Last night I decided to blow air through my water lines to drain for winter. I started with the low point drain caps both off.I used the blow-out attachment to connect my compressor to my city water hook-up connection. I closed all taps, closed the fresh water tank supply hose, and opened my hot water bypass (closed my hot water feed valves, hot and cold, since my hot water drain plug is removed)Turned up the pressure and lots of air / water came out the cold water low point.Next, I closed the cold water low point and turned up the air pressure again.... My trailer just held the 60 psi of air pressure. I switched the position of the bypass valve and nothing changed.. I'm confused about what is happening. It appears like the bypass is not bypassing, but it allows water past during normal operation??? Am I missing something here or do I have some sort of blockage (ice, debris) that may be plugging up my air line enough to hold 60 psi back.

I never use the water heater by-pass. Just drain the water heater first and reseal it, then blow out the line farthest to closest front to back, then do each low point drain again. Also shoot some air thru the black tank flush if you have them. 60 psi is a little high, I use 45 psi. I thought the max psi from most trailers was 50 psi. Check your owners manual for you proper information. I have seen some water heater by-pass systems use two valves. I am not sure what you may have. No make or model in your post.

I don't know the layout of your piping. Maybe you have a check valve in there and you aren't blowing the line out in the correct direction.Also, I would use caution with an air compressor unless it is an oil less compressor. I don't think you are going to want oil in your drinking water.

69 Avion wrote:I don't know the layout of your piping. Maybe you have a check valve in there and you aren't blowing the line out in the correct direction.Also, I would use caution with an air compressor unless it is an oil less compressor. I don't think you are going to want oil in your drinking water.Check valve, interesting... I might have to search for that.Agree on the oil with compressed air, but it does not apply to me anyway. We don't use the fresh water for drinking since we don't treat the tank and lines to keep them safe. I tried air this year because in the past I've used antifreeze, and the smell never goes away. I still got antifreeze (very small amount, but still there) out when I blew the lines out last night. I have camped with this trailer all summer, and it is still coming out.I fear that I already have an ice block somewhere, it was minus 11 C overnight (12.2 F)after I returned from my last day camping on Sunday. When I got home I opened the low point drains and tilted the trailer, but the temperature got so low overnight that maybe I plugged them with ice already.

Yes, ice in pipes will hold air pressure. I would try to introduce water back into the system with the faucets open to make sure those supply lines are open. Probably best to do this on a warm day when temps are above freezing. Once verified that all are open, proceed with usual winterizing. One thing I do differently is to drain the system through the low point drains with faucets open before applying air pressure. The effect of a charge of water even under low air pressure hitting an elbow or closed valve can be enough to break things.

Why do people blow out lines instead of using $10 in pink stuff which assures that ALL of the water is out of the system. Correction: mine was $12 this year.

Blowing out water lines for winter storage. | Good Sam Community

40 Replies

Ole_Man_Dan
Explorer
Nov 06, 2013
Guess I'm a belt & suspenders guy.
It's my camper, so I go the extra mile and blow it out,
then put in the Pink Stuff.

Come Spring, Ill flush it out in my driveway, before the first trip.
I mostly camp with reliable clean,city water, but I buy gallons
of water to make coffee. We also buy cases of bottled water,
just for the convenience.

Pretty sure we will never develop water issues.
MartyMoose
Explorer
Nov 06, 2013
Air and Pink - I feel that is helps keep funk from growing in your lines as we drink the water from our camper vs bring your own.
Boskie
Explorer
Nov 05, 2013
My RV guy says to use both air and the pink stuff..
Fisherguy
Explorer
Nov 04, 2013
allen8106 wrote:

Within about 2 minutes it all comes out unless you are dumb enough to put it the the fresh water tank.

Yeah, no criticism anywhere in this thread, right? :R

Some people just can't help it I guess...
Nvr2loud
Explorer II
Nov 04, 2013
westend wrote:
How did you come out on this nvr2loud? I was thinking about this, you may be far enough North where any ice would be hard to melt. I bet a half liter of Vodka introduced into the system would do the trick. If it works, you can celebrate with the other half.

I need to replace my bypass valve, it does not always switch position when I turn it....

All summer long I had the bypass open since I don't use the hot water tank, and no issues with water flow through the bypass. We took the trailer out for a Halloween trip and used the hot water heater so I had to close the bypass valve. When I reopened it, it stayed in the closed position. I got it to open now, but will replace it in the spring.
Nvr2loud
Explorer II
Nov 04, 2013
allen8106 wrote:
Nvr2loud wrote:
Dick_B wrote:
Why do people blow out lines instead of using $10 in pink stuff which assures that ALL of the water is out of the system. Correction: mine was $12 this year.

Because unless you bleach, the pink stuff never fully comes out.

Within about 2 minutes it all comes out unless you are dumb enough to put it the the fresh water tank.

Not that dumb. I have the dedicated suction line beside my fresh water tank for inserting directly into an antifreeze bottle.

We had a slight amount of the pink stuff coming out all summer. Even had some come out when I blew the lines out.
allen8106
Explorer
Nov 03, 2013
Nvr2loud wrote:
Dick_B wrote:
Why do people blow out lines instead of using $10 in pink stuff which assures that ALL of the water is out of the system. Correction: mine was $12 this year.

Because unless you bleach, the pink stuff never fully comes out.

Within about 2 minutes it all comes out unless you are dumb enough to put it the the fresh water tank.
westend
Explorer
Nov 02, 2013
How did you come out on this nvr2loud? I was thinking about this, you may be far enough North where any ice would be hard to melt. I bet a half liter of Vodka introduced into the system would do the trick. If it works, you can celebrate with the other half.
Fisherguy
Explorer
Nov 02, 2013
DutchmenSport wrote:

I don't think there is criticism anywhere, especially on this (specific) thread,

Really?
You should read through it again.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Nov 02, 2013
Taz 23 wrote:
Fisherguy wrote:
I blow mine out, don't like the pink******either, been doing this for years and never had a problem.

Why is it people are so quick to criticise people who don't do things exactly their way?

X2
Either method works, and both are acceptable according to the owners manual.

I don't think there is criticism anywhere, especially on this (specific) thread, but there is lots of good discussion that is presenting both side and I think that's great!

This is compelling me to start a new thread ... I just had a brainstorm...