Winterizing

[RPreeb]

Originally Posted by campnfool

I have been doing both for years now. Usually blow the lines with air after our last trip in late September, then later on the last part of October or just before the first freeze, add the antifreeze. There is always water forced out when the antifreeze is circulated thru the lines. Always have water come out all the faucets and low point drains even after blowing the lines. Don't completely trust just blowing air thru the system.

This is me too. I'm new to the whole process, so I researched the heck out of it to find out which way was better. Since opinions seemed to be split about 50-50, I did both.

[Badlands Bob]

If I was not going to use my camper thru the winter, I would spend the extra money and fill the lines with antifreeze. We have pretty mild winters in Georgia and we take it out when the weather is nice. I can blow out the lines and put antifreeze in the traps using about 1/2 gallon. It takes me 2 gallons to fill the water lines and traps. I'll end up winterizing 5-6 times between now and Spring. I've got it down to about 15 minutes.

[Monacoach]

I used to only use the antifreeze method and it would take approx two jugs. Now I use air first then only 1 jug of antifreeze. I dont do this to save $ 3 on a jug of antifreeze its just that after using air and I start to pump the antifreeze I shut each faucet off sooner because there is no water left to clear out.

Some use air only then pour antifreeze down the drains. They could pump that same antifreeze through the lines to go down the drains and kill two birds.

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by kfountain

This is my first time to winterize a camper and I have a question. When you winterize do you blow air through the water lines and if so how much water would typically come out. I have drained my fresh tank and water heater and then put about 40 psi through the water lines with all the taps open and didn't really get any water at all. I have also put antifreeze in all the pee traps and commode. Is there anything else I should do? Thanks for your help.

https://www.reserveamerica.com/outdo...rize-an-rv.htm

Just follow the instructions - wet or dry. .

BOL,

[carl2591]

I did the blow out the lines method and poured some RV antifreeze in drains and toilet. I also just took the water pump and some lines out to keep in house.

drained the Water Heater adn two low point drains. after moving the unit to my storage area opened the LPD and got a little more water out.

To me the best way to prevent pump damage is to take it out.

[Monacoach]

Originally Posted by carl2591

I did the blow out the lines method and poured some RV antifreeze in drains and toilet. I also just took the water pump and some lines out to keep in house.

drained the Water Heater adn two low point drains. after moving the unit to my storage area opened the LPD and got a little more water out.

To me the best way to prevent pump damage is to take it out.

Seeing as you are using antifreeze anyways why not run it through your pump and lines to get to the drains and toilet? Would be easier then removing the pump wouldn't it?
Is it because you drink tap water and dont want the taste of antifreeze?

[tmw188]

Originally Posted by carl2591

I did the blow out the lines method and poured some RV antifreeze in drains and toilet. I also just took the water pump and some lines out to keep in house.



drained the Water Heater adn two low point drains. after moving the unit to my storage area opened the LPD and got a little more water out.



To me the best way to prevent pump damage is to take it out.

Not sure what kind of MH you have but you shouldn't have to remove the pump. If some reason you don't have a convenient place to hook onto the inlet side of your pump then you will have to expose the pump and do it there. You already have it off I would put it back on and suck some pink stuff in thru it and pump it into your fixtures lift up on your toilet flush too. Pour more into your drains And then open your black and grey drains so any diluted antifreeze doesn't sit in them and freeze.


iPad using iRV2 - RV Forum

[campnfool]

Originally Posted by LarryJB

why would you blow out the lines if you are going just fill them back up with AF? That doesn't make any sense to me.

Well LarryJB. Let me explain our set up & why I do it the way I do it so hopefully you'll understand.
On our little 26sab, they put a docking station on it with the city water fill & tank fill together with a lever. There is no gravity fill for the water tank.
So when it comes time to winterize, after of course draining the hot water tank & putting it on bypass, I hook the air compressor up and blow as much water out as I can thru the city water side one faucet at a time plus the low point drains. That is done after the last trip.
Then in late October or just before 1st freeze as mentioned, I have to use an extra electric pump I have, that I use to get water into the fresh water tank when boondocking, use it to pump some antifreeze into the FW tank so the in house water pump can suck antifreeze up that line and into itself and distribute some thru the lines. Then I drain the extra antifreeze from the FW tank. I then switch the lever and pump antifreeze thru the city water side while I'm at it and thru the outside shower & black tank clean line.

Footnote. In the cabinet where they put the in house pump, there's a cobweb of hoses in there, there is no way I can get to the pump to hook up a hose to winterize it that way.
This setup is an engineering marvel.
So LarryJB that's what I do. Takes me less than an hour to get er done and only a gallon of antifreeze.

[LarryJB]

Sounds good campnfool.
I am just learning all this stuff. It doesn't get below freezing very often where I live and so far I have not trusted what I have done to winterize, so every time the forecast calls for below freezing temps, I have turned on the furnace. (this has only been about 4 or 5 night this year). We are planning a Christmas trip, and then after that I think it will set idle until March or April. So when we get back from that, I will work at doing all these things being suggested here.
Thanks for all the input. Very good stuff!