RV Antifreeze

[Redoverfarm]

As I ready Dogtrot for it's winter sleep I ponder about using -20F windshield fluid instead of RV antifreeze in the toilets and traps.  I had heard that RV antifreeze can kill the bacteria in the septic tank whereas Windshield fluid will not.  Several people here have used it as an alternative.  Any thoughts?   

[johnecash]

 I've never used the antifreeze.

In the last 40+ years that I've had trailers and motorhomes, I've cleared the water lines with compressed air,flushed and drained the tanks.
Never had a problem.

IMO why buy the antifreeze if there is't anything left to freeze?

   -J.C.- 

[johnecash]

Forgot to mention-----

For those who haven't and want to try it.   Be shure to drain the water pump.

-J.C.-

[peternap]

He's talking about his cabin Johnny.

John (Redover) I haven't tried it but may. I usually leave water in some things because they fill by gravity. The lines clear using the electric valves but the tanks don't.

I don't really have a septic tank, I use a composter but noticed this summer it was not composting as well as normal and that may be due to the RV antifreeze I used last winter. A little Ammonium Nitrate cured the composting problem, but since it's a crappy job, I'd rather mother nature deal with it.

[MountainDon]

RV antifreeze that'a available today is non toxic; will not hurt you if you drink it and will not harm the septic system.

[MountainDon]

Deodorizers, etc that contain formaldehyde are not good for septics though and there are many RV holding tank chemicals that do contain formaldehyde

[Redoverfarm]

I've never used the antifreeze.

In the last 40+ years that I've had trailers and motorhomes, I've cleared the water lines with compressed air,flushed and drained the tanks.
Never had a problem.

IMO why buy the antifreeze if there is't anything left to freeze?

   -J.C.-

There are some areas that cannot be blow out such as commode traps and P-traps.  Thus the antifreeze.

[rick91351]

I've never used the antifreeze.

In the last 40+ years that I've had trailers and motorhomes, I've cleared the water lines with compressed air,flushed and drained the tanks.
Never had a problem.

IMO why buy the antifreeze if there is't anything left to freeze?

   -J.C.-

I see where you are coming from.  But for me I use it all the time because time and it is hugely more convenient for me.  Turn one valve on the hot water heater located in a closet trap door to by pass the water heater.  Open the hot tank drain.  Let it drain while I turn one valve, insert tube into one gallon of RV antifreeze, turn on pump.  (Only time pump gets  turned on all year most likely any more.)  Open kitchen faucet until there is anti freeze,  do the same in the bath room sink, toilet, and shower.  That is usually one gallon or a little more.  Then pour some in all the traps and drop the low point drains.  It all takes five minutes tops.  I think it is a little longer to get the lines cleared when we return.

We may have to winterize as many as five or ten times before we pull our unit out.  This year was only twice before I said enough..........  bad mistake we sure could have used it a lot more this fall.    

[rick91351]

As I ready Dogtrot for it's winter sleep I ponder about using -20F windshield fluid instead of RV antifreeze in the toilets and traps.  I had heard that RV antifreeze can kill the bacteria in the septic tank whereas Windshield fluid will not.  Several people here have used it as an alternative.  Any thoughts?   

John how many gallon are we talking?  Even ten gallons in a 1800 gallon septic tank is not all that much.  I hear wives tales all the time about septic systems.  Like if you do not use them year round, or some one flushed some antibiotic and killed a whole cities sewer system.  If you are concerned, flush some commercial activator or yeast down the toilet.  None of the people we know, that have cabins around here, have ever ran into such problems and use RV anti freeze all the time.  Like every week end during the winter it seems. 

[Redoverfarm]

Rick it is a wait and see here as well.  If I could predict the weather I would be making more money than I am now.
I did install some indoor/outdoor thermostats in the basement & crawlspaces to better gauge the temps to try to determine when is the right time.  I can drain the majority of the cabin ( Or least that is what I attempted to do with installing the downward slope of the lines to a drain in the basement).  I plan on blowing them also with compressed air to rid what is left.  But as I said the toilets and a few traps is my concern.  So I probably wouldn't need that much for those. 

Thanks to you and the rest for your replies

[Squirl]

I don't see windshield fluid as any less toxic.  I believe it is more toxic.  It is usually made out of a combination of methanol, ethanol, and automotive antifreeze.