Winterizing question

I read in several posts the sequence for winterizing. On one in particular, after the antifreeze has been pushed through all the plumbing, the next step says to now open the
low point drains to drain the antifreeze. I thought the point was to fill the lines and leave during the winter. This seems to be a waste of time, flushing with RV anti freeze only to empty it all out and then leave empty until spring.

Once I put the antifreeze in the lines it stays there until I dewinterize in the spring.

$6 bucks a gallon??? Where in heck do you all buy your AF. I can buy it all day long here in SD for $2.50-$3 a gallon. Low point drains are to empty the system before you pump anti-freeze through. Once you have pumped AF through, leave until spring.

Lowes, Walmart, and Tractor Supply are all charging 5 to 6 bucks a gallon for RV antifreeze in my area. That's why I haven't bought any yet. I would hate to see what the dealer would charge per gallon. I'd probably buy a couple cases if I could find it as cheap as your paying in the midwest!!!!!

Earl

lbearbow wrote:I read in several posts the sequence for winterizing. On one in particular, after the antifreeze has been pushed through all the plumbing, the next step says to now open the
low point drains to drain the antifreeze. I thought the point was to fill the lines and leave during the winter. This seems to be a waste of time, flushing with RV anti freeze only to empty it all out and then leave empty until spring.

I wonder if whoever wrote that last step might not have been referring to just opening the low-point drains to insure that all residual water is out of the system?

That's what I do. With the whole system now full of AF and the pump on but not cycling, my last step is to open the HW and CW low-point drains until I am sure that full pink AF is flowing. That makes me sure that any residual water is forced out of the lines. For a half gallon of AF, I think its worth the insurance.

Mopar_Earl wrote:Lowes, Walmart, and Tractor Supply are all charging 5 to 6 bucks a gallon for RV antifreeze in my area. That's why I haven't bought any yet. I would hate to see what the dealer would charge per gallon. I'd probably buy a couple cases if I could find it as cheap as your paying in the midwest!!!!!

Earl

That is crazy! I don't think I have ever paid more than $3 per gallon here. I would be a little stingy too if I was paying as much as you. I would have to agree with schrowang on this one.

I wrote that, had to review it. The point of the last step is to open the low point drains with the pump off; if there is any water left in the system, this is where it will be. As for draining the antifreeze, it does not matter if you have antifreeze in the pipes or if they are dry, as long as there is no water. That last part is optional, won't hurt either way.

Yes, opening the low-point-drains is just to bleed out any remaining water.

Thanks....geez you guys are fast. Scottz....thanks for the confirmation. Funny thing is I forgot to close the low point drain when I started, and heard something leaking and went around to the front steps to find AF coming out the low point. The thing was so fast it sucked down a whole gallon of AF ($5.00 per gallon) before I could shut the pump off. I winterize my jet ski in a similar manner, which is why I couldn't understand draining. It is all clear now though, just a quick check to ensure the lowest point is nice an pink also.