Hello. I have always paid to winterized my RV but would really like to learn how to do it myself without just pouring antifreeze down the toilet and sinks. I would really like to use air on the lines butl do not have a clue. Can someone please tell me using the KISS principle on how to do this task. I am placing the RV indoors for the winter. Thank you in advance.

You need an air compressor set to about 60 PSI and a air chuck fitting that connects to your incoming water line that looks like this.http://www.walmart.com/ip/14504303?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227017126048&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42530181032&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=89280745505&veh=semOnce you get setup, you just get some air connected and then open one faucet in the coach at a time to allow the air to blow all the water out of the system. You do this with the cold and the hot lines separately. You may need to do each a couple of times just to get the last bit but even a little water left behind will do no damage since any ice that forms will have plenty of room to expand and will not cause any issues. You will still need some RV anti-freeze and this you will pour into all of your drains which have a trap. Sinks, shower, washing machine to ensure the water in there is forced out and only anti-freeze left behind. I prefer this method to pumping anti-freeze everywhere since I don't have to flush any lines when I am ready to use the coach again, I just fill with water and go.

A lot of folks swear by the air only method. Keep in mind that even though you blow out the lines does not mean water can't accumulate in low spots and still cause a problem.

I have went from the ant-freeze method to the air clean out and won't be going back to the ant-freeze except for the drains. Go to a RV store and they have the adapter for adapting the air to your water system. I always leave one faucet open when pressurizing the system so I don't over pressurize the lines. I always go around the system twice to make sure all the water is purged. I generally start with the drains on the hot and cold water drains on my water system. I have had zero problems with water freezing, and don't have to put up with the anti-freeze in the lines.:)

FIRST, drain the fresh water tank and open all "low point drains". Drain the water heater (inspect the anode rod, if equipped. You may want to buy a new one.). Empty and flush the waste tanks.Be sure your air compressor has an oil and water separator in the air line. Use 3/8 inch air hose. close all drains. Set the compressor output to 55 or 60 PSI, then connect the air line to the shore water connection. Open and close each and every valve in the plumbing system several times. Don't forget the toilet or the outdoor shower. Remove the strainer from the pump, clean and dry it. Give the tank to pump line a shot of air to flush any water out. Run the pump until no water comes out. Put about a pint of RV antifreeze in each drain trap and in the toilet.If there is any doubt in your mind, open the drain valves again. if water runs out, do it over, you didn't get all the water out!I don't care what anybody says, I have done it this way for years, and it DOES work! Quite well, in fact.

tinkerer wrote:I have went from the ant-freeze method to the air clean out and won't be going back to the ant-freeze except for the drains. Go to a RV store and they have the adapter for adapting the air to your water system. I always leave one faucet open when pressurizing the system so I don't over pressurize the lines. I always go around the system twice to make sure all the water is purged. I generally start with the drains on the hot and cold water drains on my water system. I have had zero problems with water freezing, and don't have to put up with the anti-freeze in the lines.:)X2, I leave compressor run for about 20 minutes with everything open, then I leave all faucets, drains, and shower open. That way any trace of water in lines will evaporate. Also leave water heater drain plug open.

How to blow out lines to winterize | Good Sam Community

58 Replies

427435
Explorer
Sep 30, 2015
dodge guy wrote:
Every RV I've seen at RV shows has RV antifreeze in it. So that is how the manuf tests the system and winterizes it. Believe me if a manuf. could save a few bucks on each unit they sell them they would just blow them out, but yet they don't.

Time is money in the factory. It's cheaper to quickly pump some anti-freeze than take the time to thoroughly blow out all the lines. In fact, they probably use the pink stuff to check the system for leaks.
mowermech
Explorer
Sep 30, 2015
"antifreeze is foolproof"??
Sorry, NOTHING is truly "foolproof"!
Fools are simply too darned ingenious!
Remember, "Anything that can go wrong, will."
and
"Anything that can go wrong already has, you just haven't noticed it yet!"
Empty_Nest__Soo
Explorer
Sep 30, 2015
Lantley wrote:
I think both methods work if done properly. However anti freeze is foolproof with less chance for error and for the most part quicker.
To the guys that use the blowout method do you sanitize your water lines in the Spring?
Is the advantage to using the blowout method that there's simply no anti freeze to deal with? Is it the cost savings?
At the end of the day I want the most foolproof method.

I sanitize the water system any time I've gone a few months without using the RV. It's not hard to run some bleach water through everything, let it sit 24 hours, drain, and rinse.

If I were using pink anti-freeze, I would sanitize the water system anyway, and by blowing I don't have to purge the taste of anti-freeze.

To me, blowing out the lines seems perfectly foolproof, quicker and easier, and leaves no taste of chemicals from anti-freeze.

Wayne
Lantley
Nomad
Sep 30, 2015
I think both methods work if done properly. However anti freeze is foolproof with less chance for error and for the most part quicker.
To the guys that use the blowout method do you sanitize your water lines in the Spring?
Is the advantage to using the blowout method that there's simply no anti freeze to deal with? Is it the cost savings?
At the end of the day I want the most foolproof method.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Sep 30, 2015
mrekim wrote:
For those that use air.

If you run your compressor just blowing air out for 5 min doesn't the air smell of oil, even if you have an oil separator.

I think an important issue for using air is getting clean air, but I never see it discussed.

I've never smelled oil from my compressor.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Sep 30, 2015
No, it does not. If it does you have a separate issue that you need to deal with.
mrekim
Explorer
Sep 30, 2015
For those that use air.

If you run your compressor just blowing air out for 5 min doesn't the air smell of oil, even if you have an oil separator.

I think an important issue for using air is getting clean air, but I never see it discussed.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Sep 29, 2015
While it might be true that manufacturers use anti-freeze to winterize their coaches, that does not equate to being the only way. The OP asked how. This is a logical question and it has been answered with logical responses. That does not mean that the anti-freeze method is bad or wrong, just one method vs. another. I still like the blow out method as I don't like the anti-freeze "stuff" in my water lines. I DO! drink the water in my fresh water tanks (IMHO it's just a waste of money to do anything else and bottled water just adds to our landfill problems). A fresh water holding tank is nothing more than a giant water bottle but, for some inexpiable reason, a small group of RVers won't drink from it. Go figure!
dougrainer
Nomad
Sep 29, 2015
dodge guy wrote:
Every RV I've seen at RV shows has RV antifreeze in it. So that is how the manuf tests the system and winterizes it. Believe me if a manuf. could save a few bucks on each unit they sell them they would just blow them out, but yet they don't.

It takes longer to correctly blow them out. So, they just install antifreeze, which saves a lot of time. Doug
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Sep 29, 2015
Every RV I've seen at RV shows has RV antifreeze in it. So that is how the manuf tests the system and winterizes it. Believe me if a manuf. could save a few bucks on each unit they sell them they would just blow them out, but yet they don't.

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How to blow out lines to winterize

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