The Best RV Antifreezes for Winterizing You RV Easier

Do you need an RV antifreeze to help winterize your rig, but don’t know where to start your search? This feeling isn’t uncommon as may rig owners tend to feel this way during this process. It stems from the overwhelming number of options on today’s market.

We plan on reducing these feelings of being stressed by guiding you through the entire process. Our goal is to ensure you end up with the best RV antifreeze for your situation. And we plan on pointing you in the right direction by discussing all the relevant topics associated with these products.

These topics will include things like types, using process, top brands, and much more. We’ll even offer 4 reviews of the RV antifreezes we deem the best on today’s market. All of this info will work together to form a foundation.

This foundation will be something to rely on during your search. It’ll ensure you know all the ins and outs of these products to the point where it’ll almost feel like you’re an expert. As a result, the entire process will become simple, and the right choice will become clear.

So please, keep reading and let us help you find the perfect RV antifreeze for your situation. I promise you won’t regret it.

4 Best Antifreeze for RV Reviews

If you’re curious about what a top tier RV antifreeze looks like and features, this section has you covered with 4 reviews of the best ones on today’s market. These discussions will ensure you get a solid handle on these products before we dive into the more involved topics.

1. RecPro RV -50°F Protection Antifreeze

The RecPro RV Antifreeze is an outstanding choice for winterizing an RV. After all, its non-toxic formula has proven to provide top-tier protection in cold climates.

I can vouch for it firsthand because I traveled in the Pacific Northwest last winter. This antifreeze was a massive component of ensuring my rig’s plumbing system didn’t freeze.

Honestly, I shouldn’t be too shocked by this outcome based on its -50°F burst protection. But I’ve been lied to by other manufacturers in the past. So it was lovely to have this option provide everything its ad description promises without issue.

Buyers will also love how gentle it is on plumbing systems. In other words, RecPro made sure the formula wouldn’t have any adverse effects on steel, plastic, brass, or copper. So most rig owners should feel comfortable using it in their motorhomes.

Furthermore, this RV winterizing fluid isn’t only for use in campers. It provides more versatility than buyers expect from most types of RV antifreeze. In fact, I’ve used it in my boat and pool with rather satisfactory results.

Customers shouldn’t overlook the two buying options, either. When purchasing this antifreeze, each buyer must select between a 2-pack and a 4-pack. In my case, I settled on the 4-pack because my pool, camper, and boat needed winterizing.

The product’s using process was another highlight. It comes ready for use from its packaging, meaning I don’t have to add anything to its formula. Therefore, I could go right to winterizing my rig when first receiving the bottle.

However, if a buyer wants to return this camper antifreeze, the cost of doing so may be steeper than expected. Most users were more than happy with this product, however, and did not need to send it back.

2. Prestone Original AF225 RV Marine Antifreeze

Cold weather protection for RV plumbing systems doesn’t get much more impressive ‎than Prestone’s Original AF225 RV Marine Antifreeze. For instance, it’s been tested to withstand temperatures reaching -100° F without bursting or causing other issues. So I imagine 99.9% of RVers will be pleased with its performance.

I was also thrilled with its protection against other issues besides cold weather. In particular, it’s proven to stop corrosion and rust from eating through RV plumbing. It makes this potable antifreeze a lovely product for most water systems.

Given this info, it shouldn’t be surprising to learn the formula offers excellent versatility. I have complete confidence in its ability to work in pools, boats, travel trailers, and tiny homes. It’ll provide them with superior protection that other RV antifreeze concentrate products can’t match.

Buyers won’t have to worry about any complicated using processes, either. Kardin was smart enough to make this RV antifreeze with a ready-for-use formula. Due to this, it perfectly fits my needs as I don’t want to deal with preparation like mixing solutions.

I was pleased with the container’s design, as well. It might not seem like a massive deal, but it’s much more compact than a product like the 55-gallon Splash RV antifreeze. I had no trouble finding a place for it within my rig’s storage areas.

Prestone’s 30-day return, replacement, and refund policy was another aspect to impress me. It’ll provide users with a little protection against the antifreeze not meeting their needs. However, I doubt they’ll have to use it based on everything I heard about this option.

Lastly, this RV plumbing antifreeze is in rare company among camping-related products. I couldn’t find a flaw or another customer who reported issues with it. In other words, this product does what it’s supposed to do without causing any trouble. If only I could say the same about more RV goods in today’s market.

3. Century Chemical TF-1 Heat Transfer Fluid

If you’re looking for something to protect your RV’s floor heating system, the Century Chemical TF-1 Heat Transfer Fluid could get the job done. For instance, this antifreeze will provide freeze protection when the weather reaches temperatures as low as -48 degrees.

It also carries a high boiling point to ensure hotter temperatures won’t affect it either. Honestly, it provides you with stability over a wide range of temperatures. You should expect a product that’ll protect your heating system regardless of the situation.

It’s helpful that this product comes with a low or no fire hazard as well. This aspect will lessen the risk of a fire breaking out by a significant margin. Its formula also doesn’t feature any level corrosive properties.

