Blow out the water??

[Old_Uncle_Dave]

I will be using my TT during the winter on occasion. Our coldest expected is perhaps 20. On rare occasions it may get to 15.

I have an adapter to use compressed air to blow out the lines.

Has anyone done this and did or did not have a busted pipe , faucet, etc. at the above temps. Trailer will be unoccupied and not be heated during this time.

I do not want to antifreeze the water system on Wednesday and then want to go camping on Friday and have to flush it out and then winterize it again on the next Tue.

[racecitypat]

There is not really a "right or wrong" answer here. Both methods have been used by many and what ever your comfortable with is best for you. I myself prefer the antifreeze........ JMO.....I just wished it was warm enough that we didn't have to discuss this decision!!

[welove2drive]

I have found when blowing the lines out if you remove the aerators from each faucet first I tend to get more water out.

[lc0338]

I think the previous poster hit on the key point. "WHAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH" is the system you will use even though both will work.

[JimHanus]

I've used both systems. The air never seemed to get all the water out so I didn't trust it. I now use antifreeze exclusively, and I recycle it by pumping it back into the bottles and using it again next year. I know it gets slightly diluted, so I add a new bottle each year ($3.00). I also have a gauge to check the strength of the antifreeze.

[RedRocket204]

dodge guy wrote:
Right the air can get through. Until the airflow stops and then all he water accumulates in a low area. And some of us tow our trailers to storage after winterizing, that would move even more water to a low area and create a possible damaging freeze point. To many "if's" and "should be ok's" to take a chance!

Yes we both have different ways to do it. But only one way is gauranteed not to damage anything from freezing.

I do tow my TT to a storage lot too. A suggestion for the blow out method is to be thorough with blowing the lines out as I do and it has not been a problem and I, and many others, do not feel like chances are being taken. I get the feeling you might be over thinking the dangers... but that is my opinion.

I very much dislike the pink stuff in my lines and will not use it in my lines and haven't since the first time I used it. I suppose it is best to agree to disagree on this matter.

[Tom_Barb]

I can understand water staying in a larger lines, but my Newmar has 1/4" - 3/8th plumbing. the water gets blown completely dry. water draining down to a low point, good theory, but really doesn't happen in real life.
I've used my blow side of the Vacuum cleaner to blow out sink drains.

[dodge_guy]

RedRocket204 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
Anyone that thinks they get 100% of the water out by blowing air through the system is kidding themselves. water will not move once the air can get through.

So, if air can get through then there must be room for the small amount of remaining water to expand because of freezing and not crack anything?

There are plenty of us who have done this many times who live in areas that see days on end of freezing temps and it has not been an issue. Heck, it is 18 degrees out as I write this and I'm not worried one bit.

You have your way and I have mine and guess what, both work.

Right the air can get through. Until the airflow stops and then all he water accumulates in a low area. And some of us tow our trailers to storage after winterizing, that would move even more water to a low area and create a possible damaging freeze point. To many "if's" and "should be ok's" to take a chance!

Yes we both have different ways to do it. But only one way is gauranteed not to damage anything from freezing.

[colliehauler]

I used air in the past and switched to using only RV antifreeze. Where my seasonal site is it can get to -45 below zero. Never had a issue with the antifreeze. Where your at I think either will work fine.

[RedRocket204]

dodge guy wrote:
Anyone that thinks they get 100% of the water out by blowing air through the system is kidding themselves. water will not move once the air can get through.

So, if air can get through then there must be room for the small amount of remaining water to expand because of freezing and not crack anything?

There are plenty of us who have done this many times who live in areas that see days on end of freezing temps and it has not been an issue. Heck, it is 18 degrees out as I write this and I'm not worried one bit.

You have your way and I have mine and guess what, both work.

[dodge_guy]

Anyone that thinks they get 100% of the water out by blowing air through the system is kidding themselves. water will not move once the air can get through. try this. blow air through a garden hose till no more comes out. now pick up one end and watch all the water come out the other side. Not worth it for the small amount of $$ RV antifreeze costs especially where it gets well below freezing for weeks or months.. for those that use it year round or down south where it barely touches freezing or at 30 deg. for a few says you could just pull the low point drains and run a heater with the cabinet doors open.

[greende]

I do it exactly like the previous two posters do it. I leave my compressor hooked up all the time with the quick connect and bleed everything one at a time. I have used nothing but air for the past 30 years. Really really don't like the smell of the pink stuff. Even blow out the traps.

[bobndot]

While using air don't forget to blow out the outside shower if you have one as well as the black tank flush .

While you are pumping air through the lines, turn on the water pump for 20 secs. or so to make sure there is no water in the pump.

[Tom_Barb]

I bought a hose adaptor and placed a male air hose quick disconnect in it, set my air compressor at 40 PSI connect to my fresh water hose, then remove my whole house filter element replace the bowl, dump my hot water heater and turn on the water valve, the air compressor will pressure up the entire fresh water system, then simply open each fresh water user. don't forget the ice maker in the freezer. and the wash machine.
after that blow out the sink and shower drains and empty all tanks.
add pink to the tanks. yer done.

[RedRocket204]

Interesting. I didn't know those came with a Schrader valve.

I use the version Camco 36143 Blow Out Plug with Brass Quick Connect. The 36143 version has a pneumatic quick connect on it so there is no need to stand at the City Water inlet.