Hi All,Although we are going south in late November I would like to blow out the water lines. The only compressor I have is a small 120 unit designed to blow up tires etc. In other words high pressure, low volume. My thought was to buy a portable air tank (7 gallon from Home Depot about $30). I would pressurize the tank to 40-45 PSI and use it to blow the lines. I realize that most likely I would have to fill the tank several times to get the job done.I was at my RV dealer yesterday on other business. I explained my plan and was told I was crazy "Not nearly enough air in there to do it"So, any experiences with this kind of approach?Thank you in advance.Keld

I use my 120psi unit at home. I just make sure all the taps and everything is open and let it rip. I have a small ball valve at the end of the hose. That way I can regulate how much air I'm putting through the lines. My unit at home goes up to 120psi and it has a 10gal tank...so lots of volume.

You should be fine with just the little compressor. It will take a little longer but who cares. And you don't have to worry about overpressuring the system and hurting anything.

Thank you for the quick responses.The reason for using the tank was to control the pressure yet have enough volume of air to push out the water.I may be an engineer but am also a newbie rv'r :-)Keld

I use a cigarette lighter model to blow out my lines. Works fine

What you have should be fine!Keep in mind, you will be building up air pressure behind the water in each line....as it pushes out, that pressure will drop a bit, at which point, you can have DW shut the valve to that faucet.....and work her way around the RV until the last valve is blowing air.....use the pipes in the RV as your "tank", and just put the pressure to them.Just be sure not to go to high on the pressure...I'd say 40-50 psi should be fine.Good luck.

Winterizing by blowing out lines | Good Sam Community

40 Replies

sch911
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
WyoTraveler wrote:
I blow out the lines but put antifreeze in the traps.

X 2

I just drain the freshwater tank. It always has a little water in the bottom and that will freeze but is not a problem. I don't use anti freeze in the FW tank.
WyoTraveler
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
I blow out the lines but put antifreeze in the traps.
Terryallan
Explorer II
Oct 03, 2013
ScottnSherrie wrote:
If you can adjust pressure just turn it down low as it will go and make sure you always have one spigot open.

Forgot to mention that I also blow out the drains with a shop vac, hose on the exhaust. I also run some RV anti-freeze through the fresh water tank and pump.

If you blow all the liquid out of the traps. Wouldn't that allow the smell from the tank to come inside the RV????
retiredtraveler
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
Wow,
I guess I'm not as stupid as I thought. If a 12 volt cigarette lighter model will do it my sissy 120 Volt will for sure. And using a shop vac? I would never had thought it would give enough pressure.
Thanks so much to everyone. You guys rule.
Keld
ScottnSherrie
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
If you can adjust pressure just turn it down low as it will go and make sure you always have one spigot open.

Forgot to mention that I also blow out the drains with a shop vac, hose on the exhaust. I also run some RV anti-freeze through the fresh water tank and pump.
PapPappy
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
What you have should be fine!
Keep in mind, you will be building up air pressure behind the water in each line....as it pushes out, that pressure will drop a bit, at which point, you can have DW shut the valve to that faucet.....and work her way around the RV until the last valve is blowing air.....use the pipes in the RV as your "tank", and just put the pressure to them.
Just be sure not to go to high on the pressure...I'd say 40-50 psi should be fine.

Good luck.
VoodooMedicineM
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
I use a cigarette lighter model to blow out my lines. Works fine
retiredtraveler
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
Thank you for the quick responses.
The reason for using the tank was to control the pressure yet have enough volume of air to push out the water.
I may be an engineer but am also a newbie rv'r :-)
Keld
pugslyyy
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
You should be fine with just the little compressor. It will take a little longer but who cares. And you don't have to worry about overpressuring the system and hurting anything.
SWD
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
I use my 120psi unit at home. I just make sure all the taps and everything is open and let it rip. I have a small ball valve at the end of the hose. That way I can regulate how much air I'm putting through the lines. My unit at home goes up to 120psi and it has a 10gal tank...so lots of volume.

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Winterizing by blowing out lines

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