Winterizing - pump won't pick up from bottle

[Gabby]

Have a Thor Tuscany DP and following the steps to winterize. When bypassed and I run hose down into bottle of antifreeze, I then switch pump on, the pump runs but won't pick up antifreeze.
Can someone help with this please.

[fhenn]

Did you close the by pass valves

[Gabby]

I think I have done all the necessary steps, all the low drain ports are closed and I switched the handle from normal to bypass. I have the hose connected and valve turned to city not tank fill. Am I missing something?? I have had RV's for many years and have always done winterizing but this is very upgraded and first time with this coach.

[m1noel]

I'm not sure which valves you have, but in general when a valve is on city, you need pressure from outside, like city water. The pump will run, but not pressurize the system. You don't want fill tank either. If you have two valves, one on bypass, and the other only gives you the choices of normal, city, or fill, you would have to use normal on that one to have the pump pick up the anti freeze.

[Beau388]

Also it helps to have a faucet close to the pump fully on. My water pump won't prime unless the kitchen faucet is fully on.

[lwmcguire]

You should have two more valves back to the right to direct the inlet from the water pump to the city connection where you now have your short hose. You have already switched the other two main valves. This will also bypass the water filter which you should remove if you haven't. It will take a couple minutes or longer to pull a vacuum and you must have an air tight connection at the hose fitting.

simplest way is to put the antifreeze in the water tank or make up a bucket with a bottom or side fitting with which you can provide a flooded suction to the pump

You will need around 5 gallons give or take and don't let the jugs suck dry, best deal is to use a 5 gallon bucket then you don't have to start and stop

[EA37TS]

I have an Accolade and not a Tuscany but when I sanitized my system this week the pump would not suck in the sanitizing solution until I raised my bucket higher than the level of the water/solution inlet on the wet bay. In my case the bucket had to be about 3.5 to 4 feet off the ground.

[Gabby]

Finally got it, thank you to all!