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01-07-2018, 10:54 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 519
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I don't have to winterize. Okay?
On a couple of the New Aire threads a few of us have been trading posts on how to avoid winterizing with the RV outside or in an unheated building. I thought to start this new thread to share the topic, and seek advise, from a wider audience.
I live in Southern New Jersey, and have always had my RV's winterized for about 5 months out of the year. This covers the first freeze to the last freeze in most years in this region. I would like to have the ability to use the RV throughout the whole year and avoid winterizing all together.
I keep our RV (New Aire 3343) in an unheated garage at our house. There is just 1 inch clearance to the roof and the garage in not ventilated, so running the diesel furnace is not an option. I decided to run a couple of test using the 3 floor heat zones for the interior and the Oasis AC heat for the wet bay, and this seems to be working. I already had the RV winterized for this year, so I could run these tests mostly worry free.
Over the last 10 days the temps here have ranged between 0 and 25 degrees. Inside the garage the temps have been between 18 and 29 degrees. I have had the floor heat set to level 7 and the Oasis AC automatically heats the wet bay when it get's below 40 degrees. The inside of the RV has maintained temps between 39 and 54 degrees and the wet bay between 35 and 39 degrees. The slides of the RV are in.
I believe this setup will allow me, next year, to not winterize as long as I keep the floor heat on and the Oasis AC for the wet bay on. I'm interested to hear from others if I may be overlooking anything that would cause problems with this setup.
Thanks,
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01-07-2018, 11:16 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Benton Harbor, Michigan
Posts: 856
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Sounds like that will work just fine. As long as you don't get an extended power outage.
__________________
2008 Nash 25S
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01-07-2018, 11:32 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,332
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Maybe I’m missing something but how long does it take to blowout the water lines and dump some RV antifreeze down the drains? Seems like a safe and inexpensive insurance policy in case of power outage.
__________________
Tom
2016 Newmar Bay Star Sport 3004
2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport Willys
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01-07-2018, 11:46 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 14,890
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If you are concerned about power outage why not set the generator to auto start? You may have to run a hose from the exhaust to outside but that is not difficult.
__________________
Gordon and Janet
Tour 42QD/InTech Stacker
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01-07-2018, 11:46 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,975
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It isn't that bad with two people. Its actually a bigger PITA to unload the fridge when we get back haha.
The thing I ran into was Walmart had the RV stuff for 2.97 and everywhere else it is $4+. Next year Im stocking up on the Walmart stuff. lol
__________________
2004 Winnebago Adventurer 38R
Proud Navy Mom
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01-07-2018, 11:50 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 289
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gonna_Wander
On a couple of the New Aire threads a few of us have been trading posts on how to avoid winterizing with the RV outside or in an unheated building. I thought to start this new thread to share the topic, and seek advise, from a wider audience.
I live in Southern New Jersey, and have always had my RV's winterized for about 5 months out of the year. This covers the first freeze to the last freeze in most years in this region. I would like to have the ability to use the RV throughout the whole year and avoid winterizing all together.
I keep our RV (New Aire 3343) in an unheated garage at our house. There is just 1 inch clearance to the roof and the garage in not ventilated, so running the diesel furnace is not an option. I decided to run a couple of test using the 3 floor heat zones for the interior and the Oasis AC heat for the wet bay, and this seems to be working. I already had the RV winterized for this year, so I could run these tests mostly worry free.
Over the last 10 days the temps here have ranged between 0 and 25 degrees. Inside the garage the temps have been between 18 and 29 degrees. I have had the floor heat set to level 7 and the Oasis AC automatically heats the wet bay when it get's below 40 degrees. The inside of the RV has maintained temps between 39 and 54 degrees and the wet bay between 35 and 39 degrees. The slides of the RV are in.
I believe this setup will allow me, next year, to not winterize as long as I keep the floor heat on and the Oasis AC for the wet bay on. I'm interested to hear from others if I may be overlooking anything that would cause problems with this setup.
Thanks,
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I have a NA on order and have been watching you and others in your quest to not winterize.
I have a similar set up to you for storage but with a higher roof line and it is ventilated. Mine is a multi bay Morton Building that usually stays around 20 degrees warmer naturally then outside temp. My location is a bit colder then yours (upstate NY) with temps during this arctic blast hitting -5 over night.
I have seen Ben in Boston experience play out and I think one of the contributing elements to his NA experience is the fact that his MH is outside in his driveway with out any wind block?
I think what you are doing would be very helpful to me for making the decision to winterize or not next year.
So with all of that said there is one thing that comes to mind. There is a water line that extends forward into the front generator compartment that can be used for hot water should it be needed for the windshield. It is my understanding that there is a shut off for this line just below the termination and another one where it comes out of the Oasis compartment. That line would have to be addressed should you not winterize IMO.