As a result, you can expect this product to offer adequate protection without causing any metal it encounters long term damage. This aspect means it’ll help make sure your heating system never has to deal with the nightmare that is rust.

We should note that this product happens to be non-toxic as well. Due to this, dumping this product when needed, shouldn’t be much of an issue. This feature means you don’t have to worry about its use around your children or pets either.

You should also like this product provides a natural lubricant to help enforce gaskets and seals. This aspect is something you don’t always see in antifreeze as some types end up drying them out and causing further issues.

This product not needing any addition of water was another appealing feature. I’m a sucker for any product that doesn’t require any additional steps as I tend to mess things up from time to time. This antifreeze helps me account for my problematic trait by being ready to do its job from the moment I receive it.

4. Camco 36190 RV Winter Readiness Kit

If you’re looking to buy everything for winterizing in one bundle, the Camco 36190 RV Winter Readiness Kit should garner serious consideration. This kit includes six useful products that benefit an RV owner’s life tremendously. These six products are a top tier RV antifreeze, mini dehumidifier, hand pump kit, blowout plug, safety fridge door stay, and an odor-eliminating sachet.

The first thing that sticks out about these six products is the RV antifreeze’s all-purpose capability. This aspect means it’s usable in various situations such as in a pool, boat, RV, or even a portable water system.

I also love the inclusion of both its dehumidifier and odor eliminating sachet. These two features will work together to ensure your RV never get those musty smells that it might pick up from being in long term storage.

Given these features, I think it’s fair to say this kit offers everything one might need during the winterizing process. It even comes with a step-by-step guide that’ll quickly take you through the task.

These directions were one of the main aspects that received a heap of praise in the customer reviews. It’s always lovely when a brand goes out of their way to ensure you end up using their product correctly.

You should also love that all these products come in a large bucket, which makes storing them an easy task. Due to this aspect, you shouldn’t worry about this kit taking up too much room in your RV’s storage area.

The price of this kit isn’t too shabby either when you consider everything it offers. In fact, this kit doesn’t even represent the most costly option our list, which is rather hard to fathom given all the different parts.

BioTherm Fluids RV Antifreeze and Heat Transfer Fluid (Outdated)

If you’re looking for a product that can work as both antifreeze and heat transfer fluid, this solution should be near the top of your list. You see, it’s a glycerin based solution that happens to be non-toxic and offers a set of unique features.

One of these features is this solution’s ability to offer brush protection for both non-portable and potable water systems. This brush protection is rather great with it holding up even in -50 degree weather.

The BioTherm Fluids RV Antifreeze and Heat Transfer Fluid is also one of the most versatile solutions on today’s market. It can provide protection against the cold for heating systems, swimming pools, seasonal homes, RV, and many other water systems.

You should love this product’s multi-metal GRAS inhibitor as well, which will take care of any rust or corrosion issues. This feature is capable of protecting many materials used in water systems such as solder, brass, copper, cast aluminum, and steel cast iron.

It also helps that this product comes with 5 gallons of the solution. If you buy this bulk option, it’s quite apparent you won’t need to buy any more antifreeze for a long time. It’ll save you the hassle of having to repeat this entire process anytime soon.

As I discussed above, this model contains glycerin rather the standard propylene glycol or ethanol. This aspect means you won’t have to deal with the flammable issues that come with ethanol or a higher price hike from propylene glycol.

It also means that this solution is biodegradable, and you don’t have to worry about hurting the plan every time using it. And since I care about the planet with all my heart, this feature matters a great deal to me.

ChemWorld RV and Marine Antifreeze (Outdated)

The ChemWorld RV and Marine Antifreeze has become a popular option for many RV owners. This status comes from its useful set of features that make the process of winterizing your rig much easier.

For instance, this model offers a durable burst pipe protection up to -40 degrees. This aspect should ensure you never have to worry about your RV’s plumbing system having freezing issues when its in storage.

I also found the red color of this solution to be a clever feature. This bright red color will make locating leaks much easier and ensure you can save yourself quite a bit of money. It’ll direct your focus towards an issue before it becomes such a problem that costs you a truckload of cash.

This solution will help you avoid another costly issue, rust, with this corrosion protection. It’s an aspect that’ll ensure all metal pipes inside your RV water system remain in good condition and free of any issues.

I also like that this model comes with two concentrated bottles, which will become 2 gallons of antifreeze when it’s diluted with water. This amount of solution should be enough to winterize my RV when I intend on putting in winter storage.

You’ll be happy to know this solution doesn’t contain any alcohol either to ensure it’s not a fire hazard. This product’s tasteless and odorless as well to further make sure nothing unsafe happens from its use.

But the good part about this solution is the number of purposes it can serve. You see, this product can be useful in RVs, trailers, boats, filtration systems, heating systems, swimming pools, and vacation homes.

Given all these uses, I find myself okay with this product’s price as well. It seems worth it when you consider how many things this product can help protect. But I still don’t like that this model includes the dilution step.

PEAK RV & Marine Antifreeze (Outdated)

Our last product is the PEAK RV & Marine Antifreeze, which is a rather ordinary product that doesn’t stand out much. But what this solution does offer is an easy using process and effective results. This mixture is something that any customer would be crazy to overlook.

