Does RV Antifreeze Sanitize?

Rv Antifreeze is a sanitizer. RV Antifreeze is not a disinfectant. After rinsing, clean the device to eliminate any residual RV Antifreeze. While RV Anti Freeze has the ability to serve as a disinfectant, it is not recommended. Propylene glycol, the germicide used in RV antifreeze, is inactive.

Antifreeze is not a disinfectant in the traditional sense.

The safest disinfectant for RV water is bleach. It takes a lot of chlorine to complete the task, but it is well worth the effort. If you need to sanitize something, use normal bleach. Purchase Clorox® Regular Bleach or no-name, low-cost bleach.

Bestseller No. 1
Camco TastePURE Drinking Water Freshener - Prevents Algae and Slime Build Up in Your Drinking Water Tank, Rids Odors and Bad Tastes 16 oz (40206)
  • Prevents algae and slime buildup from RV drinking water tanks
  • Just 1 oz. helps remove bad smells and taste from 20 gallons of water
  • Keeps stored fresh water tasting and odor free
  • 16 ounce bottle
  • Fit type: Universal Fit
Bestseller No. 2
PEAK Global Lifetime Concentrate Antifreeze and Coolant for All Vehicles, 1 Gal.
  • CONCENTRATE ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT: Efficient formula is compatible with all vehicle cooling systems, providing fast-acting and long-lasting protection on all cooling system metals against rust and corrosion
  • NON-ABRASIVE FORMULA: Created with Organic Acid Technology, this ethylene glycol-based coolant formula is compatible with other antifreeze and coolant formulations. This item contains a bittering agent called Denatonium Benzoate.
  • ALL VEHICLE: Versatile and formulated for use in all American, Asian, and European automobiles including cars and low/medium to heavy duty trucks of all makes, models, and years
  • SAFE FOR FILLS AND TOP-OFFS: The amber color will not effect the antifreeze currently in your cooling system
  • LIFETIME PERFORMANCE: Provides cooling system protection for your automobile's entire lifetime with proper maintenance
Bestseller No. 3
Propylene Glycol - 1 Gallon - USP Certified Food Grade - Highest Purity, Humectant, Fog Machine, Humidor & Antifreeze Solution, Contains Zero Alcohol
  • Propylene glycol USP is a synthetic, colorless, odorless, and viscous liquid that is commonly used as a solvent, and humectant in various industries.
  • It is classified as a "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) substance and is used in a wide range of pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products.
  • Used as a humectant to keep products moist, a thickening agent to increase viscosity, and a stabilizer to maintain the consistency of products.
  • Propylene glycol USP is a versatile and widely used ingredient in various industries, providing benefits such as improved product stability, increased shelf life, and enhanced texture and consistency.
  • USP certificate available upon request
Bestseller No. 4
Thetford Fresh Water Tank Sanitizer Detergent and Sanitizer Treatment, 2 x 24 oz bottles - Thetford 36662
  • [VERSATILITY]: Thetford's Fresh Water Tank Sanitizer works in RVs, trailers, campers, and boats
  • [FUNCTIONALITY]: Cleans and sanitizes the inside of the freshwater tanks and the plumbing
  • [UTILITY]: Kills 99% of the harmful bacteria, including Staphilococcus, E-Coli, Listeria, and other micro-organisms
  • [CONVENIENCE]: Easy-to-use 2-part system for cleaning and sanitizing the fresh water tank
  • [SAFETY]: Free of bleach and chlorine, leaves no smell or taste
Bestseller No. 5
Ultra1Plus Antifreeze Coolant - UltraCool Universal PREMIXED 50/50 - Ready to Use Coolant - Gallon
  • READY TO USE COOLANT: UltraCool Universal Antifreeze + Coolant PREMIXED 50/50 is a convenient, ready-to-use coolant for all major vehicle makes and models, providing hassle-free maintenance.
  • UNIVERSAL FORMULA: This coolant is formulated to meet ASTM D 3306 and ASTM D 4985 standards, making it suitable for both automotive and heavy-duty diesel engines, ensuring versatile usage.
  • SUPERIOR CORROSION PROTECTION: With its low silicate concentration and phosphate-free formula, this coolant offers excellent corrosion protection and boil-over prevention for your engine's longevity.
  • DEFENDER OF ENGINE PARTS: The high-quality defoamer system in this coolant safeguards hoses, plastic components, and gaskets, ensuring compatibility and preserving the integrity of your engine.
  • SUITABLE FOR NEW AND OLDER VEHICLES: Designed for modern engine model cooling systems, this coolant is also compatible with cars and trucks from 2000 and older, making it a versatile option for various vehicles.
SaleBestseller No. 7
Garden at Home RV/Waterline Antifreeze RVs, Pools, Boats and Seasonal Homes - 1 gal (-100° F), Pink
  • No Burst Guarantee -100° F
  • Safe for use in RVs/travel trailers , pools, boats and seasonal homes
  • Superior Protection from damage, corrosion & rust. Safe for metals, plastic, rubber, and elastomers found in most potable water systems.
  • Not to be used in gas or diesel engines as winterizing fluid or antifreeze+coolant
Bestseller No. 8
RV Inline Sanitizer - The Easiest way to HELP YOU disinfect your RV Fresh Water Tank, NO MESS, NO MOVING PART, just connect with the Hose and add Bleach
  • This is NOT a disinfecting device, it simply helps you service your fresh water supply MUCH EASIER! No mess, No fuss, No spilling, No waste and No cleanup.
  • Maintaining your RV fresh water tank much easier.
  • No moving parts needed, No reduced water restrictions, No assembly, ready to use, lasts for a lifetime
  • DON'T BE MISLEAD, an in-line filter does not remove or kill bacteria, algae or mold. Only bleach is the proven method. Adding a sanitizer to your fresh water supply to FRESHEN your fresh water only disguises the problem and smell of bacteria. If you can drink it and its not harmful to your health, it's not killing your bacteria, it only disguises the smell. Only bleach or 90% alcohol kills the bacteria, coronavirus, mildew and algae in your tank.
  • NOTE: THE HOSES MUST BE SCREWED IN TIGHT AND THE TWO HOSE WASHERS MUST BE INSERTED INTO THE CANISTER.
Bestseller No. 9
ANF BRANDS (1 Gallon) - Prestone AF2100 Antifreeze and Coolant: 50/50 Ready to Use, Universal and Sponge
  • 1 Gallon Jug of Prestone AF2100 Antifreeze
  • 1 ANF Brands Sponge
  • Compatible with all vehicles, including all makes, models, years, and fluid colors; supports OAT, POAT, HOAT & IAT.
  • Provides antifreeze protection down to -34°F and antiboil/overheat protection up to +265°F.
  • Ready to Use Formula: Prediluted 50/50 solution. contains a bittering agent.
Bestseller No. 10

