Winterizing fresh water tank

[navybanker]

Had do you keep antifreeze from going to fresh water tank. Can not find a bypass valve or something to shut off. New to travel trailer being a Flagstaff 25rds micro. Have owned three fifth wheels and they were different. Thanks

[Kcoulter]

Should be a valve right before the pump that changes the suction from tank to the antifreeze port

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by Kcoulter

Should be a valve right before the pump that changes the suction from tank to the antifreeze port

... but in neither setting should/would any antifreeze be pumped into the fresh water tank.

[MillMitch]

And if there isn't a bypass valve already there you will need to install one. Not all TT's come equipped with a bypass valve.
And for what it's worth, if you don't have the time or aren't inclined to install one right now - I winterized our TT (bought Oct 2017) for the first 2 winters by dumping pink stuff into the fresh tank and pumping through the system before I finally installed a bypass. Drain fresh tank after, clorax system in spring - it won't hurt you but you'll need about 5 or 6 gallons of pink stuff.

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by MillMitch

And if there isn't a bypass valve already there you will need to install one. Not all TT's come equipped with a bypass valve.
And for what it's worth, if you don't have the time or aren't inclined to install one right now - I winterized our TT (bought Oct 2017) for the first 2 winters by dumping pink stuff into the fresh tank and pumping through the system before I finally installed a bypass. Drain fresh tank after, clorax system in spring - it won't hurt you but you'll need about 5 or 6 gallons of pink stuff.

The OP is trying to keep antifreeze out of the fresh tank as mentioned in post 1.

[NavyLCDR]

Opening the freshwater tank drain valve has done wonders for me. I opened my freshwater tank drain valve yesterday in preparation for winter.

[navybanker]

I see a "valve" located above the water pump on a white water line to the right of the water filter container. Wondering is this is it. Camper in storage but have many pics of it. Having trouble uploading pic. Thanks,

[SailorSam20500]

That looks like the valve I have on my trailer. IF it is on the input side of the water pump it is probably the selector for switching between an anti-freeze port and the fresh water tank. My anti-freeze port it next to my city water and gravity fill port port. Both ports are female hose adapters. If the blue pex hose connects to your pump, it is the same setup as on my trailer.



As Mr. Dan said, you shouldn't have to worry about anti-freeze back filling into the water tank.

[TitanMike]

A simple way to find the selector valve for fresh water from tank and antifreeze from winterizing port is to simply follow the line connected to the water pump's suction side. The valve be in this line and should be the only valve in the suction line.

[Mr. Dan]

The thread title is “Winterizing fresh water tank.”
Answer: drain the water out of it as NavyLCDR wrote.

Text in post: “Had do you keep antifreeze from going to fresh water tank.”
Answer: don’t pour antifreeze into a fresh water tank gravity fill port. Antifreeze into an antifreeze pickup port does not go into or even toward the fresh water tank; it goes away from the fresh water tank — unless your battery or pump is wired backwards/runs backwards.

[navybanker]

Well hooked up antifreeze bottles to "antifreeze" inlet and turned pump on and antifreeze went to fresh water tank and everywhere else. I had the fresh water tank valve open and noticed it coming out. That is why started this thread. The dealer was good but I thought I knew everything about winterizing three previous fifth wheels. But the last one being a Montana had a "convenience center" with valves for everything needed. Attempting to create a winterizaton instruction with step by step things to do with pics like I had on the Montana. But this travel trailer is different. We decided to downsize camper and truck. Have several pics of the filter and pump and notice the valve is turned differently in different pics taken different days. Owner of storage lot came by during the our efforts to help and may have turned the valve. He owned the dealership next door for several years but sold it before we purchased the travel trailer. Purchased the three fifth wheels from him! Going to go back to the camper and trace water lines from the pump. Thanks,

[Kcoulter]

Originally Posted by navybanker

Well hooked up antifreeze bottles to "antifreeze" inlet and turned pump on and antifreeze went to fresh water tank and everywhere else. I had the fresh water tank valve open and noticed it coming out. That is why started this thread. The dealer was good but I thought I knew everything about winterizing three previous fifth wheels. But the last one being a Montana had a "convenience center" with valves for everything needed. Attempting to create a winterizaton instruction with step by step things to do with pics like I had on the Montana. But this travel trailer is different. We decided to downsize camper and truck. Have several pics of the filter and pump and notice the valve is turned differently in different pics taken different days. Owner of storage lot came by during the our efforts to help and may have turned the valve. He owned the dealership next door for several years but sold it before we purchased the travel trailer. Purchased the three fifth wheels from him! Going to go back to the camper and trace water lines from the pump. Thanks,

See if you have a "Water Miser" in the shower...if accidently left open this could direct antifreeze back to the tank.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by navybanker

Well hooked up antifreeze bottles to "antifreeze" inlet and turned pump on and antifreeze went to fresh water tank and everywhere else. I had the fresh water tank valve open and noticed it coming out. That is why started this thread. The dealer was good but I thought I knew everything about winterizing three previous fifth wheels. But the last one being a Montana had a "convenience center" with valves for everything needed. Attempting to create a winterizaton instruction with step by step things to do with pics like I had on the Montana. But this travel trailer is different. We decided to downsize camper and truck. Have several pics of the filter and pump and notice the valve is turned differently in different pics taken different days. Owner of storage lot came by during the our efforts to help and may have turned the valve. He owned the dealership next door for several years but sold it before we purchased the travel trailer. Purchased the three fifth wheels from him! Going to go back to the camper and trace water lines from the pump. Thanks,

Originally Posted by Kcoulter

See if you have a "Water Miser" in the shower...if accidently left open this could direct antifreeze back to the tank.

Correct... IF your R/V is equipped with a water miser valve in the shower OR you own a R/V (typically motorhomes) with an Anderson style wet bay winterize valve, (with a return hose to the fresh tank) there IS a way for antifreeze to be pumped back into the fresh tank.

NOT EVERY R/V IS PLUMBED THE SAME!
One has to know what system they have and follow the procedures for that system.

[navybanker]

You both are correct it has a water miser! This was mentioned during walk thru. Never had such as this before. So, what do you do to turn it off or whatever? We made sure antifreeze came out but that is all. We took this camper straight from dealer (next door) to storage lot and have not used it. Lot is one hour away! Have been searching Forest River websites and they have a lot of good info. Now to visit camper in next few days to winterize the black tank flush and city water connection. Hopefully, everything else is done. Dealer filled everything with water before the walk thru. You guys are as good or better than Montana owners site! Thanks,

[Kcoulter]

Originally Posted by navybanker

So, what do you do to turn it off or whatever?

Handle pointing down is OFF