Drain valves open or closed for winter

[kurtis41]

Question on the drain valves. When I got my 2005 TM recently I found the water system was drained but the valves left open. I closed them to test all the systems before parking for the winter. I am now going to drain everything again. My question is do you leave the valves open or closed after draining. I'm inclined to close the system off, but don't want to do the wrong thing. What do you all do?

[Brittany Dogs]

The drain valves I leave open to let the system breathe. Just my theory. I have subzero temps to 80F while the unit is in storage. In spring when I "summerize" the system, I use a weak bleach solution in the water tank and after it sits for a bit, I turn on the pump to push some of that water into the pipes and out the drains for a quart or two. That should get rid of any bugs or dust that unlikely entered the drain valve areas. Then once the fresh water tank is sanitized I drain the weak bleach solution (1/4 cup to 20 gallons) and fill up with fresh water. Then run that in the lines and hot water tank. Then drain that.

For the gray water tank, I bought a replacement pipe cap, like $3 or so, drilled several small holes in that and use that cap over winter with the valve wide open.

I also remove the anode rod in the hot water tank, drain the water in fall, clean out the tank, siphon out the water above the drain hole, then replace the anode rod with only one turn for the winter. Then in spring I rinse the tank again once, put new Teflon tape on the threads and then screw that in.

[tentcamper]

I leave all facets and valves open. I drain the lines, blow out the system including the shower and kitchen hose sprayers. Than I run about 20 oz of RV antifreeze through the pump.

[Bill]

The toilet has a sliding dump valve (inside) with a rubber seal. Both the black and gray dump valves (outside) are slide valves with rubber seals. Has anyone had experience, one way or the other, with these seals drying up or deforming when left dry for the winter?

Up to now, I have poured a quarter bottle of Thetford slide valve lube into the toilet and the tub, along with some water, and then worked the valves back and forth a few times in hopes of spreading the lube. But I don't know if I need to do that.

Years ago, we had lots of discussions about the toilet seal curling and failing to seal, but we haven't had any discussion about that for a long time.

Bill

I've done it both ways. One year I'm convinced open is the best. The next year I'll read something and think closed is the best. Bill makes a good point, the critical issue is making sure they are clean and/or lubricated whichever way one leaves them.