dewinterizing on the road

[sherman12]

The Grey tank fills mostly with soap and water. I don't think that is going to harm anything. As has been compared often, washing your car, or, your RV is going to have more contaminants in the runoff than what comes out of a grey tank.

At one time, not sure of the current reg's but in NY state it was legal to dump grey tanks if you were 200 ft. or more from residential property.

[ktvaughan]

Traveling from Northern Indiana to Florida, we've stopped at Safe Harbor in Perry, GA.
They have full hookup sites.
Dewinterize and sanitize the system.
Then head down to Fla.
Very convenient.
They also have storage if you want to leave your RV there on the way home.

[garywilson]

Flush and dump if you used RV anti-freeze.
No need to sanitize tank. Anti-freeze shouldn't be in your tank or water heater, just your lines.
After flushing (if you flush well enough), no issue at all. RV anti-freeze residue won't hurt you, just makes the water bubble.

[joe_905]

If your going to be hauling the trailer for a while I would open the low point drains and by the tim you get to Florida most of the antifreeze will be drained out.Then just flush or use some water freshener to flush

[jtsriding]

Originally Posted by joe_905

If your going to be hauling the trailer for a while I would open the low point drains and by the tim you get to Florida most of the antifreeze will be drained out.Then just flush or use some water freshener to flush

wow so you're one of those people who others curse as you're driving down the highway spraying onto cars trailing or passing? This may not be illegal but really unethical and immoral.

[gw1800]

Originally Posted by Larry-NC

Depends. We stopped at a rest station along I-95 in Virginia a few weeks ago. I was walking the dog behind the rest stop where the truck/RV parking was. The sign said "No sewage dumping here" or some such, making it clear that gray water dumping was permitted. Plenty of evidence that it was happening, too.

I consider gray water as sewage. It may contain food, grease and soap residue.
Also, if the winterized with anti-freeze, it is a toxic chemical. Pour some on grass and see the results.

[joe_905]

You don’t winterized your gray, black or storage tanks. You just drain them before winter if you open the low drains you might get a couple cups of fluid Over several hundred miles. Less then what you get from your exhaust or air conditioning but the lines will be empty. I live in an area that -40 is common and never had frozen pipes yet and I’m on my 5th rv

[5picker]

Originally Posted by gw1800

I consider gray water as sewage. It may contain food, grease and soap residue.
Also, if the winterized with anti-freeze, it is a toxic chemical. Pour some on grass and see the results.

R/V antifreeze is not toxic.
You couldn't use it to winterize if it was.

Automotive antifreeze IS TOXIC and should NEVER BE USED to winterize a R/V.

[NJKris]

Originally Posted by 5picker

R/V antifreeze is not toxic.
You couldn't use it to winterize if it was.

Automotive antifreeze IS TOXIC and should NEVER BE USED to winterize a R/V.

But you get a good buzz from it before you stop breathing.

[garywilson]

I guess I missed the topic change to automotive anti-freeze....I thought we were still discussing winterizing the water system of an RV.

Silly me.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by garywilson

I guess I missed the topic change to automotive anti-freeze....I thought we were still discussing winterizing the water system of an RV.

Silly me.

Some are not aware of the difference between automotive antifreeze and RV antifreeze.

[NJKris]

Drinkin' it here boss!

[rthomaslyons]

Originally Posted by NJKris

You're going to want to sanitize fresh tank and plumbing with bleach when you get down there. You can't just dump and flush the fresh tank at site, the bleach will kill any grass. I would do it at fresh water fill station, or drive it to edge of lot after filling to dump it.

Sanitizing your fresh water tank can be done at anytime. I’ve been RVing fore almost 50 years and have never done it because I never drink the water out of our fresh water tank. I winterized with plumbing antifreeze and flush everything with fresh water in the spring. I carry drinking water or pick it up on the road. The on-board water is used for dishes and washing as is the city water. In most cases if you need to dewinterize on the road you can flush your lines well enough and use containers of water until you get somewhere that you can thoroughly flush your lines. Still I’ve never drank water out of the fresh water tank and never will, after 50 years.

[garywilson]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Some are not aware of the difference between automotive antifreeze and RV antifreeze.

Ahhhh... some.

[NavyLCDR]

Originally Posted by hiinthesky

I thought it's illegal to dump any waste black or gray onto the ground. Even if the gray is nothing but water.

That depends upon jurisdiction for the gray water tank. In some places it is completely legal to dump gray water on the ground. In other places it is not. If you don't know the exact legality of the location you are at, it's best to not do it, and if you do decide to do it, be discreet.

Black water from a holding tank is always illegal to dump on the ground, even though it may be legal to dig your own personal latrine to use in the middle of the woods.

[Boondockin]

buddy help us all and tell us your winterizing process.

If you air flush and thats all, you just want to sanitize before drinking.

Do you ever drink the water?

[kenson]

A lot of folks don't realize that RV Antifreeze does freeze but in a slush like substance. I don't know why any RV Antifreeze would be in your grey or black water tanks as you leave them open during and after winterizing it.

If you use just air don't forget the traps for the sinks as no air will get into them. pour a little RV Antifreeze just to displace the water out of the traps.

Washer dryers are another item that has a procedure to winterize along with any ice makers. Splendid Brand Washer/Dryers gives instructions that are a necessity no matter if you use air or RV antifreeze. They have separate inside valves that have to be cycled. Blowing air or loading RV antifreeze will not go through the device and could freeze up on you. Dishwashers I believe are a similar problem.

Take a glass filled with RV Antifreeze and leave it in your house freezer to see what happens.

[NC Bill]

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is to be sure to take whatever tools you need to rewinterize for the return trip. We hit cold weather in Florida and had to rewinterize there on the way home.

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by kenson

I don't know why any RV Antifreeze would be in your grey or black water tanks as you leave them open during and after winterizing it.

I leave mine closed and let the AF sit in them all winter.

[dlambers]

If you "air dry" your system it's not biggy. Just sanitize as desired and go.
However, if you use antifreeze, it can be a whole nother matter. If you dump it at a park that has its own system the antifreeze can poison it and cost the owner a small fortune to flush out, so it'll have to be disposed of properly just like when you change the antifreeze in you engine.