Newbie winterization question '06 Knight 38PDQ

I'll just say that I prefer to connect the air to the highest point of water in the house, in order to let gravity assist in purging the system. But, you did good. Happy travels!

So I am fairly proud of myself. I made up a connector with a pressure regulator and used the OB compressor to purge the system via the city water connection. Old water hose, $15 regulator and $3 fitting + one out of my parts bin. Even made a jumper to open the ice maker solenoid :-)

I am now glad that I don't have to get rid of all of that pink stuff in the spring lol

Thanks all!

Set your compressor at 25 PSI. Or borrow a friend's small compressor.

Putting more than 75 PSI into your piping system isn't recommended. If you have to use high pressure, then be prepared to modulate the pressure by not having an air tight seal. I've used a clean shop rag wrapped around the compressor hose and the shower hose because it allows most of the air to escape through the fabric.

Take a clean paper towel and blow air from your compressor through it. Any oil spots? Then don't use it. There are simple DIY ways to remove most of the oil from compressed air though.

The ice maker? Nothing needs to be done to the solenoid that I know of. Other than removing the supply hose, letting gravity drain the solenoid. I'd just jumper 12V to it to turn it on and open it.

The supply side of the hose, I'd drape it over the edge and so when you blow air into the system, it gets blown dry too. Then reconnect it. Inside the freezer is where an ice maker lives so nothing needs to be done to that...though most people shut off the water, run a last tray or two of ice cubes, and then shut it off. Don't want thawed ice cubes in there all those months.

Many people do both.

OK, y'all have convinced me to go with air :-)

Can I use the on board compressor - I just watched a video that said not to use a tank compressor because of oil.

I assume the pressure regulator on the H2O hose will limit the air pressure.

Put a jumper on the ice maker solenoid?

Thanks!

There is a valve underneath that winterizing inlet that has to be opened for it to bring the pink stuff in. After hooking up a small hose to put in the antifreeze you will find the valve way in back under that inlet. Turn on the pump and away you go.

Oh, yeah, Old-Biscuit, I forgot about oil in the toilet. I always keep a bottle of ATF next to it and pour a little in there to winterize. I also use it when I'm getting a leak by. The ATF makes the seal rubber poof up a little and reseals. Leave it there for a few hours usually.

Jim@HiTek wrote:
It's even easier to eliminate the taste by not using it at all.

I tried the pink stuff once, and it haunted me for weeks afterwards with a slight chemically tang to the water I did not care for. And since I was in a drought area, repeated fill/empty of the tank was out of the question.

With air, I stick the air compressors rubber tip into the shower hose end (head removed), and just step on the foot pedal for the toilet. Blows the water right out. Then I go to all the faucets one at a time, from highest to lowest, open, blow air, close. Then I open all at once and blow again, let the compressor run for a few minutes. And step on the toilet pedal again. Takes all of 15 minutes. Probably less with two people.

No mess, no pink stuff in the water lines come spring. I used this method in Fairbanks, Alaska over 3 winters.

I've never used the pink stuff.
Didn't even know that folks used it until this forum
All my trailers have been drained with valves/faucets left open
Don't even blow lies out

I do pour some olive oil in toilet bowl

It's even easier to eliminate the taste by not using it at all.

I tried the pink stuff once, and it haunted me for weeks afterwards with a slight chemically tang to the water I did not care for. And since I was in a drought area, repeated fill/empty of the tank was out of the question.

With air, I stick the air compressors rubber tip into the shower hose end (head removed), and just step on the foot pedal for the toilet. Blows the water right out. Then I go to all the faucets one at a time, from highest to lowest, open, blow air, close. Then I open all at once and blow again, let the compressor run for a few minutes. And step on the toilet pedal again. Takes all of 15 minutes. Probably less with two people.

No mess, no pink stuff in the water lines come spring. I used this method in Fairbanks, Alaska over 3 winters.

Jim@HiTek wrote:
I'll just mention that many, many people don't bother with the Pink Stuff except to pour it down the drains to fill the traps and put a little in the bottoms of the grey and black tanks.

The reason is that it takes so much water to get the pink taste and color out of the fresh water in the spring. And with most of the US in drought conditions, it's just prudent to use the 'Air' method for your fresh water lines.

Air method uses an inexpensive tire pump to blow water out of the fresh water lines starting at the inside shower head. I just open the lowest faucet and blow it out there. Also remove the pump and drain it.

I use Pink Stuff after I blow out my lines. It is easy to eliminate the pink taste in the Spring by sanitizing the water system which I do. You may find you cannot get all of the water out of the valve that is operated by the foot pedal in the toilet, or the valve in the back of the Refrigerator that controls the water to the Ice maker. All it takes is a small amount of water in either valve and you will be replacing, as I learned the hard way. One-two gal. of Pink Stuff is very inexpensive IMO to be sure.