Originally posted by StephenH Park so that the drain on the tank is lower. That may mean raising the opposite side of the pod on a ramp or blocks and adjusting the front/rear angle so that more water drains out. Other than that, you could put a long wide board under the low part and use a jack to push the bowed part of the tank up so more can drain also. Once you get below the fitting levels, any residual water will not cause damage when it freezes.

 

Excellent!  Thank you. I am glad I asked, it had been grinding on me knowing I am going to have a black mold breeding ground - leaving the cap open just doesn't cut it.

I am not worried about freezing in my near empty fresh water. I am more worried about my water pipes that hadn't been winterized proper with last/next nights freeze.

We have hills severe enough so that I can simply park and allow all the water to drain out of the FW tank.

So are you going to drain HW tank and low point drains and go the antifreeze route or go with compressed air to blow out your lines?  How cold did it get where you live?

We have cold winters. I have a proper air compressor so I went that route my first year - no regrets. Filling everything with antifreeze seems inefficient and wasteful and not as green as I would like. Plus, in the spring you have drain all that out,  flush it all, and then dispose. I just drive away. I had a friend burn out their heater coil by forgetting to change the bypass after flushing out the antifreeze.

I did keep my air pressure low (35psi IIRC) which prolonged clearing of the lines and will likely crank PSI up this year. With faucets etc open using higher pressure seems very low risk.  I recommend using simple clear cheap air pressure to all.

Agree 100%  I borrow a commercial compressor where I used to work (I bring it there) hook up the gun to the pigtail, open the 3-way valve, open a faucet and turn on the air at 85 psi.  Always keep one line open while going through all the lines and toilet as well.  Takes less than 2 minutes to go through everything twice.  One year I opened the low point drains after the blow out - got about 1 - 2 drops out of each one.  Since then have never opened the low point drains.  Northern Michigan - cold winters.

I hear you on the antifreeze, I gallon lasts me 8 years.  I use a total of 16 oz each winter, 3 oz. for each drain/trap and 1oz for the toilet lid to keep the seal moist.  No leaks, no worries, no problems after 9 seasons.  The first year did the traditional 2 gallons and run through all the lines, never again as it took numerous concoctions to rid the lines of the antifreeze taste (we use the FW tank for drinking otherwise it wouldn't have been an issue).

Another cure is to put a check valve between the pump and the tank. Use pez clamps, to hook it in, won’t leak or bow off.

This solved the problem for me, haven’t had an issue since.

M