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Below is the step-by-step process of dewinterizing my 2020 Keystone Bullet 243BHS travel trailer. This ties to the YouTube video: RV Dewinterization for Beginners. While you may have a different RV, most of these steps should apply to your situation. If you own and R-Pod travel trailer, I have a specific video available that speaks to dewinterizing an R-Pod 179 here.
Here are the tools and supplies you will need to do this job:
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- Household bleach
- Measuring Cup
- Gallon jug
- Small funnel
- Water filter
- RV Water hose and city water
Part 1 – Sanitize the Freshwater Tank and Plumbing System
Un-bypass the Hot Water Tank. If you winterized the RV plumbing system in the fall or it was done for you, likely the hot water tank is still bypassed. This was done so no pink RV antifreeze would be in the hot water tank off-season. If so, it is now time to un-bypass the tank so it will fill with the needed bleach solution to sanitize the system.
The valve should be pointed in line with the hot water tank when it is open or un-bypassed. This will allow water to flow into the hot water tank. If you have trouble locating your hot water tank inside the RV, look for the hot water heater cover on the outside of the RV. This should help you determine the approximate location of the tank inside the RV. Once you determine the location of your access panel within the RV, remove the plywood or panel to get to this area. You may need a screwdriver to remove the screws holding the panel in place. Once you locate the bypass valve, simply turn the valve or valves to point in the direction of the line feeding the hot water tank.
Mix the Bleach Solution to Sanitize the Plumbing System. Fill the freshwater tank 1/3 full of filtered water using an RV water hose and water filter. It is up to you whether you use filtered water, but it is generally a better idea to only use filtered water in the RV plumbing system. Mix the bleach solution using ¼ cup of liquid bleach per 15 gallons of freshwater. For example, if you have a 30-gallon freshwater tank, use ½ cup of bleach. Use a pitcher, jug or liquid container to mix the bleach and water. Here I am using a gallon jug to mix the ½ cup of bleach with water. You should now have a gallon jug full of water and the ½ cup of bleach mixed. Use a funnel to pour the bleach solution that is in the jug into the freshwater tank that is 1/3rd full. Be careful not to spill the bleach solution on any clothing or skin. This may take several minutes to pour the gallon of bleach solution into the tank using the funnel. After the bleach solution is emptied into the freshwater tank, fill the freshwater tank full the rest of the way with water.
Fill the Hot Water Tank. Once you have the freshwater tank full of bleach solution, go inside the trailer and turn on the water pump. This will fill the hot water tank with bleach solution. It may take a few minutes to fill if you have a 6-gallon hot water tank. Once the hot water tank is full of bleach solution water, the plumbing system should be pressurized, and the water pump should turn off by itself.
Drain the Pink RV Antifreeze. Leaving the water pump on, open the hot water faucet at the kitchen sink. RV pink antifreeze should come out of the faucet first if this is what you used to winterize the RV. The faucet may spit air and water a bit as the hot water tank pushes air from the plumbing lines. Bleach solution water should eventually come out of the faucet. Once you get a constant stream of only water, you should smell a bit of bleach from the water at the faucet. Turn off the hot water faucet and turn on the cold-water side of the faucet until bleach solution water comes out. Pink antifreeze should come out first, then a constant stream of bleach solution water. Again, you should be able to smell a bit of bleach in the water.
Repeat this process at all of the faucets:
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- At the bathroom sink on both the hot and the cold sides, making sure RV antifreeze comes out, followed by the bleach solution water.
- At the tub and shower on both the hot and cold sides, again ensuring both sides have RV antifreeze then bleach solution water coming out.
- At the toilet, making sure clear bleach solution water follows after the antifreeze is flushed.
- At any outside shower on both the hot and cold sides, again seeing pink antifreeze come out followed by clear bleach solution water.
- Finally, at any water quick connect, similarly seeing antifreeze come out followed by clear bleach solution water.
Allow Bleach Solution to Sit in Plumbing System. Turn the water pump off and empty bleach solution water from the toilet seal. It is best not to leave bleach solution on the seal. Manually pour a bit of non-bleach solution water on the toilet seal. Refill the freshwater tank full to make up for any water used in the above steps. Let the bleach solution sit in the plumbing lines for a minimum of 3-6 hours to sanitize the system.
Part 2 – Flush the Plumbing System to Remove Bleach Solution
Drain the Freshwater Tank of Bleach Solution. After leaving the bleach solution in the plumbing lines for the required 3-6 hours, go outside under the RV and open the drain to the freshwater tank and allow it to drain the beach solution fully. This will take several minutes depending on the size of your drainplug and tank.
Drain the Hot Water Tank. Ensure the water pump is off. Open the hot water heater cover on the outside of the trailer. If your water heater has an anode rod, see our video for dewinterizing an R-Pod travel trailer that has an anode rod. Find the low point drain valves under the RV. Reach under the RV and open the hot and cold low point drain valves. Some water may begin to come out of the valves. Open the pressure release valve at the water heater so the hot water tank can begin to empty. You should see more water come out of the low point drain valves and hear the sound of the hot water tank emptying. This may take several minutes to drain. Once the tank is empty, reach back under the RV and close the low point drain valves. Go back to the water heater panel and close the pressure release valve. Finally, close the panel to the hot water heater.
Flush the Plumbing System with Fresh Water. Fill the freshwater tank with filtered water in order to run fresh water through all lines and faucets in the RV. This is done to purge any bleach solution water from the plumbing lines. Remember to run water through the kitchen sink faucet both hot and cold sides for several seconds. Run fresh water through the bathroom sink faucet both hot and cold sides for several seconds. Run water through the tub and then shower faucets both hot and cold sides for several seconds. Remember to flush fresh water down the toilet for several seconds. Don’t forget to flush fresh water through your outside shower and any water quick connect.
At the beginning of the season, I will do this flush twice, by emptying the freshwater tank a second time and filling it again and running it through all the lines and faucets. This should fully rinse the lines of the bleach solution. After you are done flushing, turn off the water pump.
Rinse using the City Water Connection. Connect water to the city water inlet on the RV and run water through the city water line to flush the line. Make sure you use a water pressure regulator and water filter. This will control the water pressure going into the plumbing system. Once city water is connected, open each faucet as mentioned in the steps above and purge the lines of any remaining bleach solution.
Visually Inspection Connections and Replace the Panel to the Hot Water Tank. With the city water still connected and the plumbing system under pressure, do a visual inspection of the plumbing connections around the hot water tank to ensure there are no leaks. Once confirmed that there are no leaks, reseal the compartment to the hot water tank. Then go outside and disconnect the city water line.
That should do it, your RV is now dewinterized and should now be ready to use. Have a great camping season!
All the best in your camping endeavors!
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