It can offer this mixture thanks to it providing a lot of the same features we’ve talked about in the other reviews. For instance, this product will provide burst protection to -50 degrees and doesn’t any mixing or dilution.

This product does offer more versatility than some of the other solutions by being able to winterize many things. These things include boats, trailers, RVs, swimming pools, vacation homes, and much more. Given all these uses, finding ways to use this solution more than once shouldn’t a tough task.

In fact, this versatility extends to all potable water plumbing systems as this product can effectively winterize each of them. As a result, this solution might stretch out its usage a bit longer than other products.

This aspect makes the product’s price seem a little fairer as well. I mean, I’m fine with paying a little more for a solution that can protect several applications. It also helps that the Food and Drug Administration has deemed all this RV antifreeze’s ingredients safe.

In the end, this product might not be the most attractive or advanced, but it does offer results across a lot of applications. Due to these features, it more than earns a spot on our list and should be viewed as an option worth examining.

Star Brite Non-Toxic Antifreeze (Outdated)

The Star Brite Non-Toxic Antifreeze should have no issues getting you through those winter months without experiencing a burst pipe. It can offer this assurance thanks to the excellent cold weather protection it’ll provide your RV’s plumbing system.

It doesn’t matter where you’re in Canada or one of Alaska’s coldest parts: this product should hold up. It has proven to be effective until the temperature hits -50 degrees Fahrenheit. And since you’re likely never going to face that level of cold, this antifreeze will always have your back.

This antifreeze will also ensure your water pipes remain in pristine condition as it offers corrosion protection. As with previous products, this aspect will make sure your pipes never end up having any rust problems.

You can stop worrying about this antifreeze having any impact on any seals or rubber material either. This product won’t harm these materials and will ensure their unaffected by the antifreeze’s usage.

I also love that this product offers a bulk amount of antifreeze to ensure I won’t have to buy any more in the near future. The six gallons should be more than enough to winterize my RV and use it any other ways I see fit.

This brings me to another area where the product excels, which is its versatility. This product has shown effectiveness with its use in RVs, vacation homes, pools, and even boats. As a result, you get a lot of good use from these six gallons.

It also helps that this solution is ready to go from the moment you purchase it. This product doesn’t need dilution as it can start protecting your RV’s plumbing system right away. It’s a nice little touch that’ll save me from any potential hassle which might’ve occurred during the dilution process.

Camco RV Antifreeze Concentrate (Outdated)

Our first product comes from a brand, Camco, that has a few products on our list. This particular antifreeze would make an RV owner’s life easier in a variety of ways. You see, this model happens to bring a high degree of versatility to the table.

In fact, this antifreeze isn’t just usable on RVs as you can also expect it to protect your vacation homes and pools. This aspect will ensure you get the best bang for your buck with the Camco RV Antifreeze Concentrate.

You should like this model’s a non-toxic RV antifreeze as well. This feature means you won’t have to worry about its use being dangerous around your children or pets. It’s another source of stress that gets lifted off your shoulders with this product.

Along the same lines, this product is also biodegradable. This feature means you won’t have to worry about any soil damage when a spill takes place. It might not seem like a big deal to you, but I have a prevalent spilling issue that could use the help of features such as this one.

This model coming in a two-pack of 36-ounce bottles was another appealing feature that I thought was worth mentioning. Purchasing this much will ensure you’ll have all that’s needed for winterizing your RV.

All you have to do is add some water, and you’ll have one gallon in each bottle. Two gallons should be more than enough to winterize your RV depending on your rig’s layout and length.

I didn’t even mention yet that this model has been proven to offer top tier results. After all, this antifreeze will provide pipe burst-resistance in -50 degree weather. Given this feature, I’m quite confident it should have no issues ensuring your RV’s pipes stay unfrozen.

Zecol RV Antifreeze (Outdated)

The Zecol RV Antifreeze is another option that’ll protect your RV’s pipes in temperatures even reaching -50 degrees. As a result, it shouldn’t have any issues protecting your RV’s pipes in any place you intend on storing it.

This claim was backed up heavily back the customer reviews as there wasn’t a single complaint about any frozen pipes. It’s always nice when a product actually does what the product description says it can. You’d be shocked by how rare this outcome tends to be in this market.

I also love that this antifreeze is a proprietary corrosion inhibitor blend as it’ll help control corrosion in metals. This aspect means the product will ensure your RV’s pipes remain in good shape for years to come.

And given how much pipe installation costs, you can bet this feature is something I value greatly. This product being non-toxic is another aspect that I adore. It’ll ensure I can safely use this product without worrying about dangerous side effects or situations occurring.

You shouldn’t overlook how versatile this product is either as it can work in many situations such as an RV, pool, home, or even a boat. This type of versatility will ensure you can find a few different ways that purchasing this product can benefit your life.

But my favorite thing about this product has to be its price. This model falls well in my line with my budget and what I expect 1-gallon of top tier antifreeze to cost. In other words, you’re getting a useful product for a fair price. What more could a customer ask for when buying this type of product?