Before loading with healthy water, the CDC advises cleaning containers using dishwashing soap and water, then rinsing vigorously with clean water.

Antifreeze for RVs:

Because of its smaller density, RV antifreeze is far less costly than car antifreeze. RV antifreeze has a lot of versatility than antifreeze. In a perfect future, you can empty all of your water reservoirs and storage tanks, as well as all of your plumbing. You can do it.

If there is some water left in there, it can ice over throughout the winter, allowing the pipelines to break due to the pressure. Simply pour the necessary volume of antifreeze solvent into it after emptying it. At -50°F, it can transform to slush, but nothing can freeze.

Bear in mind that, unlike car antifreeze, all RV antifreeze can be used at maximum power. And you may not have to combine it with anything else to get it to function.

What is antifreeze for RVs? RV antifreeze is a liquid substance used to keep RV plumbing devices from freezing and the repercussions that come with them as temperatures drop below freezing. The water pipes in RVs are short and small, and when the temperature drops throughout the winter, the pipes begin to freeze. The pipes then continue to expand, allowing them to crack and water to splash.

In my RV, may I use antifreeze? Although RV antifreeze will combine with water, you should not use antifreeze that has been deliberately diluted in your RV. Antifreeze is a highly valuable component of winterization since it prevents the water tanks and lines from freezing, growing and fracturing.

Is it valid that RV antifreeze dries out rubber seals? Some RV antifreeze is alcohol-based and can cause rubber seals within faucets and toilets to dry out. It may release odours, and the water can have an awful taste. They are often flammable, so take care while dealing with them.

Is antifreeze for cars toxic? Automotive antifreeze is poisonous and can only be used within a vehicle’s boiler. Antifreeze is needed for the safety of your RV’s plumbing systems. For this, you would require nontoxic antifreeze. Rv antifreeze is nontoxic and made especially for this function. They are usually pink in hue, but they are also available in brown.

