to hear. Thanks for the encouragement!
Thank you John! We just purchased our first RV last month and will be de-winterizing it this weekend. Your video is really helpful and I love the step by step breakdown
Lance, glad the video was helpful!
This is great to follow. I didn't use antifreeze I blow the lines clear before winter but the same sequence works just less in the Grey tank
Lots of people use the compressed air method and blow out the lines. Saves using antifreeze as long as you understand exactly how to do it. All the best!
Amazing video! I bought my first RV and it was winterized . This helped alot!
Glad it helped!
Extremely well done. Been searching for vids that make winterizing and dewinterizing more understandable. Although I have a Class B Coachmen Galleria, the basic steps and methodology will do the trick. I should be able t o handle both processes now. Thanks so much for posting!
Glad the video was helpful. Here is a link to the maintenance video on the channel: johnmarucci.com/how-to-videos-for-rv-owners/
Perfect. The dump station guidance is huge for a newbie like me. I haven’t had to do it yet (have been using the rig all winter in MN without water) so I’m a bit anxious for the first time. Mine will be a little different, but your steps all apply and make it very easy to understand. The extra pointers are helpful. Thanks again.
Glad it is of help! All the best!
For the third year in a row. Thank you my friend!
Great to hear. Thanks! I also use this video annually as I can’t remember all the steps!
Great video! I would add that you need to be sure to turn off the electric element in the hot water heater when you drain it (a lesson learned the hard way!)
Yep, good reminder!
How do I do this?
@@kylequintana there may be a switch for the electric heating element behind the outside water heater panel and then a switch for propane heat on the inside control panel…this is how ours is configured.
What happens if you don't
Always very informative John , thanks for your comprehensive RV videos !!!!
Glad the video was helpful!
John your step by step explanation is very helpful. Good work!
Glad to hear it! All the best!
Thanks! You and your videos are amazing. You've save me LOTS of $ and aggravation that comes with bringing my RV into the dealer for basic stuff. Thank you, thank you.
Glad to help! Many thanks for the generous gift!
And you are worth every penny, and more.
John, I do have a question. I tried to drain the gallon of water/bleach into the Fresh Water tank input and the opening must have some kind of "anti-backflow" feature, because nothing would flow into the tank. The only way to get water into the Fresh Water tank seems to be a hose with water pressure. Any suggestions. I have a picture of the interface if you need that. Thanks
It sounds like the entry to your fresh water tank may have a backflow preventer, as you mention. This would mean you likely will need to pump the solution into the tank. You may want to try a hand pump like this one from Camco (link below). Disclaimer, I have not used this product, so please consider the online reviews carefully before purchasing. Most reviews appear to be for winterizing, but there would be no reason why it couldn't be used to introduce the bleach solution into the freshwater tank. Here is the link to the product from my associate account: amzn.to/3PI3Yhb
@JohnMarucci
As always, thank you. The pump does look like it would work. I'll keep you posted.
Mark
Thanks a ton, John! Makes sense, and great “for dummies” style. Just like the army😂. I learn best with videos like this. Awesome content throughout your channel as well
Glad to help!
Thanks for the perfectly explained step-by-step instructions. This will be my first time with my new trailer (2022 Starcraft Autumn Ridge 19BH).
Frank, all the best in doing this maintenance task. It isn't too difficult if you follow the steps. Thanks!
I a newby, first time that will to this process after my winter purchase! Thank you for the easier explanation and checklist!!!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much for this video. I'm brand new to the camper life and this video was easy to follow and extremely helpful.
Great to hear that the video was helpful. All the best!
I find that flushing brakes sediment free and I usually have to take apart the faucets to remove debris. I do this every year now, helps keep the water pressure up in my RV.
Great point. Thanks for sharing!
Great video, but I think there's is one mistake here where you instruct to unbypass the hot water tank before flushing the antifreeze out, that will cause antifreeze to go into the hot water tank.
I unbypass first as there is only a cup or two of RV antifreeze in the lines between the water pump and hot water tank, and it gets flushed pretty much immediately. There is little to no risk of damage to the tank if this little amount of RV antifreeze gets diluted and expelled from the tank in short order. Thanks!
Excellent video very detailed as is your winterizing video. A few words of caution, only use NSF approved chlorine for sanitizing, even with flushing, household bleach is not a safe alternative made for use in drinking water applications. If you HAVE to use regular bleach, make sure it is unscented. Full 4-log inactivation of viruses only takes about 20 minutes, no need to wait 3-6 hours to flush the lines. Thanks for the video!
Question about the 4-log inactivation of viruses taking only 20 minutes. At what level of dilution is that measured? The ratio used and recommended by most RV manufactures is the 1/4 cup bleach per 15 gallons of water or 1 part bleach to 960 parts water when sanitizing. Any clarification for users is appreciated. Thanks.
