Another winterizing question

[phxchica]

I live in the southwest in an area that will freeze several nights but seldom if ever during the day. I plan to use the RV for trips at least through November and possibly the whole winter. I don't really want to winterize everytime it is stored for a couple of weeks in between trips. Do I have to winterize every time it is out of use if it is going to freeze? What do I need to do?

[LJAZ]

Where in Arizona are you? If you're in Phoenix I wouldn't bother winterizing or blowing out the lines for that matter. Dropping below freezing for a few hours overnight won't be enough time to hurt anything. I've never winterized and have never had an issue.

Now if you're at higher elevation like Globe or Benson where it gets lower temps overnight for longer periods of time then you probably will need to blow out the lines.

[patchelect]

Vodka! Pour Vodka in the water lines and pink stuff in the P traps. Then the first drinks upon reopening will be eye openers! Makes the drudge of prep much easier!

[K3WE]

Perfect Murphy's Law question- you say you take the camper off to storage- that changes it for me.

Totally understand your dilemma: Yeah, most of us have lived with brief dips below freezing at night, but things warm up during the day...And, if you can put an electric heater in it (which I'm guessing you can't when it's in storage), it serves as a little extra insurance (although people will rightfully warn you that the heat may not make it to where it's needed).

But here's the deal...are you comfortable taking the risk that you get an extra bad cold snap while your camper is away?

Blow it out definitely...as to pink stuff who knows- some people cite damage when they skipped the pink stuff.

FWIW, my camper is currently blown and stored for a late October trip. Will do pink stuff afterwards.

[ktmrfs]

your situation is similar to ours. It may get down to the mid 20's at night part of the year, but then warms up to the high 30's low 40's during the day. Our trailer has the enclosed underbelly. In these conditions the inside of the trailer does not get below freezing, not an issue. I don't winterize till it will be getting down below freezing all day long.

[2oldman]

..

[JaxDad]

It would take a lot more than a few degrees below freezing overnight to freeze a p trap solid enough to do any damage.

A coach sitting in AZ would have a reasonably warm interior during the day, even in the winter. To freeze the p trap it would then have to first lose all that residual heat.

I've used a recording thermometer in my unit here in Canada. On a bright sunny day where in outside temp is ~32F the interior is ~45F. If the temp drops to ~25F overnight the interior will not drop below ~30F and that must be for a very brief point just before sunrise.

[nickthehunter]

Blowing out the lines only solves half the problem. Blowing out the lines does not prevent the traps from freezing. You still need to pour antifreeze into the traps.

[Grit_dog]

If you live in the valley I wouldn't worry about it unless you see that " Arctic front" forecast of 30deg coming up. Even at that if you have it plugged in, turn on a space heater for the night and call it good.
If it's not plugged in then safe bet is blow out the lines.

[K_Charles]

just blow out the lines

[gbopp]

2oldman wrote:
Either blow out lines or keep it heated.

X2, blowing out the lines is quick and simple.

[Bobbo]

Blow out the lines. Quick, easy, and no cleanup to put it back in service.

[Allworth]

In Central Florida we consider winterizing only if the lows exceed the following:

32 degrees for 8 hours.

28 degrees for 4 hours.


Almost never happens (twice in 12 years that I remember).

[2oldman]

Either blow out lines or keep it heated.