Is it true that RV antifreeze kills bacteria?

Ethylene glycol is poisonous as well as harmful to the septic tank. It has the ability to destroy the beneficial bacteria in your septic tank, and the phosphates in that solution will induce overgrowth of the biomass in the drain field bed.

Associated Concerns

Is it necessary to dilute RV antifreeze?

Is it feasible to dilute RV antifreeze in the water? It is explicitly mentioned in the container that RV antifreeze can not be combined with water. It is intended to be used right from the container.

What is the right way to winterize my RV’s freshwater tank?

  • – Before beginning, uninstall all inline water filters and bypass them.
  • – Drain the storage tank for new water.
  • – Clear the gray and black storage tanks and wash them.
  • – Uninstall the water pump and empty it.
  • – Switch on both hot and cold faucets, as well as the toilet and outside tub.

Is antifreeze for RVs dangerous to water heaters?

The antifreeze would not damage the tank. Just note to flush it out before using it again next season. This will encourage you to flush out the antifreeze without disturbing the rest of your plumbing’s winterization.

Is antifreeze for RVs and pools the same thing?

Antifreeze for swimming pools, also known as nontoxic antifreeze, is just the same material that RV owners will use in their water systems. When applied in the proper amounts, it will cover swimming pool pipes well down to -40°.

Is it possible to flush RV antifreeze into the toilet?

RV antifreeze, which is used on the RV’s water pipes, should be easily poured down the drain since it is nontoxic and is used in a variety of cosmetics. Antifreeze (Ethylene Glycol) for automobiles is poisonous and should be disposed of properly.

Antifreeze for RVs comes in a number of shades.

Can antifreeze from an RV destroy plants?

Despite the fact that propylene glycol RV antifreeze definitely is less harmful to the plants and atmosphere than automotive antifreeze, it also includes hazardous heavy metals that may affect plants, livestock, and humans. Although RV antifreeze is marketed as nontoxic, it is also toxic to animals, plants, and humans in large quantities.

Is it possible to use RV antifreeze in a hot water heater?

The antifreeze would not damage the tank. Just note to flush it out prior to actually using it again next season.

Is it possible to pour antifreeze on the ground?

As a result, it should not spill antifreeze on the field or dispose of it in the trash. If you have a septic pump, never pour antifreeze down the sink or toilet. Check before pouring antifreeze into a drain or toilet if you are attached to a local sewage plant.

Is antifreeze for RVs bad for grass?

No, RV antifreeze may not consume vegetation in most situations. When it comes to emptying an RV water system, antifreeze is made of propylene glycol, which is totally nontoxic and can be highly diluted.

Is antifreeze for RVs corrosive?

The corrosion inhibitors are just not as costly as the PG in RV antifreeze. The purpose of RV antifreeze is to keep your drinking water systems from rusting. Steel plumbing is used extensively in drinking water facilities. As a consequence, phosphate is the only corrosion inhibitor present in RV antifreeze.

What makes RV antifreeze different from regular antifreeze?

The bulk of RVers are conscious that RV antifreeze varies greatly from automotive antifreeze. Antifreeze for RVs is nontoxic and designed to be injected into the plumbing system. Antifreeze for automobiles is a whole different animal. Many are harmful and can only be used in the cooling system of an engine.

Differences in the fundamentals Not only is RV antifreeze different from normal antifreeze in that it is nontoxic. This is designed to be installed straight through the plumbing system. The colour is a clear way to know whether it is RV antifreeze or car antifreeze.

What are the components of RV antifreeze?

Propylene glycol or Either ethanol are the main ingredients. Ethanol is the “kick” in Kickapoo Joy Juice grain alcohol, if you may know from high school chemistry class. Since it increases the freezing point of water, ethanol is a healthy antifreeze (but not in your bloodstream).

Is it possible to use daily antifreeze in your car?

When you use pure antifreeze in your vehicle’s cooling system instead of a proper combination of antifreeze and water, your cooling system loses around 35% of its capacity to transfer heat. As a consequence, pure antifreeze can not be used in the car.

How Much Antifreeze Do You Have in Your RV?

The water system in a standard RV uses between 2-3 gallons of antifreeze. There may be some difference between very broad and very small rigs, so this is a decent starting point. You may still need to account for the antifreeze you have in your p-traps and drains, and it is still a smart idea to keep any extra on hand in case anything goes wrong.

