winterizing

Question

All the hints given about how to winterize the RV, got me to wondering if anyone winterizes their house when they leave cold climates for warmer spots? I thought how easy it would be to install some kind of air valve somewhere in the water lines of the house. Then turn off the water and open various faucets and valves to drain most of the water out before blowing the rest out. Put antifreeze in toilets, p-traps, etc, just like the RV. I'm contemplating this because of this really cold weather and what if the heat (turned down to begin with) fails between visits by family or friends to check things out. I can think of lots of problems that could happen pretty fast. Anyone think this is worth the peace of mind?

downtheroad · Answer

We don't winterize our house...do shut off stuff like the water main, etc. but we do blow out and winterize our lawn sprinkler system with compressed air.(Western WA)

dennis_m_m · Answer

We set our furnace at 55; turn off &amp; drain down the water (do not blow it out)' turn off hot water heater; put mineral oil in traps and cover toilets with Saran wrap to prevent evaporation. It's a townhouse so there are adjacent neighbors, but no one actually checks on things between Dec &amp; April. I figure if there is a problem I will deal with it in the spring.

nancil · Answer

I drain all my pipes and put pink stuff in the traps and the toilet, and I just was talking today with my wife about putting a tap on the incoming water line to pump pink stuff through the line, but it is just too much so I'll keep doing it this way.
It has worked well for the past ten years

jack L

naturist · Answer

Years ago, I knew an architect who built his own home, and he put the plumbing in with all the pipes angled so that he could shut off the water, open all the taps, and open a drain valve in the water line, and ALL the water would drain right out of the entire house. When he went traveling during the winter, he never worried about all the water lines, just the traps, which he filled with RV antifreeze. Didn't have to blow out the water lines, they drained so thoroughly. All of them were angled, so that the ONLY low spot was his drain valve.

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