How do you winterize black tank flush???

[jas451]

I think that I've finally got this somewhat figured out, but now I'm wondering
how you winterize it. Since it is separate from the main plumbing system, I believe?

[TURBS]

I've never winterized mine.

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded
2011 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "24 nights"

[SuicideSaints]

Ive never winterized mine either. I guess if you were worried about it, you could blow air through it maybe?

[grumpy0374]

Just before I winterize my Lexi's lines, I pour 2 gallons of rv anti-freeze in both the black tank and gray tank. Maybe overkill, and not needed, but the stuff is cheap enough, and I don't worry about any water left in the tanks freezing.
Grumpy

[Vern]

Not generally considered a big issue, but the presence of any water in the tank seems to risk some freezing around the valve seal. Therefore, I always try drain it well at my last dump of the season, and again at winterizing time. If you use RV antifreeze, you will be adding a little of the pink stuff to it when you flush the toilet to winterize the supply lines to the toilet. I try to run the flush until there is about as much pink stuff down the drain as there was water before it. That should technically do the job.

[Vern]

Originally Posted by grumpy0374

Just before I winterize my Lexi's lines, I pour 2 gallons of rv anti-freeze in both the black tank and gray tank. Maybe overkill, and not needed, but the stuff is cheap enough, and I don't worry about any water left in the tanks freezing.
Grumpy

Seems like a cheap piece of mind.

[mud yapster]

Never have winterized my black or grey tanks. I drain them that's it. I blow air thru my water lines and fixtures and drain water tank. Never had an issue. Takes 1 beer to winterize my RV if DW helps by opening and closing water faucets. Our 5er doesn't have pee traps so I don't pour RV antifreeze down the drains.

[Wiscampsin]

I blow out the black tank flush when I blow out the rest of the plumbing lines.

[mark0224]

I use an air compressor to blow all the regular water lines then add antifreeze to them and run the antifreeze until some goes down the drains. I always dump some extra down the drains after, enough to push all the water out of the traps then open all the black and gray tanks to get any liquids left in the tanks out. Never had a problem in 17 yrs.

[waiter21]

When I drain mine for the last time of the year, I leave the drains open. I then dump a quart of antifreeze in each of the "P" traps. (sinks, shower, toilet)

The water will drain out of the traps and out the black and gray tank drains. Any residual water in the tanks and drains should now be diluted with antifreeze.

[RudysWorld]

I blow out the water fill and black tank flush inlets when I blow out the lines when winterizing. They froze once, no long term damage but could not fill on board fresh water tank until it thawed.

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by mud yapster

Never have winterized my black or grey tanks. I drain them that's it. I blow air thru my water lines and fixtures and drain water tank. Our 5er doesn't have pee traps so I don't pour RV antifreeze down the drains.

How is it possible to not have P traps. None in my direct gravity drop toilet, but without a P trap, or spring loaded valve like the toilet, wouldn't the sinks stink constantly?

[DickiedooFlagman]

Originally Posted by mud yapster

... Our 5er doesn't have pee traps so I don't pour RV antifreeze down the drains.

I am surprised you have no P-traps. There should be a P-trap below each sink and the shower/bath tub. With no P-traps you would have odors returning to the camper living area. The toilet does not have a P-trap because the flush valve closes off the pipe and tank from the toilet.

[DKRITTER]

As many have said I use a compressor to blow out all the water lines if it's going to freeze, if it's going to be a hard freeze I'll winterize.

[FordHauler]

My plan is the best......I take my black tank to Florida early in December and come back to Kentucky when it is too warm to stay there, late April or early May!
Travel safe

[VinceU]

Originally Posted by FordHauler

My plan is the best......I take my black tank to Florida early in December and come back to Kentucky when it is too warm to stay there, late April or early May!
Travel safe

Me too!
Black tank flush systems are self draining by design.

[vinmaker]

I pour a few gallons of antifreeze into the black and grey tanks after I drain them. It is best to make sure that wherever there is water, you replace it with antifreeze.

Vin.

[Vince and Charlette]

One that almost everyone forgets: If you have a residential refrigerator, remove the inside water filter. I didn't know about this and it froze so hard this past winter that it shattered the plastic casing on the filter. Then, the first time we hooked up to shore water this Spring, it came pouring from under the door which made it look like it came from under the frig itself. It took a while to find the source inside the frig. Needless to say, a lot of the floor got a good cleaning.

[johntaylor]

Originally Posted by DickiedooFlagman

I am surprised you have no P-traps. There should be a P-trap below each sink and the shower/bath tub. With no P-traps you would have odors returning to the camper living area.

HepvO Sanitary Waste Valves

[tomrob1161]

For years I just blew out my water lines, then 1 time, my shower valve froze, broke and I had no water for the weekend. Since then, I always run the pink stuff through the lines. My Rockwood Owners manual recommends adding 1 gal of anti freeze to each tank. It's cheap insurance, keeps the seals wet.