Camco Mfg. 30757 RV and Marine Antifreeze (Outdated)

Camco’s Mfg. 30757 RV and Marine Antifreeze is an option worth considering for anyone looking to buy in bulk. You see, this product comes with six gallons antifreeze ready to start protecting your RV’s plumbing system from the moment it’s bought.

This antifreeze doesn’t even require any addition of water, which is something I’m always happy to see in these products. I also love this product’s propylene glycol based formula, which ensures it’s non-toxic.

The formula happens to be tasteless as well, which means it won’t attract your pets or wild animals. A propylene glycol based antifreeze doesn’t come with any fire hazard either unlike an ethanol based solution.

As a result, this product brings a sense of safety that many other types can’t match or offer. You should also love its performance quality as it’ll protect pools, cottages, and RVs from any water system freeze. Another place where it has proven to be useful is in marine settings such as boats.

In each of these situations, it’ll keep the pipes unfrozen as long as the temperature doesn’t dip below -50 degrees. This coverage should be more than enough to keep your RV unfrozen during the time it spends in storage.

This antifreeze offers protection against corrosion and algae growth as well. It’s safe to say this product will end up benefiting your RV’s plumbing system in many ways. I didn’t even mention that this solution also helps lubricate valves and pumps.

Overall, this Camco continues to show that its one of the most trusted brands in this market. I mean, this antifreeze provides you with everything an RV owner could ask for in these products. There isn’t much to complain about with this great antifreeze.

Splash RV Antifreeze Coolant (Outdated)

This blended antifreeze coolant will do an amazing job at keeping your pipes protected when extreme weather hits them. Its -50 degree freezing point will certainly help in this regard and prevent them from becoming frozen.

The product’s ability in this area was something that was routinely praised by customers. In fact, it was rare when you didn’t come across a review, which offered no excitement over how great this solution dealt with cold weather.

I also love this model’s ability to work with any heavy-duty engines such as marine and RV vehicles. This aspect should give you enough to ensure the antifreeze ends up impacting your life in a few different ways.

Plus, this solution is another option that doesn’t need to be diluted by water. This aspect adds a level of convenience and makes the using process more straightforward. It’s a nice little touch that makes sure the antifreeze is user-friendly.

We should mention that this solution was made by a US manufacturer as well. This feature matters because US-based products have to go through rigorous testing before entering the market. Some foreign companies don’t have the same level of testing and can afford to cut a few corners.

Splash also received high marks for its customer service in the reviews. This aspect is something you don’t see much when researching products. It’s noteworthy that people felt compelled enough to praise it as this company must be doing something right.

Camco 30027 Boiler Antifreeze (Outdated)

The Camco 30027 Boiler Antifreeze is another option that’s designed to protect RV heating systems from extreme temperatures. It’ll ensure your pipes don’t freeze in the winter and acts as heat transfer fluid in summers.

As a result, there shouldn’t be any issues this antifreeze can’t solve when it comes to protecting your RV’s heating system. I mean, it even has special corrosion inhibitors to prevent rust from becoming an issue within your RV’s pipes.

I also love this product’s easy using process. This product doesn’t require any mixing or dilution and is ready from the jump. As you know, this aspect is something I’m always going to be looking for in these types of products.

This solution happens to be non-flammable as well, which should calm your worries about anything dangerous happening with its use. It’s another area where this type of antifreeze separates itself from ones with an ethanol base.

It doesn’t hurt that this product’s both tasteless and odorless either. These two aspects will ensure animals won’t be attracted to the solution and helps avoid something tragic occurring. It’ll make it less of an issue for kids as well.

You should also know that this product is capable of being used inside your household’s heating systems. This versatility speaks to the convenience Camco’s offering any customer who ends up buying the product.

And since Camco’s a US-based company, you take comfort in the fact this solution want through an extensive amount of testing. I’m always going to favor buying US-made product for this reason as the regulation in other countries could be less strict.

In the end, this antifreeze will be an effective solution to keeping your RV’s heating system in pristine shape. Honestly, there’s nothing too special about it. But it’ll get the job done, and sometimes that’s enough.

Camco 30767 Freeze Ban-50 RV Antifreeze (Outdated)

Our last Camco product on this list is the Camco 30767 Freeze Ban-50 RV Antifreeze, which is a non-toxic solution ready to get your RV through the winter months. It’ll ensure your RV stay frozen pipe free as it’s placed in stored until spring returns.

This model can protect your RV’s water system by its ability to raise their freezing point to -50 degrees. As you know, this action will make sure you don’t come back and find your RV with massive water damage in the springtime.

Aside from its ability to keep your RV’s water system from freezing, this model also doesn’t require any dilution or mixing. This aspect makes the process more straightforward and requires little effort on your part.

We should mention that like many solutions on our list; this product doesn’t have either taste or smell. This aspect is an essential piece of the process for reasons discussed in previous reviews.

The solution will refrain from staining your pipes as well. It’s another aspect that’ll help ensure your pipes last as long as possible. Trust me; a long life span for your RV’s pipes is something you want because replacing them will put a dent in your bank account.

