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DoloresW · 12-08-2019, 06:11 PM

We have a 2019 Winnebago View 24D. This is our first winter with it. Does anyone have experience blowing out the water systems rather than using antifreeze? The manual gave directions which we followed for blowing out the systems. We do not like the after taste of the antifreeze once it has been used in the system. We are storing it along side our house for the winter and may not use it again until the Spring. When given the demo the tech recommended using antifreeze.

Dom · 12-08-2019, 06:14 PM

Little late to the game, but I haven't used anti freeze for 15 years. Just blow out with air, and put anti freeze in drains. I also remove all connections and pump and blow out any water manually

Bigd9 · 12-08-2019, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dom

Little late to the game, but I haven't used anti freeze for 15 years. Just blow out with air, and put anti freeze in drains. I also remove all connections and pump and blow out any water manually

Same here except it's been 43 years since I have used RV antifreeze. I will winterize the coach probably 3 times per winter with compressed air as we use the coach to take us to the snow skiing resorts!

geordi · 12-08-2019, 07:50 PM

I've been RVing for probably 25 years now, haven't used a drop of antifreeze in my water lines.

Pull the low point drains, the hot water tank plug, and leave every faucet open on the hot and cold sides. The water will naturally flow to the low points, any water that remains in the system will not cause any problems b/c the system is not sealed to create pressure.

You don't need to do anything with the drains or hoses for the same reason that your ice trays don't explode when you make a batch of cubes: There's a direction that the water can expand into ice without hitting a solid object. As long as there is air in the system (and the drains are full of air on both sides of a trap) then there is near zero chance of a pipe problem from freezing as there is plenty of room for any expansion.

RI Expat · 12-09-2019, 06:05 AM

X2 on blowing the lines instead of antifreeze. I use my RV throughout the year and just opening the low points, water heater petcock, and air is quick and free from potential aftertaste and costs nothing. I have a compressor in the RV, so I can even do this on the road if I encounter temps that might concern me.

Best of luck with your choice.

Winterbagoal · 12-09-2019, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geordi

I've been RVing for probably 25 years now, haven't used a drop of antifreeze in my water lines.

Pull the low point drains, the hot water tank plug, and leave every faucet open on the hot and cold sides. The water will naturally flow to the low points, any water that remains in the system will not cause any problems b/c the system is not sealed to create pressure.

You don't need to do anything with the drains or hoses for the same reason that your ice trays don't explode when you make a batch of cubes: There's a direction that the water can expand into ice without hitting a solid object. As long as there is air in the system (and the drains are full of air on both sides of a trap) then there is near zero chance of a pipe problem from freezing as there is plenty of room for any expansion.

Agree with geordi on not needing to do much more than all of this.

You can use your water pump to blow out your lines, as the ShurFlo pumps are designed to run dry for a while with no damage. If all the inside faucets/H/C are opened and the low point drains are opened (valves in the exterior wet bay) the pump should do enough to clear the lines.

Don't forget to pull the easy drain (yellow?) lever on your Truma tankless water heater, and pull the filter cartridge out, and let it drain and dry out for a while if you can. I tuck the cartridge in low on the right side of the water heater compartment to dry while in storage. Let the water cool first, and switch off the power (little rocker switch) to it behind the external access panel. There should be a write up with pics in the "appliances and systems" and the "plumbing" section of the owner's manual.

Also, don't forget to carefully remove the inline water filter, probably located under the sink in the galley. It's a bit awkward (on my 24V) to get out so have a small bucket handy when you remove it as it will probably still have water in it. Put a note somewhere obvious to remind you to replace it, before you recharge the water system before the next use/season.

Then add the pink stuff to the shower drain and some into the bowl of the toilet, and down the bath and galley sinks.
You should be good to go.

1982 · 12-09-2019, 08:17 AM

If after getting all this advice, you still want o pump antifreeze, just look for the expensive stuff that contains only glycol. The cheap stuff uses ethyl alcohol, and they add a "bitterant" to prevent folks from using it as a beverage. That tends to add an aftertaste to your plumbing.

Mark_K5LXP · 12-09-2019, 12:40 PM

I'm an RV newby and pondered this my first winter as well. Since the manual that came with my MH detailed the air method I figured that's what I ought to do. It works out that contrasted to antifreeze pumping it really doesn't take much if any additional time to blow out the lines, and I really like the ability to just fill the fresh tank and go without having to run tankfuls through to purge the antifreeze. I think once you get familiar with the process you won't give it a second thought. The only caveat is you need a compressor that can keep up with the volume. I happen to already have a stand up compressor for painting that works great, but something used to inflate tires isn't going to cut it.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

gljurczyk · 12-09-2019, 08:47 PM

I just drain my lines blow out any left over water plus run my pump dry, I don’t use the pink stuff, never had a problem yet, plus drain my W/H. No matter what anyone says if you have pex lines they will not split. The weak point is the plastic 90 degree elbows they use. I have at 3/4 of them changed over to brass. Never had a problem. I don’t want any pink stuff in any water lines that I use. I even tested it I made a tube up with two plugs and a 90 degree in it. I left it out side with no protection, it took over a week of freezing weather to get a leak, and guess where it was at the Plastic 90 degree nowhere else, so now I don’t worry about it with brass fittings and draining the lines and blowing them out. NO pink stuff for me.

THenne1713 · 12-09-2019, 11:25 PM

SIL told how he blew is out well first year, thought he did a good job, but come Spring damaged faucets/ fittings required repairs x3; blows out and uses AF now... so I do too..

gljurczyk · 12-10-2019, 05:10 AM

I should also say I live in Virginia, so the winters are not to bad, I don’t have pee traps on this RV but my 5er I did fill the pee traps, I also open all my cabinets and leave my system set on 45 degrees, with my tank heaters on. I guess it really depends on where you live, winters are not the same here as in upstate NY, I might rethink all this if I lived in a really cold winter area.

luvlabs · 12-10-2019, 07:38 AM

Since you live in NY and have truly hard freezes (below freezing for weeks at a time), I think you should take a bit more time and pump antifreeze. The areas that are a problem and are not well served by blowing the lines out are the water pump filter, the toilet valve, and the hand shower in the wet bay. Don't forget to remove your water filter.

Trapper2022 · 12-10-2019, 08:55 AM

Over the years I have done it both ways. Years ago when only blowing out lines I had a fitting by water heater freeze up. In spring it leaked and needed to be replaced. At the time we lived in St. Louis and winter’s were cold so I quit blowing and have been using the pink stuff ever since. To me it only takes 30 minutes to use and a good filter does wonders for any after tastes. We always sanitize the tanks after the winters so no big deal to flush. Was doing it anyway. You are further north so I would use pink stuff replacing fittings can be a pain. Now in Houston and I still use the pink stuff. Good luck with whatever way you went.

Bobbafett · 12-10-2019, 10:27 AM

I antifreeze. I'm not taking a chance of a line or 90 elbow breaking and ruining my rv trip for the weekend.
Even blowing out lines, there could be residual.
I feel much more confident with the pink flowing through the faucets and showers.

Side note. We dont use the holding tank for drinking water. We use 1 gallon refill jugs and use that for drinking.