Winterizing RV

[kyclassa]

I just had our Class A winterized and was wondering why could you not just blow out all the water lines and make sure you have "NO" water in the RV during the cold months? Yes, I am new at Rving. Guess there must be a reason but just curious.

[mike_brez]

Effy wrote:

rumrunnerxx wrote:
I have blown the water out on the last three MHs now and never had any issues. Just take your time and blow until the water mist stops at all the facets. I also suck the watewr out of the traps so nothing can freeze in there. I do however pour a bit into the toilet so the seal does not dry out.

How exactly do you suck the water out of the traps?

Thought about it, but then it occurred to me that the purpose of fluid in the traps which is to prevent exhaust gasses and odors coming back into the coach from the gray. Not sure about you but sometimes my gray is worse than my black. I don't want that odor coming back into the coach.

With a straw :S

[Effy]

rumrunnerxx wrote:
I have blown the water out on the last three MHs now and never had any issues. Just take your time and blow until the water mist stops at all the facets. I also suck the watewr out of the traps so nothing can freeze in there. I do however pour a bit into the toilet so the seal does not dry out.

How exactly do you suck the water out of the traps?

Thought about it, but then it occurred to me that the purpose of fluid in the traps which is to prevent exhaust gasses and odors coming back into the coach from the gray. Not sure about you but sometimes my gray is worse than my black. I don't want that odor coming back into the coach.

[rumrunnerxx]

I have blown the water out on the last three MHs now and never had any issues. Just take your time and blow until the water mist stops at all the facets. I also suck the watewr out of the traps so nothing can freeze in there. I do however pour a bit into the toilet so the seal does not dry out.

[Snomas]

I run pink thru all the lines and never have a problem. I winterize in Oct and store until Jan 1 and then leave to go south and then winterize in March when I get back and store again until a sumnmer trip.

[thewhitehat]

For those of you with a fairly new KEYSTONE product, your owner's manual has about two pages devoted to winterization, and explains both the 'wet' method and the 'dry' method. It DOES make these statements:

• Use 30 psi max to blow out your lines (for dry method)
• If you don't use the WH bypass, an additional 6-10 gallons of antifreeze will be required (wet method)
• Pour an amount of RV non-toxic antifreeze into the fresh water tank . . . an alternative method is to attach a hose to the suction side of the water pump . . . (wet method)
  

So, apparently, Keystone indicates there's nothing wrong with either wet or dry method, pouring antifreeze in fresh water tank, in the hot water heater etc. , it's all acceptable. Of course, each RV owner would want to follow manufacturer recommendations in the manual, if any.

[Effy]

I blow out the lines, but I also use AF. I mean it's pretty sumple. A few bucks for AF and hook the siphon to the water pump it takes about 5 minutes. Worth it to me. Some people never have an issue just blowing it out. For as simple and cheap as it is I am not taking any chances. That's a heck of a problem to fix come spring and could ruin the first trip.

[rvjames]

We usually just blow out the lines as well. A friend turned us on to this RV winterizing article that calls for winterizing the dish washer and clothes washer. Also talks about preparing the RV for critters, mold, and snow. So needless to say we do a little more than blow out the lines now :E

[garry1p]

Be sure and use "only" RV antifreeze.

As others, I just blow out the lines, add RV antifreeze to the drains and have never had a problem plus ready to go next year without having to flush out the pink stuff.

Don't forget outside shower or ice maker I think these two items are probably the major reason for frozen lines. OH yeah pull any filters.

[427435]

Blowing out the lines (several times per water outlet) and adding the pink stuff to the drains is all I've ever done. Works fine. I do use 100 psi at the compressor, but there is always at least one faucet open so line pressure is much lower.

No pink stuff to flush out in the spring.

[Flyfisherman128]

I hook up my hoses to the city water hookup the other end to the compressor and blow out my lines. Then I pour a gallon of antifreeze in the hose and back up to the compressor and blow the antifreeze through the lines one faucet at a time. Then I blow till all of the antifreeze is gone. I winterize my hoses and rv at the same time. Plus in spring time I am ready to go...

[bsinmich]

I blow mine out every year. I screw the air chuck/water line into the water inlet, hook the compressor to the input, set it to 50PSI and open the faucets until they quit spitting. I then go over the whole process a second time. Make sure there is no water left in the pump. I also do not use the water heater bypass but drain the water heater and put the plug back in to blow out. Add a little pink stuff to the drain traps and let it freeze. When I am ready to go in the Spring I don't have to flush the pink stuff. The whole process takes about 20 minutes and I get 2 years out of a gal. of pink stuff.

[Matt_Colie]

This is what our family has done with RVs and boats (Recreational Vessels) for decades. The only thing that is an issue is if it is old enough (mine is) to have sweat copper water system. Then any freezing can and may do serious damage that is either expensive or a lot of work to repair. But, if it is new enough to have plastic or even better a PEX water system then a little freezing in the sagging lines is a non-issue. It is, however, important to look for the low places that have metal fitting and be certain that those places are clear.

Matt

[67Cutlass]

I look at this way. A couple of gallons of RV antifreeze is cheap insurance (<$20) against plumbing problems come spring. A co-worker of mine blows out his mh every year and every spring takes it to CW to fix a plumbing leak.

He says he can never get rid of the 'pink stuff' taste. So he just pays to fix his plumbing every year. :h

To each his own...

[mark5w]

Check out this forum posts and you'll see what a lot of us do. Survey on winterizing