Unbelievable...but true.

[AlabamaTraveler]

We purchased our 2017 Rockwood TT last June. After our last trip of the year (Nov} I parked it with plans to winterize at a later date. Due to health issues and two operations. it was never winterized in any way. We had one of the coldest seasons in years. Several nights we had 8 degrees. Many weeks below 32. Last week I connected water for the first time expecting some real problems. We had no frozen lines at all. We just got home from 7 days of camping. We had no water issues. I love my Rockwood.

[pianotuna]

Here is some good information:

http://www.nola.com/homegarden/index.ssf/2014/01/the_proper_way_to_protect_pipe.html

I still think it is safer to NOT freeze anything, and to run from the internal water tank whenever possible.

[wrvond]

AlabamaTraveler wrote:
We purchased our 2017 Rockwood TT last June. After our last trip of the year (Nov} I parked it with plans to winterize at a later date. Due to health issues and two operations. it was never winterized in any way. We had one of the coldest seasons in years. Several nights we had 8 degrees. Many weeks below 32. Last week I connected water for the first time expecting some real problems. We had no frozen lines at all. We just got home from 7 days of camping. We had no water issues. I love my Rockwood.

Good for you!
It's funny all the different responses a post will elicit. Everybody wants to fix stuff, even when it's not broken. 😄

[pianotuna]

I'm not recommending freezing an RV no matter what type of pipe. I'm saying there is a possibility of no damage.

[77rollalong]

westend wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Copper can be frozen approximately 7 times. Each time the walls get thinner. Finally they burst.

77rollalong wrote:
i would not have gotten away with that, our motorhome is copper lines, and it got to 20 below for a few days.....should by a lottery ticket too

Don, I think that rule of 7 can be subverted. I've seen brand new copper pipe burst in the first night of a really cold snap. The cases I've seen of burst lines typically occurs at fittings, adjacent to them, and at bends that hold water.

FWIW, I often see anecdotal blow out procedures on this Forum where owners limit air pressure to 30-40 PSI. IMO, that's way to low to remove all the water in even a small system. One has to be cognisant about the transfer of energy of compressed gas moving that slug of water through a pipe and fixture, though. It is possible that a slug of pressurized air and water breaks a fitting or breaks a valve.

the rule of 7 may hold true, but its a used 40 year old motor home, i have no idea if its ever been frozen or not, my luck its frozen 6 times already. I like to blow them out as much as i can, then use the pump and pump af through everything. this year i had a bit of a problem with that in that i did the HW tank bypass got all the af in and the pump failed before i got the tank winterized. but since the tank was partly disconnected i just poured in a couple of liters of af into the top of the tank..

[Ralph_Cramden]

AlabamaTraveler wrote:
We purchased our 2017 Rockwood TT last June. After our last trip of the year (Nov} I parked it with plans to winterize at a later date. Due to health issues and two operations. it was never winterized in any way. We had one of the coldest seasons in years. Several nights we had 8 degrees. Many weeks below 32. Last week I connected water for the first time expecting some real problems. We had no frozen lines at all. We just got home from 7 days of camping. We had no water issues. I love my Rockwood.

Rockwood does put together a good unit but can also build a disaster. Our 17 Rockwood Roo is fairly good but the first one they shipped which we refused to buy was a piece of garbage. Rockwood/Flagstaff is certainly at the top of the Forest River build quality food chain IMO when compared to FR's other lines/brands/divisions.

[westend]

pianotuna wrote:
Copper can be frozen approximately 7 times. Each time the walls get thinner. Finally they burst.

77rollalong wrote:
i would not have gotten away with that, our motorhome is copper lines, and it got to 20 below for a few days.....should by a lottery ticket too

Don, I think that rule of 7 can be subverted. I've seen brand new copper pipe burst in the first night of a really cold snap. The cases I've seen of burst lines typically occurs at fittings, adjacent to them, and at bends that hold water.

FWIW, I often see anecdotal blow out procedures on this Forum where owners limit air pressure to 30-40 PSI. IMO, that's way to low to remove all the water in even a small system. One has to be cognisant about the transfer of energy of compressed gas moving that slug of water through a pipe and fixture, though. It is possible that a slug of pressurized air and water breaks a fitting or breaks a valve.

[SDcampowneroper]

Blowing out or A/F is a matter of being very thorough, going tap to faucet to toilet to shower several times. Shower heads and aerators removed. Think it through do not miss anything including blowing out the black tank rinser. You cant AF that.

Pump a little pink through the pump, but not through the fresh tank, do it with the bypass valve if you have one, if not disconnect the intake from the tank to the pump screw on a short hose to the pump to insert into the af jug. When done this way until the pipes blow dust it has worked for us and guests. In either case you must think of all piping.

Another thing, We winterize piping on 84 campsites, 12 buildings , 2 pools, About 30 rvs every year one at a time but it takes 3 30 gallon compressors hours to dry a 3/4 mile of pipe to blow the campsites.the only AF used is in drains and toilets.
pink is better if you do not have a high volume air compressor. Job site compressors are generally to small

[pianotuna]

Copper can be frozen approximately 7 times. Each time the walls get thinner. Finally they burst.

77rollalong wrote:
i would not have gotten away with that, our motorhome is copper lines, and it got to 20 below for a few days.....should by a lottery ticket too

[MSchu]

PEX tubing is pretty flexible. I've heard of it freezing and thawing in a house all winter without breaking; just be glad you didn't have the old PB tubing!

[DutchmenSport]

soren wrote:
I...failed to see a half-gallon GLASS jar of saurkraut tucked into the back of a cabinet. ... but it was just fine.

Yes, the OP really got "lucky" on that one, I agree!

I always do the antifreeze, never miss, but here's where I wasn't so lucky once. In February 2016 we were beginning to do some pre-packing for our March trip to South Carolina (from Indiana). When I opened the refrigerator door, there was still 12 can's of Coca Cola in there and this:

[gbopp]

I believe you. But, it is unbelievable. Good to hear it worked out for you.
Don't try it again next year. That was your free one. 🙂

[naturist]

Wow! Health issues aside, you are one lucky guy. Just don't press your luck and try that again. Your guardian angel is likely to let you suffer your fate.

[rexlion]

soren wrote:
I pulled a similar stunt, last winter. I did the anti-freeze properly, but failed to see a half-gallon GLASS jar of saurkraut tucked into the back of a cabinet. There is no logical reason that the jar made it through the winter, since it was well below freezing, many, many nights, but it was just fine.

Salty sauerkraut. Salt water freezes at a colder temp than fresh water.

[soren]

Larry-D wrote:
I wish I had your luck. Last fall, emptied tanks, drained lines, blew out lines with air and poured RV anitfreeze down drains. So far this year had to replace the kitchen faucet, my bad not opening the valves, outside shower even though I drained it at the shower and the toilet valve. We hate the taste of the RV antifreeze but I guess next year we'll break down and use it.

Everytime the anti-freeze and blow out arguments start here, I warn folks that there is a possibility of not blowing 100% of everything clear. The other point to ponder if you live in freeze country is, what do your local RV dealers do? Here in the mid-Atlantic, every time
I've looked at a unit, from late fall to spring, there is plenty of evidence that they fill the plumbing with antifreeze.