I've used the blow out method as long as I can remember. Thats been with 4 different RVs over the course of the last 15 years. Never had a problem yet.
These threads come up every Fall, and can definitely be entertaining. What realy ends the debate AFAIC, was 2 things I learned some time ago:
1. A few years ago, a friend of mine called and spoke at length to a well known and respected RV manufacturer (Tiffin). He asked them what method they use for winterizing units before they send them up north in the winter. Guess what this manufacturer uses, exclusively, for their units? Yep, the blow-out method. If its good enough for the folks that build these things, it ought to be good enough for us. (For those that don't believe me,
Here is a post where this phone conversation with Tiffin was discussed)
2. When we once had to have a mobile RV repair guy out to fix an LP detector issue, got to talking to him, found out that he is contracted by several companies to winterize RVs that stay parked up in the mountains year round. Again, guess what this professional RV technician does to winterize, had done so for years up in very cold mountain climates, and never had a problem yet? Yep, the compressor blow-out method.
Sooo, if a major RV manufacturer AND a professional technician contracted to winterize units up in the mountains uses this method.....So will I. :)
I think the few cases of folks that have had issues with this method, if you dig into the details you'll find that they either did not do the procedure properly and/or it was with very old RVs that had plumbing systems that were not very forgiving.
Its not really about saving the $4 on antifreeze. For us, its about how much simpler de-winterizing becomes, not having to flush that pink stuff out of your water lines in the Spring.
