Which winterizing is best?

[datsun78]

I had winterized my old Class C RV's plumbing system by blowing it out with air. I now have a '03 Fleetwood Revolution Class A, and being a much more complex rig, I used RV antifreeze last winter. I'm now wondering which method for the Class A is best. It's easier to use air, but I don't want to risk any freezing damage.

Any suggestions, reasons, preferences for the pink stuff over air?

Thanks!

[mrboyer]

We have a 2006 FLEETWOOD Expedition while I don’t winterize now that we go to AZ in October, I blew out our water lines. Start with one faucet open then connected a 60# air line. Went into coach and opened 2nd faucet, closed 1st and opened 3rd, etc. Went around all the faucets 3 times. Disconnected ice maker line and let blow. When all done, I poured 1 cup rv antifreeze in each trap using less than 1/2 gal. One year traveled late in December at 11-14 degrees and no lines frozen.

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

We don't winterize because we use it all year around! Keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[nothermark]

I blow out the lines then add antifreeze. Two chances to get all the valves as they are the weak points. In the spring I blow out the antifreeze for the same reason. The pex line can stand a bit of water. Valves are mostly some version of a ball valve so anything in the core is trapped when the ball/plunger is closed. Water will expand and crack the side of the valve body. Antifreeze or air won't. That is also why I preach operating all the valves while blowing out the system or adding antifreeze.

Some folks go to interesting lengths to remove any antifreeze residue. A spring sanitizing with bleach will do it and get anything else that found a home there. I usually dump a lot of the first load of fresh water out through the faucets and use jug water for cooking and drinking while doing it. After that I use the tank with no problem unless we get into some funky water.

[Sweetbriar]

Blow down or antifreeze comes down to your comfort level. Antifreeze is a safe and easy to ensure all the water lines are protected while a blow down will save a few dollars and is a bit quicker to recover in the spring. Stick with what you're comfortable with. I blow out the system but my winters along the mid Atlantic coast are fairly mild.

Best method? Well that one should be rather apparent. Drive the coach to a place that doesn't freeze and enjoy the warm winter weather.

[Winemaker2]

I do both...belt and syspenders i guess.
I read early in my boating and RV experience that the downside to just blowing out ( or AF and blowing immediately) is that the lines will remain moist and full of air... a good environment to grow unwanted "stuff".
With AF in the lines you exclude the air and reduce the tendency to promote vad stuff growing.

True or not? I'm not qualified enough to refute or support... That's just the safest way I can think of and spring commissioning isn't a big deal.
Everyone should (IMHO) be santizing periodically even if not winterizing... I just flush w city water good before adding bleach.

My other thought is that you will never know whether just blowing out us adequate until it's too late.

[Lovin2Camp]

It gives me piece of mind knowing I have displaced every drop of water in my units water supply system with the pink stuff....

[Tha_Rooster]

Originally Posted by datsun78

I had winterized my old Class C RV's plumbing system by blowing it out with air. I now have a '03 Fleetwood Revolution Class A, and being a much more complex rig, I used RV antifreeze last winter. I'm now wondering which method for the Class A is best. It's easier to use air, but I don't want to risk any freezing damage.



Any suggestions, reasons, preferences for the pink stuff over air?



Thanks!

I do both just for the insurance, it simple for a piece of mind.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

datsun78-

Perhaps a Datsun Z-car? Or perhaps an endearingly funky, woefully-underpowered "Honey Bee?" Those were the days!

1) The "best" winterizing method is to be thorough, no matter whether one uses air, antifreeze, or both.

2) I live in New Hampshire. In my opinion, there is no substitute for using antifreeze. I also use the more expensive, non-alcohol kind.

3) Class A or Class C, it doesn't matter much except that newer coaches have more places for water to hide (e.g., ice maker, black tank flush, outdoor shower, washer/dryer, water filter, etc.).

[smlranger]

It will depend on what systems you have in your coach. In my previous coach with no washer, an LP furnace and gas/electric water heater, I blew out the lines, drained the water heater and poured some RV antifreeze down the P traps. It worked just fine for 8 years we owned that coach.

My current rig has a clothes washer and an Aqua Hot hydronic heating system. It is impossible to get the coach properly winterized by just blowing out the water lines. I must then pump RV antifreeze thru the washer and the Aqua Hot unit to properly winterize them.

[tmw188]

I have done boats over 20 yrs. and now my MH. I use air then the antifreeze to keep things wet and lubricated. Use less antifreeze that way. I always found it hard to tell if the water and antifreeze wasn't mixed some when watching others do it with only the antifreeze. When your using air first you know. The air I believe is better too for getting water out of the filters, then replace in the spring.

[Bigd9]

Lots of great information expressed so far in this thread. I blow out all of the water lines and don't use the RV antifreeze except for the traps. This allows us to use the coach during the winter from time to time to go snow skiing

[Gary RVRoamer]

I don't think the method makes any difference as long as you do a thorough job. A more complex plumbing system requires more care, whether you are pumping in air or antifreeze. If you miss a part with either one, there will be trouble ahead!

I've used both and ultimately decided that the air method is more convenient for me.

[datsun78]

Thanks all for your replies. I will use both ways.