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Topic ClosedFresh Water Tank Winterize
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wildfire305 View Drop Down
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Joined: 22 Jul 2014
Location: Erlanger, KY
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Posts: 85 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Fresh Water Tank Winterize
    Posted: 01 Oct 2014 at 6:18am
So I've done a search and can't seem to find anyone saying yes or no to this. The winterizing instructions in the Forest River owners' manual mention putting some antifreeze in the fresh water tank. But most of the instructions I've come accross only involve using the small winterize hose in the pump house. It seems to me that if I just used the winterizing hose, then the hose going to the tank would still have water in it along with the fitting coming out of the tank. We always winterized the tank on the popup. Thoughts, opinions, ?. I also intend to blow out and antifreeze the black water port, and the fresh water inlet.
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 2014 at 7:43am
As mentioned in step 11 (here), you just need to drain the water tank.  The pickup hose will then be empty.  There will be some water left in the tank itself and this isn't a problem since it has plenty of room to expand when it freezes.
 
It takes about 3/4 of a gallon to winterize my pod.  You would need several gallons if you put it into the fresh water tank like FR recommends since the remaining water would dilute the antifreeze.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 1108 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 2014 at 12:48pm
My understanding is that there is two schools of thought here: blow it out or don't blow it out. 

If you blow it out and drain then use a small amount of anti freeze to treat the P-straps. If you don't blow it out then flush with antifreeze to replace the water remaining after draining. 

Myself, I'm going to drain, blow it out, and treat my P-traps...done.

Concurring with tech, freezing H2O is no problem, as long as it has a place to expand. 
Cliff & Raelynn
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wildfire305 View Drop Down
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Posts: 85 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 2014 at 12:54pm
So the water left in the hose feeding from the tank to the pump drains by gravity back to the tank?
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Posts: 85 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 2014 at 12:57pm
Traps... I intend to shop vac them out and pour in the antifreeze until they seal. Then add half gallon in each dirty tank to treat the lines going to the dump valves
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Posts: 1108 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 2014 at 1:00pm
Most of it should be removed by running the pump and then some after the tank has been drained and is empty. Kinda like slurping the last few drops of the ice cold beverage at the bottom of a cup, through a straw. Wink I can hear it now...
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Joined: 22 Jul 2014
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Posts: 85 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 2014 at 1:06pm
Gotcha. What about the little strainer on the pump?
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Posts: 16 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 2014 at 1:27pm
Would recommend removing it and emptying any water.  I have had to replace mine because I forgot about and it froze and cracked the plastic .
177 toad with Ford 150
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 2014 at 1:46pm
If you use the winterization valve the entire pump will be full of antifreeze.
 
I do not recommend only blowing out the lines.  Water will collect in the low points and in the valves, there is no way to get all the water out and while you may get lucky eventually you'll have a problem.  You can skip the blow-out and only use the antifreeze, just don't skip the antifreeze and only do the blow-out.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Joined: 22 Jul 2014
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Posts: 85 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 2014 at 5:22pm
Right, I intend to blow out first so as to not dilute my antifreeze.
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