Short Term Winterising

If you're not looking at a deep freeze and the temperature only goes down to say 28 degrees for a couple hours, just keep the heat on at the minimum setting and open cupboard doors near where the plumbing runs.

Drain the system and blow it out with air between trips.

I would just keep the heat on for those iffy days.

Lightbulbs in the wet compartment help keep that area a little warmer. A few hours below freezing shouldn't be a problem. You could use a good high volume air compressor (not 12v) to blow the water out of the lines - in case the temperatures really take a dive or stay down longer than just a few hours.

How far below 32F are you talking?

A few hours at 32F outside shouldn't hurt a thing. A few hours at 20F I'd be concerned.

The water is still in at our deer camp. The forecast the next few days is 32F. That doesn't concern me. Its dropping down,to 19F by the weekend. I'll be heading to camp to get the water out before the weekend.

The old saying, "An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure." is still a good proverb to follow. If in doubt, winterize! I think it's better to err on the side of caution than to pay for playing Russian Roulette.

If the temps are dropping to below freezing for only short periods of time, I suggest blowing the line rather than running the "pink stuff". Blowing doesn't cost anything, (except an air compressor if you don't already have one) and the blow plug for your garden hose hook-up on the camper.

Nothing wrong with running the "pink stuff", but if you use the camper, it means flushing the "pink stuff" out every time and that might get old, especially if you do it several times over a short period of time. Blow method will work fine in your situation.

We have, in the past, over several years, ran the pink stuff and then a couple weeks later hit the road, and then winterized again before getting back into the freeze zone states. Sometimes switching back and forth 3 or 4 times between mid-November to mid-March (in Indiana). I prefer running the "pink stuff". But if we were switching back and forth every week, or every few days, I'd just use the blow method instead.

Either way, One ounce vs One pound? It's your comfort level that really matters, not ours.

haste maker wrote:
is there a way of protecting the water lines for a short period of time?

IF your description of the conditions is accurate...then yes.

I live in north central Florida where it works pretty much as you describe and I never "winterize" anything. I suspect that pretty much nobody does.

Make sure that the pump is OFF and open all of the faucets that you can. That's it.

Pipes break (usually) because of pressure built up by the "freeze plug" growing toward a closed valve. If the pressure can't build up, there should not be a problem even if a little ice forms in a line.
It takes more than a few hours of barely freezing temps for things in the RV to actually get that cold.

If it will make you feel any better, ask an RV dealer or three in your area.

It won't take much to be safe if the temps don't get below mid to upper 20s. The furnace or an electric heater (if you can plug in)set almost as low as possible.

SImilar situation for me in Michigan. DUe to medical issues I am physically limited. I did drain all the water including the water heater. Nothing in the toilet. So only the lines have some water. I never thought about leaving the faucets open to allow for expansion - seems good. I've never blown out lines, always used the pink stuff. Still need to buy some, but cannot drive yet. I was hoping to use it over Thanksgiving, but my recovery seems too slow to allow that. I can't reach the water heater bypass valves. Need to find someone to do that. May hit 19 here next Monday night, and be below freezing for 48 hours, 20 degrees below normal.

I never really winterize. Most of my "water" is located in the same area or compartment including the water heater. If the temp is going to be below freezing I turn on the water heater and have a heater inside to keep it above freezing in the bathroom and kitchen. Did this for years in MD and now in NC and so far its been OK.