@@JohnMarucci In the absence of a reply from RVSailing, I thought I might chime in with my professional experience in the medical virology and microbiology laboratory setting. When I disinfected surfaces in the laboratory, I used a 1:10 solution of bleach for 20 to 30 minutes. So much more concentrated than what we're using in the RV sanitizing procedure, and I had a different objective in the lab. Personally, I'm sticking with the recommendations from the RV manufacturers. John, thanks so much for your videos. Extremely helpful to me as a newbie RV owner!
THIS THIS THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEED RIGHT NOW!!!
Glad the video was helpful!
Very informative and easy to follow instruction. Your videos have been a great help!
Glad the videos are helpful!
Thank you for your excellent videos. I will support you and purchase from your Amazon store. Keep the good stuff coming. 👍
Many thanks!
such a helpful video with clear instructions, thank you!
Glad the video was helpful!
Great job on the video. I really like the way you teach people through such projects.
Danny and Lynn
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video… my girlfriend and I just used this step by step to dewinterize super easy … if I was a betting man I would bet you are a vet and know how to prep and deliver training for soldier/airman training events :) thank you sir
Thanks! Glad the video was helpful. I wasn't in the military but am a teacher by nature and had a fairly disciplined upbringing as a soccer player. Both have helped when developing material. Thanks again for commenting!
Thank you for this video! New to RV/camper trailer handling and this video was very informative, helpful and detailed!!
I’m very happy the video was helpful. All the best!
Thank you for the this video hubby and myself are newbies with life style. Do not know a lot .
Glad it was helpful! I have a set of videos for those new to RVing if interested: johnmarucci.com/getting-started-with-rving-16-videos/
Hi John, Thank you so much for all your videos. Deeply appreciated here due to newbie Rv ing again!Just purchased a gently used 40’ Heartland cyclone toyhauler we haven’t used a camper since 1995 and it was a 24’pull behind..so all these videos are great. I’m trying to write things down to keep a binder for memory sake I can always read it instead of watching the videos until getting used to everything…Thanks again and Happy Camping 🏕
We have most of these processes in written form at: johnmarucci.com/docs-downloads/
really cool video John Marucci. I shattered that thumbs up on your video. Keep up the exceptional work.
Glad it was helpful!
So helpful for this first time camper owner. Thank you!
Glad the video was helpful!
Great teaching points, effective and on point!
Glad it was helpful!
Great video! I will use this to do my first dewinterization!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you John
Very clearly explained
Glad it was helpful!
Enjoyed thorough explanation!
Glad it was helpful!
this was a great video very easy to understand and comprehend really good video
Glad it was helpful!
I like how simple and straightforward this is. Even for a city slicker I understand
Great to hear, glad the video was helpful!
Really appreciate all your help John👍
Glad the video was helpful!
I watch your videos ever year 😊 I can never remember how to winterize and de winterize😅
Glad the videos are helpful!
Free downloadable process document: johnmarucci.com/free-rv-dewinterization-video-checklist/
Great info presented very clearly..perfect video for the info I needed..🎉🎉🎉thank you😁
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for this in depth video.
This video has helped me so much. Thank you!
Glad the video was helpful!
Thanks, John. We’ve got a 2020 257RSS and it’s time!
Super helpful video. Thank you! I suppose I shouldn't drain the bleach water near my wife's flowers.... I know its diluted but thats a mess I don't want to make!
Probably a good call to avoid plant life with any bleach solution!
Thanks. This was extremely helpful!
Glad the video was helpful!
Thanks for this. Bought a 2021 243bhs last fall and need to dewinrerize it soon enough
Great video. I question opening the hot water valves before flushing the antifreeze out. Is that ok to do?
You can keep the valve closed if you want to. There is very little risk to allowing a small amount of RV antifreeze in the hot water tank right before flushing the system. Thanks!
Thanks John for your reply.
Thank you so much for this video. Perfect step by step tutorial on dewinterizing after anti freeze winterization. We owned a 20+ year old trailer for 5 or 6 years and we always winterized by blowing the lines with compressed air. We very recently bought a new to us 2020 Coleman and the dealer had it anti freeze winterized. After watching and rewatching multiple times this video, I confidently got this done. Thank you. Would you recommend the anti freeze over air winterization? Is there pros and cons?
Thanks for sharing your experience! Glad the video was helpful. I have always used the RV antifreeze method for winterizing and have a step-by-step video on subject if interested. Some people use forced air without issue. I suppose it depends on how cold it gets where the trailer is stored off-season and how confident you are in removing all water from the plumbing lines and water pump.
Thx John!
Thanks for the video! Good instructions.