Another advantage of antifreeze is that it can be reused. You will trap the antifreeze when you empty it from the RV in a bucket and conserve it for the coming year, which will save you money. Only make sure you process it and eliminate any tiny particles before re-injecting it into your RV’s device.

Is it feasible to blend bleach with RV antifreeze?

I am sure there is some question over combining bleach using glycol-based antifreeze, although this is not a problem with minimal amounts that have already been thoroughly diluted. Only try not to spill chlorine into the antifreeze tank!

Is it safe to spill RV antifreeze on the ground?

And if it is the safest RV antifreeze, propylene glycol or even pink RV antifreeze, it is not a smart idea to spill it on the ground. The ethanol-based and ethanol/propylene blend-based RV antifreeze are also more dangerous than the comparatively safe propylene-based antifreeze and should never be thrown away.

Is it possible to place antifreeze in your freshwater tank of an RV?

Pouring antifreeze into the freshwater tank and pumping it into your water system is not recommended. This will consume many types of antifreeze and is ineffective. And when the tank has been emptied, there is already some water in the rim, which blends with the antifreeze and reduces the antifreeze’s safety amount.

YOUR WATER SYSTEM SHOULD BE FLUSHED

One of the most critical elements of RV spring planning is dewinterizing the water supply. You depend on a clean supply of water for food, drinking, washing dishes, and showering while you are on the path. However, you most definitely applied nontoxic RV antifreeze to your RV water supply when you winterized it in the fall to protect the pipes from freezing. And that antifreeze must now be drained from the piping device in order for the water to be safe to drink.

The first move is to empty the fresh water holding tank fully if antifreeze was applied directly to it. Fill the fresh water storage tank with potable water, then take these measures to flush antifreeze from your camper’s water system:

  • 1. Turn on the water pump.
  • 2. Turn on all water faucets, including those in sinks and showers both indoors and out.
  • 3. Run the water through the filter for a few minutes.
  • 4. Flush the toilet a couple of times whilst the pump is working.
  • 5. Turn off the pump and shut the faucets until the water is clear.
  • 6. Switching off the water heater’s bypass feature.
  • 7. Replace all of the water filter cartridges you took out for storage.
  • 8. Dispose of the gray and black water storage tanks at an approved disposal plant.

You would also need to remove the RV antifreeze from your water heater tank and gather it for disposal if your water heater was not placed into bypass mode for winter storage. This can be achieved until the water filters are removed.
Your water should taste safe and fresh after flushing your system for many minutes, but if it still has an irritating antifreeze taste, you should apply baking soda to help extract it. Simply dump baking soda down the drains, or break it down in the water and push it down the drains. Re-flush the filter, so the water no longer tastes dirty.

You should use a garden hose or even a city water source to flush antifreeze from the camper’s water system instead of your RV water pump. Instead of turning on your RV water pump, start by connecting the hose to your water hookup and then following the steps outlined above.

HYDRATE AND SANITIZE The Drinking Supply

Sanitizing the RV water supply is the second crucial phase in dewinterizing it. Even though you didn’t use any nontoxic antifreeze to perfectly winterize your plumbing device, sanitizing it is also essential to remove any bacteria or mold that might have formed during the months of storage. To sanitize your RV’s water supply, follow these steps:

  • 1. Plug all drains and shut all drains.
  • 2. For every 15 gallons of fresh water in your tank, weigh a one-quarter cup of household bleach.
  • 3. Fill a one-gallon tub halfway with water and add the bleach.
  • 4. Fill the fresh water tank with the chlorine and water combination.
  • 5. Dump all of the potable water into the fresh water tank.
  • 6. Start the water pump and switch on both of the faucets.
  • 7. Run the shower before the chlorine smells, and switch off the faucets.
  • 8. Enable the solution to remain in the water lines and water tank for up to twelve hours.
  • 9. Drain all water from the device.
  • 10. Introduce potable water to the fresh water tank.
  • 11. Switch on the water pump as well as open both faucets to flush the machine.
  • 12. Continue to run the bath until it no longer looks of chlorine.

Final thoughts

Allowing the bleach to stay for long enough to efficiently remove dangerous bacteria is crucial when sanitizing the RV water supply. However, if you leave chlorine in your water lines for a long time, rubber seals will deteriorate faster. Enable the bleach solution to stay for at least a couple of hours, though no more than 12 hours, to efficiently sanitize the water system without harming plumbing components.

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