You should also like that this model contains propylene glycol rather than being ethanol based. This aspect conveys a higher performance quality and renders it not a fire hazard, which is always a plus in my book.

Its corrosion inhibitor is another aspect offered by this solution that you shouldn’t overlook. As with some of the previous models, this feature will protect against the hassle that corrosion represents. You’ll want to stop this issue from affecting your pipes because it’ll turn into rust down the line.

RV Antifreeze Buyer’s Guide

This section will discuss every key topic about RV antifreezes from types to the trusted brands. It’ll cover everything to ensure you have the knowledge needed for making a sound choice. This info will be the act as the foundation for your whole search.

Things to know before buying an RV antifreeze

Choosing the right RV antifreeze will come down to a couple of factors. This section will discuss these factors at length to ensure you end up making the right choice. In fact, this info will be vital to your decision making process.

Dilution and Concentration

One of the first decisions you’re going to make is about the antifreeze’s packaging. You can either buy it already prepared or in a half-empty jug that’ll require adding in some water before using it.

The second option does provide some benefits as it’ll likely be cheaper and keeps the antifreeze’s scent fresh until use. On the other hand, the first option is a lot more convenient as it’s ready to work from the moment you buy it.

In my case, I’m always going to go with the already prepared solution. I don’t like dealing with the extra hassle of adding water as I’m not the best at this sort of thing. I’d find a way to mess it up and buying an already prepared option removes this risk.

We should mention that the liquid’s concentration plays a big factor in its protective abilities as well. You can evaluate this aspect by focusing on the product’s description, which should have a specific temperature noted.

Most of the time, these products will offer protection down to about -35 degrees Fahrenheit. I’d imagine this number should be more than enough for most RV owners. But some other types of antifreeze do ensure your pipes stay unfrozen even up to -50 degree weather.

Given these aspects, you should make a mental note about what the weather’s like around where you plan on storing your RV. This info should give you a better handle about whether you feel like getting a stronger antifreeze is necessary.

Formula

The antifreeze’s formula is another thing that needs your full attention. Any RV antifreeze worth considering will not have any phosphates present in their makeup. These substances are known to cause damage upon the engine’s metallic parts, which will later turn into rust.

I’d also suggest ensuring the solution you get is biodegradable. If you’re anything like me, spills are going to happen. And it’d be a good idea to prepare for this by having a solution that won’t harm the earth on impact. As a result, it’d be a wise move to go with a biodegradable product.

You must understand that these products tend to be compatible with several vehicles as well. If you plan on using the antifreeze for more than your RV, please ensure the formula won’t cause any damage.

An easy way to avoid this issue is by reading the product descriptions and customer reviews. Both these resources should make it extremely clear about where the antifreeze can be useful and where its use might cause problems.

We should also mention that the formulas used in these products make them have a long lifespan. In other words, you won’t have to worry about them expiring before using all of it. This aspect is why many RV owners find it helpful to buy antifreeze in bulk.

Price

As we discussed in the type section, the price for antifreeze will vary product to product. This factor means setting up a budget should be high on your priority list. It should account for what kind of antifreeze, how much, and strength in its budgetary ranges.

For instance, if you want to buy a propylene glycol based antifreeze, the budget will need to adjust based on it costing more than the other types. The good news is that this process will help limit your options.

This limiting of options will help make your search a much easier and less stressful one. It’ll make those feelings of being overwhelmed by the excessive choice amount disappear quickly. So please, do yourself a favor and set up a realistic budget.

Versatility

RV antifreeze doesn’t have to serve only one purpose in your life. Most of these products are also useful in other capacities such as boats, pools, homes, etc. If this aspect is something that interests you, make sure to do your best and obtain an antifreeze with multiple uses.

Why do you need RV antifreeze?

The reason behind needing RV antifreeze might be a little foreign to new rig owners. But it all starts with understanding that an RV’s plumbing system isn’t protected as it would be in a regular brick and mortar home.

As a result, it needs a bit more protection to ensure your water pipes don’t start expanding and end up freezing. A water pipe freezing happens because the frozen water volume is higher than the unfrozen water flowing through your water pipes.

This outcome can place a lot of pressure on your pipes, which will lead to them burst. And once the freezing weather lets up, the burst pipes will release their contents. This release of built-up water will cause a large amount of damage inside your RV.

But you can avoid this hassle by pumping RV antifreeze into your water lines. This action will offer them protection and raise the water’s freezing point to a level that the outside weather won’t reach.

What are the different types of antifreezes for RV?

As you might expect, there are a few different types of RV antifreeze being sold on today’s market. This section will discuss each of them to prepare you for what lies ahead during your search.

Propylene Glycol Based RV Antifreeze

This type isn’t the most common as you’ll only see propylene glycol based RV antifreeze at your local RV shop or Amazon. It’s also the most costly as you can expect it to cost around five or six dollars per jug.

The good news is that this antifreeze happens to be non-toxic and usable in all RV plumbing systems. It also doesn’t have the fire safety warnings, which come with other types. This aspect removes a potential hassle from causing issues for you.

