Ok so I’m still new to the rv world. Only my second season. My first year I winterized myself. I wasn’t positive I did it right but a very cold winter and no pipes burst . So onto this year. I just had a massive heart attack. I’m in bad shape but on my road to recovery. I’m young (40 ). So it kinda sucks. Anyways for this reason my wife called someone local called the rv doctor. She paid them to come to our house and winterize it in our driveway . They weren’t to friendly . Said zero words to us. Pulled in our parking lot for about 15 minutes and than drove off. Again never saying nothing but calling us hours later telling how much we owed. I already paid and it just dawned on me they never asked for the keys to the trailer. I say this because out outdoor shower is locked. Does this mean they never pumped the antifreeze through the shower wand ? I know I did when I did it the past year . Did they do a half ass job or what ? What do you guys think ? Do i need them to get back over here ? Do they have universal keys and did it ? Did they flush my water tank with the wand ? I know you guys can’t answer any of this definitely but please what’s your opinion

Lemonhead78 wrote:Ok so I’m still new to the rv world. Only my second season. My first year I winterized myself. I wasn’t positive I did it right but a very cold winter and no pipes burst . So onto this year. I just had a massive heart attack. I’m in bad shape but on my road to recovery. I’m young (40 ). So it kinda sucks. Anyways for this reason my wife called someone local called the rv doctor. She paid them to come to our house and winterize it in our driveway . They weren’t to friendly . Said zero words to us. Pulled in our parking lot for about 15 minutes and than drove off. Again never saying nothing but calling us hours later telling how much we owed. I already paid and it just dawned on me they never asked for the keys to the trailer. I say this because out outdoor shower is locked. Does this mean they never pumped the antifreeze through the shower wand ? I know I did when I did it the past year . Did they do a half ass job or what ? What do you guys think ? Do i need them to get back over here ? Do they have universal keys and did it ? Did they flush my water tank with the wand ? I know you guys can’t answer any of this definitely but please what’s your opinionAll TT compartments use the same key- CH751

If they only spent 15 minutes, I doubt they did an adequate job.

That’s what I’m thinking. Their was 2 of them though . I should of stayed out their and watched them

jfkmk wrote:If they only spent 15 minutes, I doubt they did an adequate job.Maybe, maybe not. This time of the year at a local dealer near us, people drop of hundreds of rigs for winterizing. I think he charges $79, $99 for the largest rigs or ones they have to do additional things like removing built in filter cartridges. He'll line up 30 or more, as many as he can fit on his side lot, in a row every day for a month and a half, and they'll do them all in less than 3 hours using 2 workers in the morning with the pump setup they have mounted to a gator. Then they are pulled to another lot and the owner is required to pick them up that evening so he has room for the next 30-40.Those people come back every fall so speed evidently is not a factor. They're also not using the over complicated methods you sometimes read about on RV boards, where people take winterizing to the point of anality.

Ralph Cramden wrote:jfkmk wrote:If they only spent 15 minutes, I doubt they did an adequate job.Maybe, maybe not. This time of the year at a local dealer near us, people drop of hundreds of rigs for winterizing. I think he charges $79, $99 for the largest rigs or ones they have to do additional things like removing built in filter cartridges. He'll line up 30 or more, as many as he can fit on his side lot, in a row every day for a month and a half, and they'll do them all in less than 3 hours using 2 workers in the morning with the pump setup they have mounted to a gator. Then they are pulled to another lot and the owner is required to pick them up that evening so he has room for the next 30-40.Those people come back every fall so speed evidently is not a factor. They're also not using the over complicated methods you sometimes read about on RV boards, where people take winterizing to the point of anality.I think your saying not to worry. I mean they do do this for a living. They had to have known I have an outdoor shower door . Can I hold them responsible come spring if the line froze and leaks

Winterize ( heart attack ) please help | Good Sam Community

spoon059
Explorer II
Oct 27, 2018
jfkmk wrote:
You forgot:
Run pump til fresh water tank is empty.
Drain low points.
Remove access panel to water heater to access bypass.
Remove access panel to access water pump.
Then do the stuff you listed.
Replace access panels.

Even doing things simultaneously it would be more than 15 minutes. Certainly less than a half hour, but more than 15 minutes.

Then throw in potentially being unfamiliar with the specific camper and exactly where the above is located, I doubt they did a very good job if at all.

Why run the pump to empty the fresh water when you can drain the fresh water? For that matter, why would you want so much water in your gray tank to freeze and expand throughout the winter? I'd rather have as little water as possible in my tanks.
I drain the low points after every trip, but that is two drains and a minute of time
The access panel to the water heater is 2 screws. That takes less than a minute.
The access panel to the water pump is 1 screw.
Replacing 3 screws and closed the drain to the fresh tank takes maybe 2 minutes.

The very first time on my very first trailer took a couple more minutes, as I had never done it before. I do it once or twice a year. For a company that does it hundreds of times per year, they are likely faster... especially if they have 2 people doing it. I'm not sure how or why it takes people 30-45 minutes, but its your time and your RV, take as much time as you need. As I said... I can easily winterize in 15 minutes.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Oct 27, 2018
jfkmk wrote:
spoon059 wrote:
jfkmk wrote:
If they only spent 15 minutes, I doubt they did an adequate job.

