Blowing Lines

dodge guy wrote:
Pink stuff is the way to go! Just blowing it out will always leave water laying in a low lying line somewhere. This has the potential to freeze and rupture.

Only if it's done wrong or poorly, amazing how many people think a dinky little compressor will do the job. You need a unit big enough to hold a minimum of 50psi with a 1/4" opening wide open for as long as it takes for ALL the water to be blown out of the lines.

dodge guy wrote:
I think the "blow it out only camp" has never lived in a -20deg. area!

I blow my lines several times each winter, have done so for 20+ years, never had a single problem.


Yes, it gets cold up here in Canada too.


BTW, they use air to blow irrigation systems too, I'm pretty sure if it didn't work and they had to dig up lawns and golf courses every spring to make repairs every spring, they'd use some other method.

dodge guy wrote:
I think the "blow it out only camp" has never lived in a -20deg. area!

Lol...I agree! I always blow lines out and then I use pink stuff, usually takes about 2 gal...cheap insurance against frozen/busted lines.

I think the "blow it out only camp" has never lived in a -20deg. area!

I do both. I blow out the lines from the closest to the furthest away. The pressure restricter used for water is 45psi and thats what I do. I also add pink rv antifreeze. It only takes just a little more than a gallon and its cheap insurance of protecting any low points that defy the blow out.

To me im not that thrifty to worry about a couple of bucks and guarantee that I wont have a problem. to each there own but as soon as you break a line and flood something you will wish you did. The air blow out never gets all the water out. there is always something left.

Dick B, I am a pink stuff only guy also.

On that black tank flush, i have made a jumper that goes from the outside shower hose hook up to the black tank flush inlet.

goducks10 wrote:
I've never added pink stuff. I only blow my lines out. I open all the lines and blow for a few mins. I do open the low point drains, fresh water tank drain and empty the hot water heater prior to blowing. Haven't had a problem in 6 years. I live in Oregon and we don't get that constant really low temps in winter. I have other friends that just blow the lines and none have had issue either.
IMO it depends on where you live. I certainly wouldn't blow the lines if I were adding the pink stuff. Like mentioned it seems redundant.

X2, don't know about GoDucks10, but I may "Winterize" several times a season, as we go out year round.

I only blow the lines if temp is dropping to about 28, after a cool day, if day time temp get to 50 or so, 28 at night is still safe. I also blow if work takes me out of town for several days.

A compressor isn't going to blow water and rust out unless you somehow hook up to the drain valve in it.
Just blow them out and put the pink stuff in the drains - doesn't really matter in what order, you'll eventually get everything out.
If you drink from your tanks then sanitize them next year.
Been doing this for years without anything "icky" getting in the lines.

I'd suggest to remove as much water as possible by opening drains and sink valves, toilet, shower, etc. before hooking up the air compressor. There is a lot of energy in even a small slug of water in a pipe with air behind it. That slug of water moving through connections at high speed from the air compressed behind it isn't good for the plumbing.

Dr Quick wrote:
I do not recommend blowing out potable water lines unless you have a clean air source. Normal air compressors will have rusty water and oil in the tank, that will get into your water system.

How about blowing through the portable water filter first, which I pitch at the end of the year anyway.

Pink stuff is the way to go! Just blowing it out will always leave water laying in a low lying line somewhere. This has the potential to freeze and rupture.