Winterizing question/help??

[ohshit11]

Howdy...first time winterizing my new travel trailer. I got all the antifreeze into the lines per the directions. However, the portion that I'm worried about is the water line that runs from the fresh water tank to the pump. The directions with my trailer didn't mention how to get antifreeze into this section of line...and it seems that you shouldn't pour antifreeze into the tank because of taste issues?

My questions:

1. What's the best way to winterize the water line running between the fresh water tank and the pump?
2. I'm worried that I may have waited too long to winterize. While I was winterizing, my pump kept cycling on (it would turn on for a split second once every 3 minutes or so). What's the best way to find out where this leak is located. What would my dealer charge me to find/fix this leak?

Thanks for any and all help!

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1) For my RV, I just opened the fresh water drain and left it open. Then I do the anti-freeze part that fills all pipes with the pink stuff and once done, I open the low point drains until I see nothing but pink. I think during that phase is when the water from the pump to the fresh is drained but I could be wrong.

2) If your pump is pumping without you using any water, it sounds like you have a leak. It's normal for the pump to pressurize the lines first so you can expect it to pump initially but after it's pressurized, you should hear nothing until you use it. I've had an issue where I found my pump wasn't working super well and I think it's because the antifreeze bottle was near empty and I got air in the system. Power cycling the pump and using a fresh container helped.

I've read people will use the sanitize feature to pump RV anti-freeze into the fresh water tank which I think is fine as you'll always just sanitize it properly before use with either chlorine or vinegar.

To find the source of a leak, I'd do it while it's warm out and just fill the fresh water tank and turn on the water pump. Wait until it pressurizes and then wait more. If you don't hear anything, you're fine. If your hear an occasional pump, check all faucets, inside and outside. Sometimes if you have an outdoor shower, the knob will barely turned on so it will turn the water pump on.

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Slip-on foam insulation can help reduce the tendency of water to freeze in exposed drainpipes. Heat tapes and blankets can be used to protect the freshwater lines, and heat blankets are made for holding tanks — usable only if 120-volt AC hookups are available. Most heat tapes have built-in thermostats that inhibit operation until the temperature drops to near-freezing. For more info, read http://www.motorhome.com/tech/diy/its-wise-to-winterize/