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Old 11-29-2020, 03:21 AM   #1
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Vodka to winterize

We have a Thor Chateau. I have read before that u can winterize an RV by putting vodka in the fresh water. We don’t want to put anti freeze in because we want to use it every few weeks. We are in Iowa and it will get below zero. Any suggestions??

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Old 11-29-2020, 04:00 AM   #2
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With vodka you're paying for half water at 100 proof.
With everclear you're paying for 5 percent water.
Weigh cost to proof.

I'm thinking there are probably better ways.
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Old 11-29-2020, 05:00 AM   #3
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Use compressed air to get the water out of the lines, and drain the water tank and water heater.
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Old 11-29-2020, 10:46 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by HarryS View Post
Use compressed air to get the water out of the lines, and drain the water tank and water heater.
^^^^^What he said...... do that after every trip if you are camping during the cold months.

Get one of these....

https://www.amazon.com/Winterize-Mot...s%2C173&sr=8-7

Set your air compressor to 30 - 50 PSI. Best to use an oiless compressor.

Sanitize the fresh water tank with a bleach water mixture in the spring. I do ours a couple times a year since we have well water.

Drink the vodka while you wait for the fresh water tank to finish sanitizing.
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Old 11-29-2020, 11:05 AM   #5
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antifreeze is about $2.85 a gal. you can save it and use it over. It takes 2 gal to do the average RV. What do you pay for vodka?
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Old 11-29-2020, 11:06 AM   #6
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Thumbs up Vodka to winterize

Winterize the vehicle with some of the safe and suggested methods listed here and use the vodka to winterize yourself.
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Old 11-29-2020, 12:09 PM   #7
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What roy stone said
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Old 11-29-2020, 12:26 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by steggall7 View Post
I have read before that u can winterize an RV by putting vodka in the fresh water. Any suggestions??
Drink the Vodka. Drain the tanks and lines. Leave all faucets open. Drink more Vodka.
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Old 11-29-2020, 02:03 PM   #9
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Winterize the vehicle with some of the safe and suggested methods listed here and use the vodka to winterize yourself.
I agree, and I'll drink to that!
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Old 11-29-2020, 03:31 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by steggall7 View Post
We have a Thor Chateau. I have read before that u can winterize an RV by putting vodka in the fresh water. We don’t want to put anti freeze in because we want to use it every few weeks. We are in Iowa and it will get below zero. Any suggestions??
No I would never do that

My suggestion, is to drain all the water, blow it out properly and in full; optionally... fill it 1/2 full with a cognac and bring it to me, I will keep it for you at no cost until you need again. Worse case... if you can't get it to Dallas you can always drink your cognac straight up as you will not need the rocks
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Old 11-29-2020, 03:49 PM   #11
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instead of vodka which is watered down try grain alcohol at 180 proof.. almost all alcohol. If you have any left it makes a great cleaner
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Old 11-29-2020, 06:03 PM   #12
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Wouldn’t the alcohol be bad for all the plastic parts similar to the thought of ethanol fuel? I have it down to about a 10 min job to winterize my coach.
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Old 12-02-2020, 06:46 PM   #13
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AS above, I blow mine out with compressed air and drain the HW heater. Easy to do. I leave water in the holding tank, as there is plenty of room for expansion if it freezes. Question for others - do I need to drain the HW heater or just pop open the overflow valve to allow expansion?
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Old 12-02-2020, 07:13 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by rudyhehn View Post
AS above, I blow mine out with compressed air and drain the HW heater. Easy to do. I leave water in the holding tank, as there is plenty of room for expansion if it freezes. Question for others - do I need to drain the HW heater or just pop open the overflow valve to allow expansion?
Do you want the water heater tank to crack? The overflow won't allow the kind of expansion that freezing water does. Drain the water heater and have peace of mind.
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