When you winterize your house and pour antifreeze into the drains and toilet, does the antifreeze evaporate?

Answer 1

There will be a small amount of evaporation, but not enough to do any real harm. In all but the coldest climates, antifreeze is not usually left in the drain for much more than four months. The purpose of the antifreeze is to replace the water that normally is in the traps. If water is lift in the traps, it can freeze and cause a leaks, or in the case of a china toilet bowl, crack the bowl itself. Because the leak is limited to the amount of water in the trap, water damage is limited, but the plumbing repair/replacement can be expensive. Drain antifreeze prevents this from happening.

If enough antifreeze evaporates from the traps, sewer gas is allowed to escape into the house. If this is allowed to persist, the house can take on a very disagreeable odor, but no plumbing damage will be done.

Good luck with your winterization projects.

Answer 2

I guess you are talking about a summer home or RV. No, to the best of my knowledge, it just sits in there until spring and the first uses flush the antifreeze down the drains. You know, of course, you need to use the kind that is appropriate for this sort of use.

Answer 3

Evaporation occurs when there is enough surface area to allow the mass to condense. Most likely you will never lose enough anti-freeze to make any difference. So yes anti freeze can evaporate but it is only a very small amount.

Answer 4

why would you pour antifreeze in your drain. but no it doesn't evaporate it just flows out with everything else

Answer 5

To Hell with the environment. There's plenty of it to go around!