Low Point Drains
We've had our Outback TT for a little over 3 years now, and even though we are have great weather in Central Indiana, the impending winter is soon calling for another Travel Trailer winterization (which I have not done yet) because the weather has stayed so warm. But I know it's coming soon!
Meanwhile... the last 2 years I've winterized when the temps were near freezing, and the only part of the whole process I hate is removing the cap from the low point drains. I end up getting splashed, end up laying in a puddle of water, already freezing from the ground, and then have to fight to get those darn caps unscrewed. I've been saying for the last two years I want to put on a valve which will be easier to open than freezing my knuckles with water squirting everywhere.
Well, in view of this warmer weather we've had, I decided if I were going to do it, it better get done now!
Off to Lowes!
The threads on Pex tubing is 1/2 inch standard thread. So getting a valve was fairly simple. I did not want to use anything metal as it's too heavy and dangling under the camper, didn't want to cause any undue stress on the existing plumbing. So I stuck with PVC type "stuff". I have no clue what this is actually called, all I know is, I've been using it for years.
A little bit fitting, a little bit of glue and a little bit of waiting, and I was able to screw the fitting right on the existing plumbing and it works GREAT!
Using this kind of set-up, I can attach a garden hose (in my case, an old hose from a washing machine to each spiggot and let it drain away from where I'm laying. Once it drains completely, simply disconnect the hose and close the valve. I usually open the low point drains after I've run the pink stuff, try to catch the pink stuff in a bucket to dump back down the P-traps. So, attaching an old washing machine hose will work VERY well!
And, if for some reason, my creation breaks, cracks, or get hit with a rock and blow up, or whatever??? I can simply unscrew it and always put the original caps back on! Here's what it looks like.
Maybe my idea will help inspire someone else to do the same!
Meanwhile... the last 2 years I've winterized when the temps were near freezing, and the only part of the whole process I hate is removing the cap from the low point drains. I end up getting splashed, end up laying in a puddle of water, already freezing from the ground, and then have to fight to get those darn caps unscrewed. I've been saying for the last two years I want to put on a valve which will be easier to open than freezing my knuckles with water squirting everywhere.
Well, in view of this warmer weather we've had, I decided if I were going to do it, it better get done now!
Off to Lowes!
The threads on Pex tubing is 1/2 inch standard thread. So getting a valve was fairly simple. I did not want to use anything metal as it's too heavy and dangling under the camper, didn't want to cause any undue stress on the existing plumbing. So I stuck with PVC type "stuff". I have no clue what this is actually called, all I know is, I've been using it for years.
A little bit fitting, a little bit of glue and a little bit of waiting, and I was able to screw the fitting right on the existing plumbing and it works GREAT!
Using this kind of set-up, I can attach a garden hose (in my case, an old hose from a washing machine to each spiggot and let it drain away from where I'm laying. Once it drains completely, simply disconnect the hose and close the valve. I usually open the low point drains after I've run the pink stuff, try to catch the pink stuff in a bucket to dump back down the P-traps. So, attaching an old washing machine hose will work VERY well!
And, if for some reason, my creation breaks, cracks, or get hit with a rock and blow up, or whatever??? I can simply unscrew it and always put the original caps back on! Here's what it looks like.
Maybe my idea will help inspire someone else to do the same!
