Winterizing question

[SteveSykes]

I am wondering, when winterizing my TT should I leave the antifreeze in the lines under pressure or turn off the pump and release the pressure? Also do people drain the fresh water tank that has the antifreeze in it?

Thanks
Steve
2018 Bullet Premier 29RKPR

[ctbruce]

Steve, most, not all, do not use the FW tank to winterize with. It takes too much antifreeze and is diluted by residual water that doesn't drain from the tank.

You can release the line pressure but d leave in the tank what you have until spring.

[SteveSykes]

This model has a city water connection that doesn’t go to the fresh water tank, so the only way to get antifreeze in is to use the fresh water tank. I did blow out all the lines with a compressor before adding the antifreeze to be doubly sure I get all the water out.
Interestingly the Keystone video on the website forgets to have you install the low point drain caps before pressuring the system with antifreeze so is of limited help.

[JRTJH]

Steve,

Antifreeze is introduced into the plumbing "at the water pump inlet" via a fitting/hose adapter that inserts into the antifreeze jug. If you're pouring antifreeze into the water tank, you're introducing it to the same "water pump inlet" via the factory fitting (without the jug adapter).

Here's a photo of the FloJet adapter fitting/hose assembly that I made 10 years ago and am still using to winterize every year. The fitting on the hose plugs into the pump inlet by unlocking the blue tab on the inlet strainer and replacing the strainer fitting with the hose fitting, then locking the blue tab. Once the winterization is complete, unlock the blue tab, remove the fitting/hose and replace the strainer and lock the blue tab. Save the fitting hose for next year's project.

[SteveSykes]

John,
That is a great idea, I will have to see if I can get to that fitting which would be easier than what I have to do now.
Still the original question was do you leave the system pressurized with the antifreeze or not.

Steve

[JRTJH]

I pressurize the system ONLY to introduce antifreeze into the plumbing. After I'm finished, I turn off the water pump and open all of the faucets. When faucets are closed, there is no ability for anything inside the valve to escape, so any expansion would crack or damage the valve and/or the O-rings inside. So, by opening all of the faucets, I eliminate any potential for "trapped water/antifreeze to cause any damage if expansion should occur. The only valve I do NOT leave open is the toilet flush valve. I want to prevent any odors or flies if it warms up, from having access to the interior of the trailer. I pour about 2 cups of antifreeze into the toilet bowl to form a "liquid seal" above the flush ball.

Quick answer: Depressurize your system during storage. If you think about it, eventually it's going to "leak down" anyway.