How to Winterize Grand River 17BHG 2026 with Fogatti RV Tankless Water Heater, by GePete on YouTube. 15 min 8 s.
- Video length
- 15 min 8 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Park level, then open the low point drains and the fresh water tank drain. Open every faucet, including the shower and outside shower, and flush the toilet until the lines stop running.
Turn off the water pump and shut off gas and power to the Fogatti heater. Remove the heater drain plug or open its drain valve and let the heat exchanger empty into a bucket.
Close the heater bypass valves so antifreeze cannot enter the tankless unit, or fit a bypass kit if your trailer does not have one. Leave the drain plug out until the job is done.
Remove the water filter cartridge and empty the filter housing. Connect a hand pump or pump conversion kit to the city water inlet, with the hose sitting in a jug of RV antifreeze.
Open the cold side of the farthest faucet and run the pump until pink antifreeze flows steadily. Work back through every cold tap, then repeat the whole loop on the hot side.
Flush the toilet until antifreeze reaches the bowl, then run the shower, outside shower and any exterior spray port. Pour a cup of antifreeze down each drain P-trap.
Refit the heater drain plug finger tight and leave the bypass set to winter. Top up the toilet bowl with antifreeze, close all faucets and check under the trailer for drips.
Tips and common mistakes
Use propylene glycol RV antifreeze only, never automotive antifreeze, which is toxic.
If you skip the heater bypass, the heat exchanger fills with antifreeze and you waste a gallon or more.
Do not forget the outside shower, the black tank flush inlet and the water filter housing.
Blowing lines with air at 30 to 40 psi first helps, but air alone leaves P-traps and the toilet bowl unprotected.
Questions
Do I have to bypass the Fogatti tankless heater?
Yes. The unit holds water in its heat exchanger, so drain it fully and close the bypass valves. Antifreeze then only needs to fill the rest of the plumbing.
How much antifreeze does a 17BHG need?
Plan on two to three gallons for a small trailer with one bathroom. Keep a spare jug so you are not caught short halfway through.
Can I use compressed air instead of antifreeze?
Air clears the water lines but leaves drain P-traps and the toilet bowl unprotected. Use air first if you like, then add antifreeze.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
