My wife and own a 1998 HR Endeavor DP. The tanks appear to be insulated. Now that we are retired we plan not to see the snow that invades CT every year. We are planning to go south for the winter.Question is this: We are bringing Mother-in-law to Europe for a couple of weeks in November. It generally gets into the 20's or lower here at that time. Of course we will dump the tanks, but can I just drain the low system drain and put antifreeze in the drains and let the outlets be open and pour a bit of anti freeze in the drains?I do have an air compressor but it gives out a lot of air pressure when needed but very low volume. Do I need to buy an air tank to get some volume to blow out the system?Any replies are appreciated.Keld

Just to be cautious, we would drain everything...... Why not take it to a dealer that will winterize for you.....just this once? Would save you some angst and maybe lots of money later on.

Trouble is there may be water still in the pump and filters and in toilet valves (and the water heater)that low draining doesn't get rid of and unless you provide some sort of heating to critical parts of the MH, these areas will freeze regardless of insulation

If it were me, I'd have it winterized. Take your trip without worrying about it.

Winterized. If you do not have a hot water by pass and this is a one time think just put the extra antifreeze in.

You can't 'sort of' winterise, you either winterise or not. Too much at risk not to in my opinion.

Sort-a winterize | Good Sam Community

amandasgramma
Explorer
Sep 08, 2013
Just to be cautious, we would drain everything...... Why not take it to a dealer that will winterize for you.....just this once? Would save you some angst and maybe lots of money later on.
tony_lee
Explorer
Sep 08, 2013
Trouble is there may be water still in the pump and filters and in toilet valves (and the water heater)that low draining doesn't get rid of and unless you provide some sort of heating to critical parts of the MH, these areas will freeze regardless of insulation
dverstra
Explorer
Sep 08, 2013
If it were me, I'd have it winterized. Take your trip without worrying about it.
John_S_
Explorer II
Sep 08, 2013
Winterized. If you do not have a hot water by pass and this is a one time think just put the extra antifreeze in.
Community Alumni
Sep 08, 2013
You can't 'sort of' winterise, you either winterise or not. Too much at risk not to in my opinion.
Argosy24
Explorer
Sep 08, 2013
Volume is more important than pressure when blowing out lines. You should regulate pressure down to prevent damage, volume is what moves the water out of the lines.

Is your water pump convenient to work on? I can take the tube off the inlet of mine and use one of the flexible hook up lines to draw antifreeze from the jug. With the water heater bypassed it only takes a gallon and 15 minutes.

As I normally drain the lines, blow the lines, fill with antifreeze and blow the lines again I would consider just filling with antifreeze sorta winterized, but good enough for that time of year.
JimM68
Explorer
Sep 08, 2013
Insulation only helps when the heat is on, and I would not trust the heat to stay on for 2 weeks unattended.
Winterize.
bucket1
Explorer
Sep 08, 2013
On my 98 endeaver there is a water by pass for the hot water heater. I just switch it over and pull the tank plug and let the tank drain. Then open low point drains in the water bay. After that , there is a short hose sticking out of the bottom of the water bay, which has a short fitting on it. I just take a piece of hose and push it on it and stick the other end in a bottle of rv antifreeze. turn on the pump and open the faucets, hot and cold one at a time . I think i use 2 gallons. The last thing i do is jump out the ice maker solenoid {120 volt} and it will pump the antifreeze through the ice maker. I don't have to mess with anything else and it only takes about 15 minutes.
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Sep 08, 2013
Sort-a winterize

Oh My!
Sort-a-winterize is like being sorta pregnant! :B

Seriously broken water lines is not a cheap adventure. Fully winterize it will take you about the same time as doing only part of it.

IMHO I would never take the chance of even on broken water line. Way too many low points in the water system that you don't even know where they are at. Just saying.
APRSRVer
Explorer
Sep 08, 2013
Besides opening drain valves, pull anode out of hot water heater. Then cycle fresh water pump to clear it and step on toilet fill valve to get air into it. Open shower head valve and lay it down.
RV antifreeze in all traps with enough to get into grey water tank/s and some down toilet hole for black water tank.

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