Not having the NA on hand to explore as others have had, there may be other area's that are concerned but in my exhaustive reading on the internet that is the only thing that comes to mind.
Have you seen Ben's u tube video on winterizing the NA....seems easy enough, so my feeling is to be rather safe then sorry...but that may change
__________________
New Aire 2022 3543 picked up @ North Trail 10/22
New Aire 3343 Picked up @ Nappanee 4/18 (traded)
2006 Fleetwood Bounder 34 Pusher (traded) 9/17
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01-07-2018, 11:51 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,473
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I plan on hitting the road later this month and have also not winterized our MH. I live slightly further south in Maryland. At first I was heating it with the Oasis AC but due to the power consumption I have switched over to the burner. The floor heat is set to Store. I have the heat set to 50 (lowest possible setting) for the kitchen and bathroom zones. Living room and bedroom heat is turned off. It’s doing the job nicely.
Have you considered using an exhaust extender hose to vent the Oasis burner exhaust outside of the garage? My guess is that the cost of the hose will more than pay for itself since the burner costs less to operate.
__________________
2018 Newmar Mountain Aire 4531
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01-07-2018, 12:03 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 519
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rotten-Red
Sounds like that will work just fine. As long as you don't get an extended power outage.
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My plan for a power outage is to put the RV in the driveway and run the generator. I've been in the house 5 years and power outages are usually fixed in a few hours, I think 8 hours was longest we were without power.
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01-07-2018, 12:05 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 519
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wildtoad
Maybe I’m missing something but how long does it take to blowout the water lines and dump some RV antifreeze down the drains? Seems like a safe and inexpensive insurance policy in case of power outage.
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At times we take short weekend trips, and also overnights at a friends farm. It may not be too big of a hassle to winterize and de-winterize, but I would prefer to have the RV ready-to-role at all times.
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01-07-2018, 12:09 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 519
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gordon Dewald
If you are concerned about power outage why not set the generator to auto start? You may have to run a hose from the exhaust to outside but that is not difficult.
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I considered that, but have two concerns. The first is the front of the RV is only a few inches from the back garage wall and I wonder if that could be an issue. The second is I have read a few posts with people saying their AGS was not functioning as intended.
When our power goes out I receive a text within minutes. If I'm not close by to put the RV in the driveway (to run the generator) I have a number of friends who could come over and do it for me.
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01-07-2018, 12:11 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 519
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Quote:
Originally Posted by timekeeper
So with all of that said there is one thing that comes to mind. There is a water line that extends forward into the front generator compartment that can be used for hot water should it be needed for the windshield. It is my understanding that there is a shut off for this line just below the termination and another one where it comes out of the Oasis compartment. That line would have to be addressed should you not winterize IMO.
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Thanks for this tip, I've saved it and will address this fall.
Congratulations on your New Aire, I think you will love the coach.
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01-07-2018, 12:26 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 2,552
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For those that have metal buildings, but uninsulated, you might consider insulating. I have a 24x50 metal building and had it sprayed with 1" of closed cell foam (it actually varies between 1 and 1.5").
The last two weeks we've had unseasonably cold weather, with multiple nights getting down to mid single digits and many others in the teens. We had a multi day stretch where the high stayed below freezing.
I'm having a propane heater installed, but unfortunately that was delayed, so I put four 1500 ceramic heaters in, two of which are small table top models. The coldest the interior of the building has gotten has been 59* and I have the heaters set to kick off where it keeps the building at about 66*. I set it that high to have more residual heat if I tripped some breakers or the like.
Anyway, point being that even a small amount of insulation makes a huge difference. I would never have dreamed those ceramic heaters could have kept that building 59* when it was 5* outside.
__________________
2019 VTDP 4369 (Spartan)
Wrangler JLU / AF1 Braking / Rock Hard Bumper
2018 Thor ACE 30.3
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01-07-2018, 05:25 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Boston
Posts: 530
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Just the generator hot water line. You can blow that out easily.
With those temps and wind protection you'll notice some impact on your electric bill but nearly as bad as I was.
Do you have at least one of the interior heat zones turned on (set for 50)?
__________________
2021 New Horizons Majestic | 2020 Ford F350 Dually 8'
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01-07-2018, 05:33 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 519
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cinergi
Just the generator hot water line. You can blow that out easily.
With those temps and wind protection you'll notice some impact on your electric bill but nearly as bad as I was.
Do you have at least one of the interior heat zones turned on (set for 50)?
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I didn’t have any of the interior zones on, just the floor heat.
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