First Time Winterizing Help

The object of winterizing is to get all water out of the plumbing.  That's what the low point drains are for.  To let the water out.  Once the water is out, you close the drains.  Otherwise, you can suck up 50 gallons of antifreeze and it will all immediately end up on the ground.  (Not what you want.)

Antifreeze is insurance.  If you blow all the water out of the plumbing, theoretically, you're done.  Antifreeze replaces or, worst case, dilutes any water left in the system lowering the freezing point so that the solution in the pipes won't freeze.

Some people never open their low point drains.  That leaves a little water in the system, but that water is mixed with antifreeze when done, plus Pods are plumbed with PEX, which is almost impossible to break by freezing.  As long as antifreeze is the pump, valves, and traps, those metal or hard plastic things won't burst. 

I use the low point drains as intended, but you absolutely want to close them before you start sucking antifreeze.  If the drains are open they are the path of least resistance and antifreeze will never make it to the toilet or anywhere else, it will all pour out on the ground.

TT

I went back out and saw pink in hot water low point but not cold.  Went back in and used more AF.  I think my mistake was that I kept a faucet open inside while still leaving the low point drains open.  Is that possible that that is why I couldn't see pink from the cold water line?  Also, held the lever for toilet and never had pink flush out.

I do appreciate the advice.  Willing to learn and don't want to damage my water lines.  

Thanks again.

I'm confused, so I'll start at the top.  Drain the water from the potable tank and the water heater.  (Make sure the water heater is off and cool and there is no pressure on the tank.  I turn on the hot water at the sink to do that.  Remove the anode to drain.)  Open the cold water faucet too to relieve the vacuum on the line. Open the low water drains, usually near the axle.  There are two or four of them.  The drain on the water tank is something else, but open that too.  When the water has stopped draining from the low water drains close them.  You do NOT want antifreeze pouring out on the ground (until you de-winterize.)

Set the water heater valves to winter positions.  (That's another discussion.  Ask or look it up if you need help with that.)  You do NOT want antifreeze in the water heater or in the potable water tank.

Find the antifreeze siphon hose near the water pump.  Open the flave at the top of the hose.  Close all of the faucets except one.  It helps to have someone flip the water pump on and off for you.  With the siphon hose in a bottle of antifreeze, turn on the pump until pink comes out of the faucet.  Close that faucet and then open every other faucet one at a time until you see pink coming out.  Don't forget the outside shower if you have one, and do NOT omit the toilet valve.  Hold the flush open until you see pink coming out!

As you did, put a little antifreeze in all the traps and in the toilet valve.

That's about it.

Oh yeah, the black and grey tanks should be as empty as you can get them.

TT