One solution for the blow out plug
I just water-winterized my new-to-me RV for the first time. The Itasca manual describes a blowout plug, male hose fitting on one side, tire valve on the other. The nearest store that carried them was farther than I wanted to drive, but my local hardware store had fittings that would make up into the same thing.
But then it hit me: the manual shows a locking tire chuck on that plug, and recommends introducing the air pressure slowly, so as not to damage the water pump. The "slowly" sounded like a ball valve* to me, and I don't have a locking tire chuck. And there I was in the hardware store, so I wound up with the male hose fitting, a ball valve, and the male end of the quick-release on my air compressor. Hook up the air compressor with the valve closed, slowly open it, and I've got a rig that lets me monitor the flushing of water out of the lines without an assistant.
This may have been a touch more expensive than the "factory" solution, but probably not, if I'd had to buy a locking tire chuck and some kind of valve to bring the air pressure up slowly.
Offered here in case it works for others.
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*Ball valves aren't the best for feathering air pressure. They tend to go from zero to max with very slight movements of the handle. But, with some finesse, they'll work, and they're compact and quick in case, which is why I selected that valve type. Other valve types that will provide more delicacy are available.
But then it hit me: the manual shows a locking tire chuck on that plug, and recommends introducing the air pressure slowly, so as not to damage the water pump. The "slowly" sounded like a ball valve* to me, and I don't have a locking tire chuck. And there I was in the hardware store, so I wound up with the male hose fitting, a ball valve, and the male end of the quick-release on my air compressor. Hook up the air compressor with the valve closed, slowly open it, and I've got a rig that lets me monitor the flushing of water out of the lines without an assistant.
This may have been a touch more expensive than the "factory" solution, but probably not, if I'd had to buy a locking tire chuck and some kind of valve to bring the air pressure up slowly.
Offered here in case it works for others.
--------
*Ball valves aren't the best for feathering air pressure. They tend to go from zero to max with very slight movements of the handle. But, with some finesse, they'll work, and they're compact and quick in case, which is why I selected that valve type. Other valve types that will provide more delicacy are available.
