In my 10+ years of travel trailer ownership here in the Pacific NW, I've never used anything other than compressed air to blow out my lines and winterize. I haven't used any of the pink stuff, apart from pouring some down the drain traps and to maintain the toilet seal. I park my camper in Eastern WA for a few months each winter, where temps are frequently in the teens and below, and I haven't had any problems with freeze damage. Now that I have a new 5th wheel that I'll be winterizing for the 1st time, I want to revisit this logic to make sure I'm not running any risks. Do any of you simply use air to blow out the lines, on top of, of course, draining the water heater and emptying the tanks?

I don't know why I never thought of that.......... Duhhh... I am in Eastern Washington and winterize my sprinkler system by blowing it out with compressed air every Fall. Then I use pink antifreeze to winterize my RV. Never even considered using air on my RV's and have a bit of a challenge getting it all flushed in the Spring. I am really curious to hear what experience others have had.

I think you'll find that most winterize with pink stuff. Some blow out the lines first and then push in pink stuff.But there's also people who just use air.The big challenge with air-only is making sure you get it out of all low points. The one issue I had was the toilet's water valve held water and broke one winter. $35-45 later and it was fixed up.

My MH is one of the larger investments I've made. As such I don't take any risks associated with potential frozen lines. Although I hate the pink stuff too, the few bucks you spend for its added protection is priceless. I blow out my lines and fill with the pink stuff every year.

ependydad wrote:I think you'll find that most winterize with pink stuff. Some blow out the lines first and then push in pink stuff.But there's also people who just use air.The big challenge with air-only is making sure you get it out of all low points. The one issue I had was the toilet's water valve held water and broke one winter. $35-45 later and it was fixed up.Yes, that's a valid concern. My issue is that I store the camper off site for a few months and use it during the winter months. Using air only to winterize is so much easier for this, as I don't have to de-winterize by flushing the pink stuff out, and then reapply the antifreeze 3-4 different cycles of use. I'll probably continue to use the air only method, but I'm a stand up guy and will come clean to everyone here if I suffer a cracked line, valve, or god forbid, a water pump due to freezing.

Do you have 110v power at the storage site? I have wintered in cold country in the past. I added some heat tape and a small radiant heater to keep the inside temperature above freezing when I was not using it. I don't camp in the winter anymore unless it is in Arizona or Mexico.

Any of you guys winterizing with air only? | Good Sam Community

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Sep 12, 2019
bobbyg123 wrote:
In my 10+ years of travel trailer ownership here in the Pacific NW, I've never used anything other than compressed air to blow out my lines and winterize. I haven't used any of the pink stuff, apart from pouring some down the drain traps and to maintain the toilet seal.

I park my camper in Eastern WA for a few months each winter, where temps are frequently in the teens and below, and I haven't had any problems with freeze damage.

Now that I have a new 5th wheel that I'll be winterizing for the 1st time, I want to revisit this logic to make sure I'm not running any risks. Do any of you simply use air to blow out the lines, on top of, of course, draining the water heater and emptying the tanks?

You are doing it rite!!! Carry on.
PNW_Steve
Explorer
Sep 12, 2019
Do you have 110v power at the storage site?

I have wintered in cold country in the past. I added some heat tape and a small radiant heater to keep the inside temperature above freezing when I was not using it.

I don't camp in the winter anymore unless it is in Arizona or Mexico.
bobbyg123
Explorer
Sep 12, 2019
ependydad wrote:
I think you'll find that most winterize with pink stuff. Some blow out the lines first and then push in pink stuff.

But there's also people who just use air.

The big challenge with air-only is making sure you get it out of all low points. The one issue I had was the toilet's water valve held water and broke one winter. $35-45 later and it was fixed up.

Yes, that's a valid concern. My issue is that I store the camper off site for a few months and use it during the winter months. Using air only to winterize is so much easier for this, as I don't have to de-winterize by flushing the pink stuff out, and then reapply the antifreeze 3-4 different cycles of use.

I'll probably continue to use the air only method, but I'm a stand up guy and will come clean to everyone here if I suffer a cracked line, valve, or god forbid, a water pump due to freezing.
IB853347201
Nomad
Sep 12, 2019
My MH is one of the larger investments I've made. As such I don't take any risks associated with potential frozen lines. Although I hate the pink stuff too, the few bucks you spend for its added protection is priceless. I blow out my lines and fill with the pink stuff every year.
ependydad
Explorer
Sep 12, 2019
I think you'll find that most winterize with pink stuff. Some blow out the lines first and then push in pink stuff.

But there's also people who just use air.

The big challenge with air-only is making sure you get it out of all low points. The one issue I had was the toilet's water valve held water and broke one winter. $35-45 later and it was fixed up.
PNW_Steve
Explorer
Sep 12, 2019
I don't know why I never thought of that..........

Duhhh... I am in Eastern Washington and winterize my sprinkler system by blowing it out with compressed air every Fall. Then I use pink antifreeze to winterize my RV. Never even considered using air on my RV's and have a bit of a challenge getting it all flushed in the Spring.

I am really curious to hear what experience others have had.

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Any of you guys winterizing with air only?

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