Thanks John - I'm a virgin RV owner walking through this process for the very first time. Not to mention that my RV has a very different (Nautilus) water management control panel, so nothing is the same. But this video was tremendous! Do you also have one for winterizing the camper? I'l love to follow your same clear directions for that process at the end of the year. Thanks again!
Bruce, thanks for the comments. I do have a winterization video on UA-cam: ua-cam.com/video/3xN2-ahkL5g/v-deo.html
@@JohnMarucci John's Winterization video is my go to.
Very helpful/informative thank you so much!!!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for this video this has helped me out alot thank you and I subscribed 😊
Glad the video was helpful!
Thank you this helped me very much
Glad it helped! All the best!
Thanks for the helpful videos!
Many thanks for the generous support. Great to know the videos are helpful!
Good Day, Newbie here. So if you unbypass the hot water tank, the anti-freeze will naturally go in there until it's flushed through with the bleach solution. This is okay? I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything here, lol. Thanks!
It is ok. Only a very small amount of RV antifreeze will pass through and quickly get diluted as you sanitize the system.
Thank you for this info, but I have well water. Can these same steps be followed or do you recommend a different method?
I think it would be fine. You may want to use a filter when filling and flushing the tanks. Thanks!
John I have a few questions about this process:
1) Isn't it toxic to mix RV Anti-Freeze and Chlorine in the lines or from the drains going to the Grey Tank together?
2) Wouldn't it be better to flush the lines of the Anti-Freeze first and then do the Chlorine steps?
Great video!
The bleach mixture is very diluted and shouldn't be an issue. You can always run a water hose directly from your house water into the city water inlet of your RV and flush things prior to adding the bleach solution. All the best!
I watched your video on winterizing my R.V. and it worked perfectly!!! Now I am getting ready to DE- WINTERIZE my R.V. and I watch your video and it has me filling my fresh water tank with bleach. My question is why can't I just siphon from my water pump and have that bleach water go through there instead of going through my fresh water tank that wasn't used in the winterizing stage? NOT doubting you it's just confusing to me where i'm thinking I can do the same process but from the siphon at the water pump. Can you tell me cause i'm getting ready to DE-WINTERIZE my trailer. Thank you and I love your videos.
You really will want to sanitize the freshwater tank before using it. It can get nasty in the freshwater tank off-season, and likely will need this after sitting for so long. I suppose if you will be camping with only city water hookups and won't be using your freshwater tank, you can pass on this; otherwise, you really should sanitize the freshwater tank.
John happy spring and new camping season! Wondering if you had any video or recommendations for trailer hitch locks when storing camping in summer at a storage yard.
also do you remove the battery and/or LP gas tanks so they can't be stolen? As always great job on your videos and updates. thank you. Bruce
Bruce, I remove the battery and propane tanks while storing my unit at the local public storage facility. Here is a link to my Amazon store with the lock I’ve used for years: amzn.to/4b2XXDN
Thank you for your help, your very through.
Glad the video was helpful!
thx for the video! great info here... have a quick Q: what if I'm not hooked up to city water?
You’ll still need to get fresh water into your tank to flush. I’ve used Jerry cans at times from a water source to fill my fresh water tank. Once the water is on the tank, you can engage the water pump flush the system. Thanks!
Any park model videos? With. 10 gallon water heater
I do not have such a video. You should search UA-cam as there may be one out there. Thanks!
You just introduced the pink antifreeze into the water heater per your first step of the un bypassing of water heater.
It should have been flushed with clean fresh water only
Michael,
Is your concern corrosion to the tank or contamination of the water system? If the former, the two quarts of water left in the tank off-season after winterizing (see Dometic Atwood hot water heater user manual, pg. 20) and about 3+ cups of RV antifreeze in the line between the water pump and tank are diluted pretty much immediately with this method, then flushed. If contamination is a concern, RV antifreeze isn't toxic and is fully flushed with the sanitizing solution when the system is purged. Let me know why the concern. Thanks!
Awesome, thank you!
Thanks, glad the video was helpful!
Nice tutorial but I have one major item I disagree with which is allowing bleach into your hot water heater. If you have aluminum in your hot water heater, bleach is NOT what you want to use as it’s corrosive to aluminum. Your better bet would be to use a vinegar solution. If you used an air compressor to blow out your lines in the fall, your system should be dry and fine but don’t use bleach in your hot water tank if it’s made of aluminum.
Eric, at 1 part bleach to 960 parts water (1/4 cup bleach to 15 gallons water) which is manufacturer recommended mix, the bleach solution is very diluted and shouldn't be a problem on the tank for only a few hours in this diluted form. Then the solution is throughly rinsed as you run plenty water through the tank. I agree if the solution were more concentrated or it was left for long periods and the tank is aluminum. No issues on my side doing this for several years. Thanks.
Good video, Thank you Sir!👍🏼☮️
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you very much!
Glad the video was helpful!
