Winterizing ?

[1Blue78]

So I recently dewinterized my trailer which got me thinking and thought I would try to get some input here...

My new trailer has low point drain valves, my previous trailer did not. I am curious what others do after pumping antifreeze though the lines to winterize. Do you leave the lines full of the antifreeze or do you drain though the low point drains? If you leave them full of antifreeze, what is the advantage of the drains? Maybe just use the drains when it might get cold and don't want to fully winterize?

[iluvuk]

Low point drains make it simple to drain all the water out of the system so you don't have frozen pipes (theoretically).

When I used to winterize my RVs I would pump in antifreeze and leave it until spring. Takes a bit of rinsing to get it all out but I didn't have to worry about frozen pipes. I also put antifreeze down the sink, shower and toilet (a small amount).

[1Blue78]

yes I understand the drains make it easier to drain the water from the lines. I was juts wondering if there is any benefit to opening the drains after pumping water through. My winterization process is as follows

• Bypass hot water tank
• displace water in lines with air
• pump antifreeze in lines
• drain hot water tank

Should I also open the low point drains? or are these drains really only for if it might get cold (but not real cold) and I don't want to fully winterize yet?

[Persistent]

Low point drains have multiple uses. Your fresh water tank probably has one. Its use is obvious.

Other place in the plumbing lines may also have low point drains. Their use is less obvious. Certainly draining lines for maintenance and repairs is useful. Protection against freezing is another.

Low point drains are a less reliable method of winterizing. Pockets of water can remain in vital places. The RV plumbing I have observed is not designed well enough to ensure proper drainage. In a pinch, it can be done quickly and almost anywhere. It does offer protection and will minimize freeze damage. Do you feel lucky?

[1Blue78]

Originally Posted by Persistent

Low point drains have multiple uses. Your fresh water tank probably has one. Its use is obvious.

Other place in the plumbing lines may also have low point drains. Their use is less obvious. Certainly draining lines for maintenance and repairs is useful. Protection against freezing is another.

Low point drains are a less reliable method of winterizing. Pockets of water can remain in vital places. The RV plumbing I have observed is not designed well enough to ensure proper drainage. In a pinch, it can be done quickly and almost anywhere. It does offer protection and will minimize freeze damage. Do you feel lucky?

Haha - never feel lucky, especially up here where it is a rare winter where we don't have temps below -30C....just wondering if I should leave the antifreeze in the line or drain it. Maybe it doesn't really matter as long as the water has been displaced?

[hamm2018]

Originally Posted by 1Blue78

I am curious what others do after pumping antifreeze though the lines to winterize. Do you leave the lines full of the antifreeze or do you drain though the low point drains? If you leave them full of antifreeze, what is the advantage of the drains? Maybe just use the drains when it might get cold and don't want to fully winterize?

When I had to winterize I left the antifreeze in all winter. As you said the advantage of the low point drains is to help drain the lines of liquid. It allows a quicker method to drain.
Maybe just use the drains when it might get cold and don't want to fully winterize? Using the low point will not get all of the water out, so you will leave some in that could freeze if it becomes that cold. If you drain every night/day it gets cold you will have to hook up the next day to get water. What I did was insulate my low point drains really well, because in Chattanooga in 2019 we froze up from the low point drains, blocking water flow to the rear areas. Some times I use a heated hose for water supply and operate the furnace to keep the under belly warm., to keep from freezing.

[Winemaker2]

Originally Posted by 1Blue78

Haha - never feel lucky, especially up here where it is a rare winter where we don't have temps below -30C....just wondering if I should leave the antifreeze in the line or drain it. Maybe it doesn't really matter as long as the water has been displaced?

I think that is the primary reason to use AF. The only negative I have ever read against draining AF in the fall is that stuff / bacteria etc grows more readily when moisture and air are present and less when submerged. I'm no biologist so dont know if that has any validity or not. I dont see any downside when leaving it till spring to drain & flush and thats been my practice for boat & MH.

[Dave Pelletier]

I use RV antifreeze and leave it in the lines; I think this is a better/safer way than just draining....that said, I open the low points and let them drain out during the process until there is antifreeze coming out otherwise you could have water in them.

Dave

[96Bounder1st]

I drain a little bit of antifreeze thru the low point drains so they are protected from freezing also.

Terry

[LETMGROW]

Before I start winterizing I open every faucet in the RV and open the low point drains and let the RV sit overnight. Opening the faucets will prevent a vacuum from not allowing water to drain out of the lines. At the same time I remove the water heater drain plug and let the water drain completely out. With the hot water faucets open there is no need to open the pressure relief valve on the water heater. Be sure to open and drain the lines and shower head if you have an outside shower.
The less water you have in the system when you start winterizing the less anti freeze you will need and you will get better protection.
Close the low point drains and all the faucets before pumping anti freeze through the lines being sure the water heater is in by-pass mode. Open each faucet one at a time until you see pure pink antifreeze flow from the faucet, close the faucet and go to the next until you have done them all. Flush the toilet until you see pure pink antifreeze. Leave a little antifreeze in the bowl to help keep the valve rubber seal soft. Crack the low point drains open and close them to help protect them and depress the city water inlet check valve with a pencil eraser to allow any trapped clear water to escape from the line. Do this while you have pressure on the system with the antifreeze in it.
I leave the water heater plug out and roll up part of an SOS pad and plug the drain hole with it. This will let moisture out as well as keep bugs out.
I don't drain any antifreeze out of the system until when I dewinterize in the spring.

[NLOVNIT]

Originally Posted by 1Blue78

...Maybe it doesn't really matter as long as the water has been displaced?

That.