It doesn’t bring the risk of tanning your RV plumbing system either, which is another thing this type has over others. This antifreeze is a lubricant as well with its ability to extend the lifespan of your faucet or toilet seals.

Improving your faucet and toilet seals lifespan is something that ethanol based antifreeze don’t offer. Honestly, it tends to be a favorite among RV owners who don’t mind spending a little on products such as RV antifreeze.

Ethanol Based RV Antifreeze

Ethanol based RV antifreeze is the most common and regarded as the cheap RV antifreeze option available to rig owners. These products can be found in most hardware and RV stores with a price tag of about three or four dollars per jug.

But as you might expect, this lower price does come with a few flaws. This first one is that ethanol based RV antifreeze is highly flammable and shouldn’t be used anywhere near a lit cigarette or pilot flames.

If you do use it around these hazards, things can get dicey quickly. You should also be aware this antifreeze tends to taint certain plumbing systems. As a result, it’s essential that you only used this type with Pex or Quest plumbing lines.

These types of antifreeze are also known to make water smell and taste bad. Neither of these issues is something you want to be dealing with on your RV. Plus, ethanol based antifreeze has a reputation for drying out toilet and faucet rubber seals.

In the end, I’d suggest choosing one of the other two types when buying RV antifreeze. There are just too many likely issues connected with ethanol based RV antifreeze even with the lower cost.

Propylene/Ethanol Blend RV Antifreeze

The last type happens to have a blend of propylene and ethanol in its formula. This quality makes it non-toxic and safe for your RV’s plumbing system. It’s also worth noting these products will hover between four and five dollars a jug.

Given their makeup, you’d think these types of antifreeze would have the best aspects of the other two types. This theory would be wrong as it’s unknown how much ethanol is needed to cause the tainting of your plumbing system.

It’ll end up being unclear whether this blended RV antifreeze will cause this issue. You’ll also have no idea of whether the antifreeze with dry out plumbing seals either. This unreliability makes it hard to suggest buying this type.

What’s the difference between regular antifreeze and RV antifreeze?

A common mistake to make is assuming regular and RV antifreeze are the same thing. This theory isn’t correct as there are some key differences between these products. One of the biggest happens to deal with their formulas.

The formula of a regular antifreeze is made of toxic materials that are only usable in closed loop cooling with engines. But the RV type is different as it’s non-toxic and offers protection for the plumbing systems of houseboats, RVs, and campers.

Another key difference is that RV antifreeze gets pumped into and flushed out of these plumbing systems. But the regular kind remains in the engine at all times. In the end, it’s quite apparent these products have very little in common aside from their names.

How to winterize a travel trailer?

If you intend on storing your RV during the winter months, winterizing your RV is an essential part of this process. We plan on making this experience much easier by offering a step-by-step guide on how to do the task correctly.

But before we get into the guide, you’re going to need a few items for this process. The good news is that these items can be found in most RV supply stores or on Amazon without issue:

• Cleaning wand for the holding tanks.
• 2 to 3 gallons of the best RV antifreeze ( this amount could vary based on the length and layout of your RV’s plumbing lines).
• Water heater by-pass kit (you might have one already installed).
• Tools capable of removing drain plugs
• Water pump converter kit or tubing that can attach to the water pump’s inlet side.

If you have all these tools ready, it’s time to start the winterizing process. The following steps should guide you through this entire process. But do make sure to read the RV’s owner manual before step 1 to ensure there won’t be any surprises.

1. RV owners with any water inline filters should remove and by-pass them before starting this process.
2. Empty your freshwater tank.
3. Drain and flush your gray and black holding tanks. RV owners without a tank flushing system should clean your black tank using a wand. You could also try a product such as the Flush King that allows you to clean both the gray and black tanks. It essential that the termination valves get lubricated with WD 40 as well.
4. You’ll want to drain the water heater next. This step requires you to remove the water heater’s drain plug and open the pressure relief valve. But remember, this task isn’t something you want to do when the water heater’s under pressure or hot.
5. It’s essential you open all your hot and cold faucets. It’s common for people not to include their toilet valve and outside shower when doing this step. Please double-check and make sure you don’t become one of these people.
6. Locate your low point drain lines and open them. You must remember there will be one for the hot and cold water lines. People find using the water pump helps force the water out of these lines. But if you do use it, please turn it off when the system is drained.
7. After you drained the system, cap all your RV’s drains and close every faucet.
8. You should move onto by-passing the water heater. If you don’t set up a by-passing kit, you’ll end up wasting six gallons of antifreeze as it’ll fill up the water heater before going into your RV’s water lines.
9. Either disconnect the inlet side of your water pump or set up a water pump converter kit. If you don’t have a water pump converter kit, you’ll want to attach a piece of clear tubing to the water pump’s inlet side. The other end should be placed into a one-gallon container filled with antifreeze.
10. You’ll want to pressurize the system by turning on the water pump. From there, begin with the nearest faucet and slowly open both valves until the antifreeze appears. You must replace the antifreeze container when it’s needed.
11. Do the same process for all your faucets going in order from the closest to the furthest away.
12. You should flush your toilet until the antifreeze makes an appearance.
13. It’s time to turn the water pump off and open a single faucet to release pressure. Exit your RV and locate your city water inlet. Take off the small screen covering the inlet and push the valve using a smaller screwdriver. You’ll want to do this action until antifreeze appears. Once it does, put the screen back on the inlet.
14. You’ll next want to pour a cup of antifreeze down each one of your drains. Increase the number of cups to a couple for the toilet and flush it into your RV’s holding tank.
15. Please ensure your water heater’s electric heating element is turned off.
16. Ensure every faucet is closed.
17. Look up directions about winterizing in the manuals for both washing machines and icemakers.
18. The task is done.