This is a great video… on the hot water tank do u leave that line open or close it
You unbypass the line so water will flow into the hot water tank, then leave it open for the season. I do drain the tank if I am not going to be using the RV for a while during season. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the video John. One question I have is that I have heard from multiple other sources to never put bleach in the black tank as the bleach will kill the good bacteria that is necessary to break down the waste. So after filling the fresh water tank with the water/bleach mix, you flush the toilet multiple times, which introduces bleach into the black tank. Should flushing the toilet be skipped altogether, and only flushed after all the bleach has been pushed through the water system? Also, what's the point of sanitizing the toilet? Why not just flush it with clean water to purge the pink antifreeze through. Thanks!
Tom, thanks for the question. There are a lot of opinions on whether to run bleach solution (1:960 ratio bleach to water) into the black holding tank. Both Forest River and Keystone don't mention it when talking through sanitizing the plumbing systems. I think they don't mention it because the very minimal amount of solution that sits in the black tank is diluted with antifreeze and other water. Also, the fact is that you wouldn't be dewinterizing if you didn't plan to take the trailer out fairly immediately, use it, add more liquids to the tank and flush it. Once you do use the black tank, flush it, and add water and Happy Camper (or the like), you are adding back bio breakdown mechanics to help the tank. Hope this helps. Thanks!
Awesome video very helpful I was wondering if i needed to sanitize the lines with the bleach solution if I have a brand new rig
It’s your call. There likely hasn’t been any water in the tank or lines.
Great video, but I have a question. I have two 45 gal. fresh water tanks. When dewinterizing, do I fill the first 45 gal. tank 1/3 full then do the bleach process, or do I figure both tanks?
You'll want to sanitize both tanks for sure. If they both run off one water pump, then try to do them at the same time.
Excellent video! Sorry if this was asked before. Do you recommend dumping prior to first outing? First weekend outing will not have sewer hookup.
I always fully dump before I winterize in the fall, so i don’t need to do it again before dewinterizing. If you didn’t do this when winterizing, then it’s up to you and would depend on how full your tanks are.
Loved the video - as a newbie it walked me through the process flawlessly. Appreciate that very much. One question: Where did you get the fitting that you put on the end of the filter so you could attach the clear flex tube? I went to a local store and didn't find anything like that. TIA!
Here is the link to the part from my storefront: amzn.to/3pXA1Pt
Very informative video, thank you. Do you still recommend using the bleach solution for a brand new camper?
I think it is your call on a never-used plumbing system. It can’t hurt to sanitize the fresh water tank before you ever use it. Thanks!
Hi John. Great video with very clear instructions. I am new to this and did my first winterizing last fall. Now, I am thinking of flushing out the antifreeze using the city water attachment before doing the bleach sanitization. The instructions I had for winterizing was to bypass the water heater to prevent antifreeze from entering. So my thinking was to flush out the lines before opening the water heater lines. Does that make sense? Thanks!
Your call. I unbypass the hot water tank in the first step as there is little risk to the tank of having a small amount of RV antifreeze in the tank for a very short time before flushing.
Do you have any videos on outdoor kitchen repairs?
Sorry, I usually make videos from issues I’ve experienced. I haven’t had an issues besides replacing a small fridge.
Thanks
Glad the video was helpful!
I was told not to un bypass the hot water tank until you get the antifreeze out of the system byt running all water until it runs clear, then un bypass the hot water tank. I was told you never want to get anitfreeze into your hot water tank - is that correct
Michelle, I had the identical question a few days ago. Here is my reply... I think the few cups of rv antifreeze in the line between the water pump and tank get diluted by the 2 quarts or so remaining in the tank off season (according to the Dometic Atwood manual) then with the 6 gallons of water when the valve is opened. My point is it gets diluted and flushed pretty quickly and doesn’t pose a corrosion risk. Thanks!
Enjoyed the video - newbie here we managed to winterize ourselves for the first time (Jayco jay flight) - most of the steps look the same
I saw another comment about electrical on the hot water valve - what did they mean?
Could the antifreeze be dumped into a septic tank?
I am not certain where the comment mentioned is, so I'll take a guess that what someone was talking about was the switch for the hot water tank at the hot water heater outside. This varies by RV model, so I am not certain as to what your RV has. If you RV has a switch to run the hot water heater on electric (whether the switch is on the inside of the RV or outside by the heater itself), you'll want to ensure this switch is off when dewinterizing. Let me know if this makes sense.
As far as dumping your gray water tank that will have minimal antifreeze in it after doing this process, I usually just wait until my first visit to a public dump station after my first camping trip. I do not know how or what RV antifreeze would do to a septic system, but likely you'll want to avoid doing this. There really is only a gallon or so of the antifreeze in the gray tank after doing the process, and if you wait until you camp, it will be greatly diluted before you dump. Thanks!