Overcompensation Winterization

[ADQ K9]

I put a gallon of antifreeze in each black/gray tank to make sure the the blade /dump valves are submerged Is this necessary or am I overcompensating?

[hankpage]

If it gives you peace of mind, NO. Is it necessary, probably not.When living in north east I blew out my lines with compressed air to low point drains then run one gallon through pump and drain that to each tank and outside shower. I finished off with a 1/2gallon split between all traps and toilet bowl. I left that jug by the toilet to replace what leaks through over winter. never had a problem in 25 yrs. doing it this way. Too little pink can be a problem, too much just wastes a few bucks ..... your choice.

JM2¢, Hank
Just noticed you are in Alaska .... GO PINK!!!

[Cbrez]

Mike, my initial reaction is that it is overkill, but since I live in a far more temperate climate than you, I’ll say if it’s worked so far keep doing it. A couple gallons of pink is far cheaper than the consequences of frozen valves.

[JRTJH]

I suppose pouring antifreeze into the tanks to protect anything that accumulates in the low points (which is where the valves are located) will work. AS LONG AS THERE ISN'T SO MUCH WATER THAT IT DILUTES THE ANTIFREEZE.....

I prefer to empty my fresh water, black and gray tanks, blow out the water lines with compressed air, use the water pump to force antifreeze into all the plumbing until every faucet "runs red".... Then I open the drain valve on the fresh water tank, let it completely empty, put a 5 gallon bucket under the sewer dump, open all the valves and let each tank drain completely. I store the trailer in our pole barn with that 5 gallon bucket under the sewer drain connection and leave the valves open all winter. That way, I know for sure that no diluted water (with not enough antifreeze) can accumulate behind the valves, freeze, expand and damage the valve or the fitting.

In the spring, I close the valves, move the bucket and tow the trailer to the house to clean it up for spring "knowing there's no split pipes from expansion behind the valves".....

I never worried about doing it this way when I was in Louisiana, it simply never got cold enough. But, up here, we get -20F temps that last for weeks with no warming above 0F, sometimes from January through mid-March. With that much "cold soak" any "weak link" can spell disaster, so as hankpage said, "GO PINK" !!!!! better safe than delaying a spring trip while the trailer is repaired.....

[ADQ K9]

I have blown out all the lines, drove about 10 miles up and down hills left and right turns with low point drains open and fully drained the waste tanks. I have a black, galley and gray that all drain into a a common waste water output.
Anchorage winter temps vary from above freezing to -20 F.
I don't think there is very much left in the waste tanks/lines if any. I raised the right side of the trailer a couple inches to make sure I got as much out as possible. I think its cheap insurance too.

[Gegrad]

Not to me. I drain all my tanks and lines,pour 5 gallons of antifreeze in the FW tank then run the pump until everything runs pink. Then I drain the black/gray tanks and then run a little more through the lines into the tanks.

[notanlines]

Mike, we also probably started out using more than necessary, but it gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling! As was already stated, probably better off leaving those valves in an open position.