DE-WINTERIZING - Event Date: 17 Mar 2016

Originally posted by jato Since we do drink water out of this tank we do not use bleach, awful after taste.  Haven't done that since November 2011.  We use our well water 90% or more so no problem with contaminates.

You REALLY should sanitize the system, Really. Start of each season, It's not about "contaminates" per-se, it's about bacteria, algae, etc. The bleach rinses out fine. The plumbing system is PEX, which is non-reactive, so the bleach rinses right out. You don't want to have the heebie jeebies ruin a camping trip.. or worse.

Check for any of Techntrek's threads and you'll find a link to the manual. It has explicit directions. I use them every year and they work like a charm. I don't have to remember (or forget) a thing. It's all written down.

Here's the link if you don't want to search:

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723

Step 1.  Locate the 3 bypass valves by your hot water tank.  Turn the upper and lower so that they point parallel with the water lines they are on, the middle valve will point perpendicular to its line.

Step 2.  Either hook up directly with water with your hose or partially fill your water tank.  Turn on water pump and begin to open H and C valves at sink, bathroom sink, shower head and toilet until air is purged out and all antifreeze is run out as well.  To do all the above shouldn't take but 15 - 20 minutes.

Myself, I did it this way my first winter of owning our 177 but found the taste of the water unacceptable even after purging the water lines of the antifreeze.  After a few rounds of de-contaminating the water tank and lines I have gone to using air pressure to blow out lines every fall.  I have done this every year since 2012 without any problems and it only takes me about 1 minute at tops to clean out all the lines.  The only RV antifreeze used is about 8 oz. in the sink traps.