>Flushing the tanks I do this at the end of each season to keep the tanks as clean as possible. Fill each tank (fresh, gray and black) to the brim and dump. This takes me about 10 minutes per MT tank using a garden hose. I like to do this twice, but this year I only had time to do it once. After flushing the last time, treat as usually with enzymes, etc. Add about 2 gallons fresh water to the gray tank(s) and 3 gallons to the black tank. I just leave the fresh water tank MT. You don't EVER want the tanks to be MT, even if they are supposedly clean and dry. >Winterize water system These are the steps I use to winterize the plumbing in my Wildcat. I use one of those 'winterizing kits' that allows RV AF to be sucked from the bottle into the water system. They make this procedure SO nice! Camping World has them for about $15. 1. Turn off the hot water heater and run about 6 gallons of cold water through it to cool the tank. 2. With no water source (pump off, no shore water connected), turn on each faucet and leave it on. 2. Go outside and open the white plastic water valves for the fresh water tank, and the two "low point" valves (just forward of the right wheels on my 27RL). 3. DO THIS STEP ONLY IF THE WATER IS NOT HOT!! Remove the plug/anode at the hot water tank (1 1/16-inch). You might get a little sprayed. Let the HWT drain for several minutes. Replace the plug after deciding if it needs to be replaced next spring. 4. Close all faucets in RV. Close the three water valves outside (Step 2). 5. Activate the HWT 'bypass' valve inside the RV. On my 27RL, UP is Bypass. This valve now keeps water from going into the HWT. When I do this, I pull the HWT circuit breaker to remind me not to use the HWT until it's full of water again. Do NOT put power on the HWT when it's MT. It will cost you a lot of money! 6. Remove the water filter housing at the shore water (hose) connection. Use towels or a small tray underneath to catch the water. Dump the water out of the filter housing. Remove the filter. Reattach the filter housing. (Put in a new filter next spring.) 7. If you don't have the winterizing kit installed yet, do it now. It has good directions. 8. Connect clear plastic hose of winterizing kit to the brass fitting near the water pump. Put the hose end in a full jug of 'the pink stuff'. 9. Go into the RV and turn on the water pump. 10. Go back to the winterizing kit and turn the brass valve to the position that sucks the AF. This should happen immediately. If not, check the clear hose mouth is at the bottom of the AF jug and you've turned the brass valve to the correct position. 11. The filter housing will start filling with the AF. Since there are no faucets open, the pump will soon shut off. This step will take a minute or two. 12. Go back into the RV and open each faucet in turn until pink stuff flows out. Then turn that one off and do the next. You must do both the hot and cold side to ensure both water lines contain AF. This will take a few seconds on each side. Don't forget the showerhead(s) and be sure to flush the toilet to get the AF throughout its valves and other nooks and crannies. A freeze there is very expensive. 13. Check/replace the AF jug with a fresh one between sinks so they never go dry. It takes me under 3 gallons to do the entire process. 14. Pour a quart or two of AF into the gray and black tanks. Yes, it is diluted, but here in Memphis we don't have long periods of freezing weather. If I lived farther north I'd double the amount of AF. 15. Turn off the water pump. 16. Once the RV is parked where it's going to be for awhile, pour about a cup of AF into all sinks (both side of the kitchen sink) and toilet bowl. This fills the traps. 17. Open a faucet to relieve the water system pressure. Go to the shore water connection and pry out the screen in the fitting. That will cause a little squirt of pink water out from your plumbing. That ensures AF is distributed totally throughout your RV. It takes longer to read about it than to do it! Doug and Kathy Richards 2004 Chevy 2500 HD Duramax/Allison 4WD 2001 Forest River Wildcat 27RL "Nuestra casa con buena vistas" winterize.doc