RV Antifreeze FAQs

What is RV antifreezes?

RV antifreeze is an essential product for any rig owner to have for a simple reason. This product’s vital in making sure your RV’s plumbing system doesn’t freeze when it meets cold weather.

In other words, this liquid solution will ensure you never have to deal with your pipes freezing when it’s in winter storage, which is a nightmare. You see, RV water pipes tend to be rather thin and narrow. These aspects make them sensitive to freezing in colder climates.

This event isn’t something you want happening because pipes start to expand when they freeze. The enlargement of the pipes then leads to them breaking and water splashes all over your RV. It isn’t something you want happening as the repair costs are insane.

As a result, this product can prevent this problem from happening by winterizing your RV. This phrase means the pink antifreeze solution will work to prevent any water pipe damage after it’s added into the plumbing system.

We should mention that using RV antifreeze will end up saving you a lot of money as well. After all, replacing an entire RV plumbing system can be costly. Doing whatever it takes to avoid spending that much money would be a wise move.

Overall, investing in some top tier RV antifreeze will save you from the hassle that frozen water pipes represent. It’s best to stay ahead of these issues by letting this liquid solution do its job. This route is a much better one allowing the problem to become a disaster.

How does it work?

You might assume the working process of RV antifreeze works might be a complex one. But it’s quite simple. This liquid solution is pumped into your RV or motorhome plumbing system to ensure freezing weather don’t affect your pipes.

It can offer this benefit by its ability to increase the water’s freezing point. RV antifreezes are capable of raising the freezing point thanks to their formulas. You see, these liquid solutions are mainly alcohol based, which helps a lot with this entire process.

For instance, these solutions will raise the freezing point to a mark that the outside weather will never hit unless you’re in the North Pole. This process results in a trust that the pipes are protected against any drop in temperature.

Due to this, you shouldn’t have any issues with your RV’s plumbing system regardless of the cold weather around it. This aspect is crucial as freezing cold weather can destroy an entire RV plumbing system in a single night.

Given these features, you can imagine how essential these liquid solutions are to people living in Alaska or Canada. It’s a precaution RVers must take to ensure nothing bad happens when they store their RV for the winter.

We should also note that by raising, we mean to make the freezing point colder rather than hotter. I just wanted to clear up the jargon and help you avoid any mistakes.

What are the most trusted RV antifreeze brands?

The top RV antifreeze brands pride themselves on providing the best products and customer service. Each one of the companies mentioned in our product review section fits this description to a tee.

But even among this group of amazing RV antifreeze brands, two of them deserve a special shoutout: Camco and Star Brite. Both these brands have time and time again proven to be the cream of the crop in this market.

And I thought diving into their backgrounds could answer what makes them such forces when it comes to selling these products. It should also give you a better feel about what a top tier RV antifreeze brands looks like and offers.

Camco

Every RV owner knows a little bit about Camco as this brand’s a stable in many RV product markets. But what makes them excel in each of them is a devotion to having the most advanced designs and formulas possible.

It also doesn’t hurt that Camco provides world class customer service to everyone who buys one of their products. The mixture of these two aspects make this brand hard to beat in any market it enters.

Star Brite

Over the last four decades, Star Brite has become the marine industry’s leading seller of many products. The brand has earned this status through its focus on ensuring each one of its products reaches its full potential.

In other words, Star Brite has total devotion to making sure every one of their products performs at its best ability. It also doesn’t hurt that this brand tries its hardest to ensure each product offers its buyers the best value possible.

But again, any of the brands mentioned in our product review section should do right by you. It’s just a simple matter of picking the one that makes you feel most comfortable.

Is an RV antifreeze toxic to animals?

You might be a little shocked, but RV antifreeze isn’t deemed to be toxic for animals. This aspect makes it a bit different than the traditional vehicle antifreeze. The difference comes from these products usually being made up of biodegradable materials.

Due to this, you can safely use these products around children and pets without worrying about something tragic occurring. It also helps that RV antifreeze doesn’t have a taste. This aspect means it doesn’t attract animals like other types.

But you must still remain cautious with these products. There are still quite a few ways for them to cause some severe issues when they’re in the wrong hands.

How cold is too cold for an RV?

RVers need to evaluate weather conditions before traveling into certain climates. After all, motorhomes aren’t built to handle excessively low temperatures. They can cause the pipes to freeze almost immediately and the rig’s engine to cease working.

As a result, it would be ideal to avoid temperatures below 0ºF whenever possible. But if it goes even lower to around -19ºF, RVers don’t have a single shot. Your motorhome will be freezing.

