Hello to all,First, thanks in advance for your help.I just returned from blowing out lines & water htr in my Blueridge 5W. Don't know where my head was, but I plumb forget about pouring the pink AF in the p-traps. The Rv stays parked on south end of T-Bend lake. We are supposed to have mercury dip to 28dgs for Mon & Tue night of next week. Off course, not sure how many hrs it will stay this cold. It is approx 100 miles to where RV is parked. Should I just quit arguing with myself (& DW), and go back to do this?

If the temps drop to 28 for one night, you shouldn't have any issues. However, you're going to have to make the trip very soon. Why not now, so you can stop worrying about it?

Your call but I would go back and add the pink stuff ti the "P" traps.

I don't believe one or two nights at 28 outside will do any damage to your p traps inside. I wouldn't make a special trip this weekend but I would do it before the full winter sets in with prolonged freezing weather. The water would have to freeze solid to crack the pipe. A cracked p trap would drain the water in the trap onto whatever is under it. The sink traps should be an easy & inexpensive repair if something did happen, cheaper that driving 200 miles round trip & the time. But I don't think that would happen. I would roll the dice.

I too would just be done with it now.... Ease the mind

I'm with most of the above, just go do it so you don't have to worry about it. I came home tonight and just finished wintetizing mine, gonna get down to 27 here next few nights....... I know probably not long enough to do damage but I'll sleep better tonight knowing it's done.

Should I make extra trip to winterize p-traps? | Good Sam Community

32 Replies

mich800
Explorer
Nov 19, 2014
For those that think the p-trap will not break because there is room to expand may have just got lucky. Or I am unlucky. I got to it late last year and had my bathroom sink trap break. Not only did it break it exploded into about 8 pieces and took out the stub to the sink that was permanently attached. So not only did I need to do the trap but also a new sink.
jmccen58
Explorer
Nov 18, 2014
Shadow_Grey wrote:
jmccen58 wrote:
Shadow_Grey wrote:
After that pour a tablespoon or two down the drain and into the toilet after the pink stuff. Keeps the water/pinkstuff from evaporating out the drains and keeps the toilet gasket from drying out. We also keep all fresh water valves open so the gaskets can relax. Make sure you hit the black tank sprayer with pink stuff. We fill a short hose and then push air thru it. Do the same for city water connection (we don't use same hose, but it is your call). Make sure the water pump has pink stuff in it too!

"After that pour a tablespoon or two down the drain" Of WHAT ?????

Sorry about that. Vegetable oil so the water/pink stuff doesn't evaporate out of the P traps and smell the whole camper up.

Ok....great tip. I thought I missed something somewhere. I've been know to do that....
Shadow_Grey
Explorer
Nov 18, 2014
jmccen58 wrote:
Shadow_Grey wrote:
After that pour a tablespoon or two down the drain and into the toilet after the pink stuff. Keeps the water/pinkstuff from evaporating out the drains and keeps the toilet gasket from drying out. We also keep all fresh water valves open so the gaskets can relax. Make sure you hit the black tank sprayer with pink stuff. We fill a short hose and then push air thru it. Do the same for city water connection (we don't use same hose, but it is your call). Make sure the water pump has pink stuff in it too!

"After that pour a tablespoon or two down the drain" Of WHAT ?????

Sorry about that. Vegetable oil so the water/pink stuff doesn't evaporate out of the P traps and smell the whole camper up.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Nov 18, 2014
jmccen58 wrote:
Shadow_Grey wrote:
After that pour a tablespoon or two down the drain and into the toilet after the pink stuff. Keeps the water/pinkstuff from evaporating out the drains and keeps the toilet gasket from drying out. We also keep all fresh water valves open so the gaskets can relax. Make sure you hit the black tank sprayer with pink stuff. We fill a short hose and then push air thru it. Do the same for city water connection (we don't use same hose, but it is your call). Make sure the water pump has pink stuff in it too!

"After that pour a tablespoon or two down the drain" Of WHAT ?????

AIR
jmccen58
Explorer
Nov 18, 2014
Shadow_Grey wrote:
After that pour a tablespoon or two down the drain and into the toilet after the pink stuff. Keeps the water/pinkstuff from evaporating out the drains and keeps the toilet gasket from drying out. We also keep all fresh water valves open so the gaskets can relax. Make sure you hit the black tank sprayer with pink stuff. We fill a short hose and then push air thru it. Do the same for city water connection (we don't use same hose, but it is your call). Make sure the water pump has pink stuff in it too!

"After that pour a tablespoon or two down the drain" Of WHAT ?????
Sturgeon-Phish
Explorer
Nov 17, 2014
Is there anyone at on near the storage facility that could get in and take care of it?
Jim
MFL
Nomad II
Nov 16, 2014
Thanks for the update, now you are sure it's all good.

Good idea on the battery too.

Have a good evening,
Jerry
gat75
Explorer
Nov 15, 2014
From OP,
Again, thanks to everyone for all the feedback. After reading everyone's posts & after much consideration, I decided to make the trip back & treat the traps with AF.

Actually, I went back for yet another reason. I never leave my trailer plugged in during the winter months, this due to several neighbors in our RV park having blown converters because of power surges/lightning. (I have yet to buy a circuit surge protector).

While there, I disconnected the battery & bought it home to keep it charged.
ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Nov 15, 2014
rhagfo wrote:
GypsiesAtHeart2016 wrote:
I don't believe one or two nights at 28 outside will do any damage to your p traps inside. I wouldn't make a special trip this weekend but I would do it before the full winter sets in with prolonged freezing weather.

The water would have to freeze solid to crack the pipe. A cracked p trap would drain the water in the trap onto whatever is under it. The sink traps should be an easy & inexpensive repair if something did happen, cheaper that driving 200 miles round trip & the time. But I don't think that would happen.

I would roll the dice.

This would be my thought process! how easy are your "P" traps to get to? It would be for sure cheaper to replace three out four cracked traps than driving 200 miles. With my TV that would be $37.00 for fuel.

Kinda leaning that way also - wonder about under the shower.

But - not my RV, or my 'grief' to drive the 200 mi, or replace the P-traps if necessary.

The OP's dice to roll.

~
stetwood
Explorer
Nov 15, 2014
I would be concerned if the DAYTIME temperatures stayed below 28 for several days. For nighttime temps below 28 absolutely not. Your inside temp should be 2-4 degrees higher than the outside.