Winterizing black and gray tanks

[Scottnlaura]

Curious if anyone puts antifreeze in their black and gray tanks for the winter? And if you don't do leave the valves open?


Thanks for any tips!

[KyDan]

I don't put antifreeze in the holding tanks and I don't leave them open.
Others do it other ways.
If you've drained them they really don't need antifreeze. If you leave them open
critters can get inside. And the valves will dry out and maybe be hard to close
in the spring.

[realebill]

when i winterize,i only put enough in to fill up the traps,plus a layer in the toilet to keep the seals pliable. i also close the valves....but...my trailer is on a seasonal site so we remained hooked up to the c/g sewage.

[ChooChooMan74]

The only antifreeze in my tanks is the stuff that gets flushed down from opening all the faucets and adding more in the P-traps. I may have overdone it using 3 gallons, but I say each tank has at least 1/2 a gallon in it.

[rschoono289]

I empty both black and gray tanks after last trip. When pumping AF through lines make sure to flush the initial AF in toilet to ensure AF at black valve. Takes about 1 1/2 gal of AF. Use remaining AF in each trap (sinks,shower) and some in toilet bowl to keep seal with AF. This works for me.

[Ford Idaho]

No to both of your questions.

If you wish to, there is no harm just do not put any in the fresh water tank.

[ependydad]

I dumped about 1/2 gallon into each gray/black tank last year. I don't think that I'll do it again- I just don't see the real benefit other than maybe keeping the bottom of the black tank wet.

[another_newfie]

Nope to either question.

[force]

Originally Posted by ChooChooMan74

The only antifreeze in my tanks is the stuff that gets flushed down from opening all the faucets and adding more in the P-traps. I may have overdone it using 3 gallons, but I say each tank has at least 1/2 a gallon in it.

x2

[Davidceder]

Cheap enough. I put some extra in the traps that go into the tanks and I put some in the black as well (not the fresh of course). I keep my valves closed. Why take risk for $4.00. If your water pump has a small float filter on it as mine does, I suggest you drain the H2O from it or it might freeze and crack. Simple enough to do if you can get to it. Someone just told me they cracked theirs last year. If they didn't say anything I never would have known. Mine was clear plastic about the size of half a small orange.

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by Davidceder

Cheap enough. I put some extra in the traps that go into the tanks and I put some in the black as well (not the fresh of course). I keep my valves closed. Why take risk for $4.00. If your water pump has a small float filter on it as mine does, I suggest you drain the H2O from it or it might freeze and crack. Simple enough to do if you can get to it. Someone just told me they cracked theirs last year. If they didn't say anything I never would have known. Mine was clear plastic about the size of half a small orange.

Float filter?

What kind of water pump do you have?

[garbonz]

In order for freeze damage to occur the water has to have something to push against as it goes from liquid to solid. So a couple gallons of water in a tank will just freeze and do no harm. Water expands by 4% when it changes to ice and that is what breaks pipes.

[Davidceder]

Shurflo 4008-101-H65. Mine had something like this on it:

Shurflo Swivel Nut Strainer with 1/2" Pipe Inlet - Shurflo 255-315 - Fresh Water Pumps - Camping World

Don't know if it was the exact piece but I had the small clear strainer on the bottom on the inlet side that I unscrewed and emptied. Looks like it is an extra piece that might be on any pump. Anyway the clear plastic can freeze and crack if not emptied.

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by Davidceder

Shurflo 4008-101-H65. Mine had something like this on it:

Shurflo Swivel Nut Strainer with 1/2" Pipe Inlet - Shurflo 255-315 - Fresh Water Pumps - Camping World

Don't know if it was the exact piece but I had the small clear strainer on the bottom on the inlet side that I unscrewed and emptied. Looks like it is an extra piece that might be on any pump. Anyway the clear plastic can freeze and crack if not emptied.

Oh, ok thanks.
What is the flow rate like with that?

[Davidceder]

Spec is 11.3 Liters PM. I never feel as though I have enough water pressure whether on the pump or city water. I just think the 1/2 inch tubing is too small. This week I installed an Oxygenics shower head after all the accolades on this forum. Heading to Vegas on the 18th and will test it out. By the wa, my pump was behind the basement of my 5'r. I cut access walls and replaced the 4 screws that held the wall in place with quick nuts so I can repeatedly take the panel off to get to my pump. It surely is a continuous learning process.

Best of luck