Lesson Learned while winterizing

[klrobert]

I started winterizing our trailer Sunday when we returned from a weekend trip. We had only camped in full hookup sites this year, so we never filled the freshwater tank and used the pump, so it sat dry for about a year. When I put antifreeze into the tank to winterize, the pump would not prime. I have worked on this every evening all week. I finally forced water into the intake on the pump and it started working. I guess the diaphragm on the pump dried out and prevented the pump from working. The lesson learned is use it or lose it. I will definitely use the pump regularly next season so the pump will continue to work. Just FYI for anyone that uses full hookups primarily.

[hondo]

Do you have a winterizing by pass kit? You don't have to put the rv antifreeze in the tank to winterize.

[northstar1960]

Originally Posted by klrobert

I started winterizing our trailer Sunday when we returned from a weekend trip. We had only camped in full hookup sites this year, so we never filled the freshwater tank and used the pump, so it sat dry for about a year. When I put antifreeze into the tank to winterize, the pump would not prime. I have worked on this every evening all week. I finally forced water into the intake on the pump and it started working. I guess the diaphragm on the pump dried out and prevented the pump from working. The lesson learned is use it or lose it. I will definitely use the pump regularly next season so the pump will continue to work. Just FYI for anyone that uses full hookups primarily.

it could take up to 5 gallons or more of fluid in the fresh tank before it gets to the fitting that goes to the pump . letting the pump sit dry should not hurt it . most campers not all have a winterize kit installed right before the pump to pump the glycol . now you need to dump and flush your fresh water tank a good number of times to clean the glycol out