I usually take 15 minutes to winterize mine... what takes other people so long?

Drain the water heater, bypass the water heater.
Ensure you have empty black/gray water tanks.
2 gallons of antifreeze into the winterization valve, turn on pump.
Outside shower, outdoor kitchen, bathroom, kitchen valves opened til pink, then closed.
Dump remaining antifreeze into traps.
Lock door, walk away.

Even leisurely, that's about 15 minutes.

You forgot:
Run pump til fresh water tank is empty.
Drain low points.
Remove access panel to water heater to access bypass.
Remove access panel to access water pump.
Then do the stuff you listed.
Replace access panels.

Even doing things simultaneously it would be more than 15 minutes. Certainly less than a half hour, but more than 15 minutes.

Then throw in potentially being unfamiliar with the specific camper and exactly where the above is located, I doubt they did a very good job if at all.

I agree that it’s not a 15 min job. Done properly for me is 45 minutes. But I take my time and have a few beers.
And don’t forget about putting antifreeze in the traps. Then you have to worry about water sitting in the grey tank drain.
jfkmk
Explorer
Oct 26, 2018
spoon059 wrote:
jfkmk wrote:
If they only spent 15 minutes, I doubt they did an adequate job.

I usually take 15 minutes to winterize mine... what takes other people so long?

Drain the water heater, bypass the water heater.
Ensure you have empty black/gray water tanks.
2 gallons of antifreeze into the winterization valve, turn on pump.
Outside shower, outdoor kitchen, bathroom, kitchen valves opened til pink, then closed.
Dump remaining antifreeze into traps.
Lock door, walk away.

Even leisurely, that's about 15 minutes.

You forgot:
Run pump til fresh water tank is empty.
Drain low points.
Remove access panel to water heater to access bypass.
Remove access panel to access water pump.
Then do the stuff you listed.
Replace access panels.

Even doing things simultaneously it would be more than 15 minutes. Certainly less than a half hour, but more than 15 minutes.

Then throw in potentially being unfamiliar with the specific camper and exactly where the above is located, I doubt they did a very good job if at all.
spoon059
Explorer II
Oct 26, 2018
jfkmk wrote:
If they only spent 15 minutes, I doubt they did an adequate job.

I usually take 15 minutes to winterize mine... what takes other people so long?

Drain the water heater, bypass the water heater.
Ensure you have empty black/gray water tanks.
2 gallons of antifreeze into the winterization valve, turn on pump.
Outside shower, outdoor kitchen, bathroom, kitchen valves opened til pink, then closed.
Dump remaining antifreeze into traps.
Lock door, walk away.

Even leisurely, that's about 15 minutes.

OP, I'm doubtful YOUR's was done right, because if they didn't have access to the inside of the camper, how did they bypass your water heater, how did they open your interior valves, how did they introduce antifreeze into the system?

Its easy to check though, just go in your camper and turn on your water pump and open each valve. A little bit of pink should drip if they are filled.
aftermath
Explorer III
Oct 26, 2018
guidry wrote:
Your profile doesn’t say where you live. Perhaps if you changed it one of us members would offer to come help. I’d be calling the guys you had out and get assurances. Good luck

Ah, this is the issue. Sorry to hear of your concerns. I am thinking that keeping calm at times like these is pretty important. If you would let us know where you live, someone might step up and help. Winterizing a trailer is not like sending a man to the moon. Relatively simple when you get right down to it. I am sorry to hear that these guys treated you like they did.
FLY_4_FUN
Explorer
Oct 26, 2018
Unless its like the "repo" guys that have master keys I cant imagine how they could have ensured all water was pushed out and pink to all taps without being inside. In addition one wants pink into the P traps and toilet bowl to keep gaskets damp. Outside shower for sure a concern, and did they remove the city water screen and push the valve to get the last bit of water out of the line? Sorry to hear of your condition...but your right to wonder what exactly they did except demand money!! I would want to speak to whoever did the job and have them recite what they did to validate it was correct.
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Oct 26, 2018
I could do mine in 15min, but in your case,who drained the water tank. and the hot water heater, shower, low point drain, I think you got a very cheap job. call a mobil tech ,and have it done again, OR pay a neighbor kied to eo the work while you teach him.
kirkl
Explorer
Oct 25, 2018
I dont even use the pink anti freeze, i blow out all the lines and dump the rv anti freeze down the goose necks and have never had a problem over 20 years with different trailers doing it this way.
eaton3122
Explorer
Oct 25, 2018
Don’t forget about draining the hot water heater as well. If they pumped in the pink stuff, I’m hoping they used the hot water heater bypass if you have one.
ksg5000
Explorer
Oct 25, 2018
It doesn't take very long to winterize a rig with the pink stuff - 15 minutes is plenty of time for two experienced guys. As others have said - professional rv guy would have keys to your storage compartment so I wouldn't be concerned about that either. It's easy to determine whether someone has pumped the pink stuff - open the toilet lid.

Edit: Why not just call the outfit that winterized your rig and tell them you had shower behind locked compartment and confirm whether they winterized it?