So I’d recommend doing significant research into anywhere you intend on RVing. It’ll allow you to prepare winterizing tools or avoid costly repairs without issue.

At what temperature should you winterize your RV?

Winterizing is an essential preparation task to ensure your rig can handle cold temperatures. In other words, it’ll protect your plumbing system from freezing or cracking. So it’d make sense that most RVers find 32ºF to be the cut-off point for winterizing.

Anyone who doesn’t follow this recommendation risks various dangerous complications. Your next trip out into the cold could become a nightmare rather quickly.

How much antifreeze should I put in my RV holding tanks?

Determining how much camper antifreeze to put in your RV holding tanks isn’t a complicated process. After all, RV and antifreeze manufacturers don’t want you to make a mistake. So they’ll provide guides in their manuals and product instructions.

But if you’re looking for a general answer, most RVers settle on using about 3 to 5 gallons of trailer antifreeze. About four gallons work perfectly to help prepare my camper’s holding tanks for winter climates.

Can I use RV antifreezes in cars?

Using RV antifreeze in a car is a recipe for disaster. You see, these products are made for pipes in your campers, houseboats, or RVs. Their primary purpose is making sure these pipes don’t freeze during the winter.

As a result, these products don’t feature any anti-boiling agents like a traditional vehicle antifreeze. The lack of these agents means using RV antifreeze in your car would cause its engine to die.

If you’re looking for a more technical term, the engine will overheat and warp. It’s worth noting that mixing RV antifreeze with the regular stuff would also cause issues such as hot spots and might clog your heater core.

All of this info was the long way of saying there’s a reason why these products come with warning labels about using in cars. It’s not a smart idea and could lead to some awful stuff that’ll significantly damage your car’s engine.

Are RV antifreezes safe for a septic tank?

This question is one rig owners tend to ask themselves a lot when searching for the perfect RV antifreeze. But there’s nothing to worry about as these fluids are made from biodegradable materials,

Given this aspect, these products can be safely used in any septic system without causing issues. In fact, you can even flush RV antifreeze into a city sewer, and there would be no harm done.

But please, don’t flush these products into a city sewer without looking up the county and state laws. We don’t want you getting fined for something as simple as wrongful RV antifreeze disposal.

How do I get the antifreeze out of RV?

Getting antifreeze out of your RV’s plumbing system requires doing a process called de-winterizing. But before you start this process, please make sure the freezing weather is over for the season, or there could be some severe issues.

The process itself isn’t too complex as it might seem. All you need to do is flush all the non-toxic antifreeze from your plumbing system. The simplest way to accomplish this task is by running fresh water through your RV’s water system using the water pump.

Your water pump will either use water from your freshwater tank or the city water inlet during this process. You’ll want to open all the hot/cold faucets and run fresh water through the plumbing system until the water flow’s clear.

The leftover antifreeze will then run directly into your holding tanks, which you can empty at the nearest dumping station. From there, you should be free of any antifreeze in your plumbing system until next winter.

Where to buy?

The most trusted place to buy RV antifreeze would be on Amazon. It’s almost unfair how well equipped Amazon is when you compared them to their rivals. I mean, they have both the largest selection and lowest prices when it comes to selling these products.

Amazon also provides the luxury of an extensive customer review database. As you know, these resources will become a crucial part of this entire process. The combination of these three aspects makes it very hard for other sites and stores to compete.

But this fact doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check out other sellers during your search. In fact, I think it would be wise to take a look at Camping World’s selection as it’s rather decent and available at reasonable prices.

These prices even fall below Amazon’s sometimes when Camping World has a sale. As a result, it’d be a wise move to compare prices from both these sites before making a final decision. This action will ensure you never pay more than needed for your chosen RV antifreeze.

If you don’t like shopping online, there’s also a couple of store options worth checking out such as your local Walmart, RV store, or Home Depot. Each one of these stores should have a decent selection to choose from for customers.

However, we must mention that the prices at these stores will be much higher than you’d see online. These stores do offer face to face customer service, which online sites can’t match. This aspect can make a large difference when the employee knows everything about RV antifreeze.

Given these options, it’s quite clear that there’s a perfect one for everyone looking to buy a top tier RV antifreeze. All you have to do is pick the one which suits your shopping preferences.

Conclusion

You should now have all the info to make a sound decision about what’s the best RV antifreeze for your situation. It’s just a matter of using it during your search, and the perfect option should become apparent rather quickly.

Once you do find this perfect option, freezing pipes will be something that’ll you’ll never have to encounter again. You’ll instead have an antifreeze ready to protect your pipes from the freezing weather. It’ll ensure your RV will survive the storage process without issue.

All you have to do is apply what you’ve learned, and this entire process will be smooth sailing. You’ll soon have the RV antifreeze that’ll make any anxiety or stress about storing your RV during the winter months disappear.

But if you run into any more problems during your search, please feel free to leave your concerns in the comment section. We’ll address them as soon as possible. Honestly, we just want to make sure your RV’s ready for those spring trips you’ve always imagined.