winterizing - i'm late !

[OBX-GL]

Hey all, looking for thoughts.
Trailer has been in storage without winterization. I'm fairly certain i drained low point and water heater with taps open when i parked it. Temps have been at freezing for a few days now. Last night -7C/19F, theres no sign of above freezing temps for 5 or so days. Should i go over today and run pump and try to get things done or wait till i get a day or two of warmer weather ?

I'm frustrated/angry with myself. I know better. Been to busy working.

[texasclarks]

OBX-GL

What Harley suggested is what I do almost everytime I park the trailer. Additionally I take the plug out of the water heater. I was late winterizing as we had planned to use it one last time this fall. Luckily I open up everything and pulled the low water drains (just in case) before we parked it last month. I had to winterized it earlier this week after it warmed up a bit. The only thing that broke was the bypass valve on the HW bypass (t-handle broke but could turn with pliers).

Glad it worked out for you. I know winterizing is cheap insurance compared to the cost of repairing water lines and fixtures.

[OBX-GL]

Harley4275
i feel you are correct on this thought. Possibly its why (it appears) i got lucky. Although i had not blown anything out i had everything well drained and valves open and burped. Not sure why i started this practice but it is how i always park my trailer until next use.

[harley4275]

Just a little fyi for next summer...when you are not using the camper, simply shut off pump and open all taps and give the toilet a flush to releive pressure. and 'burp' the city water intake. If there is water in the lines then with tapps open there will be somewhere for the water to expand and not break parts.

[OBX-GL]

Yikes !
i'd have to think thats not a good sign.

[USMC1833]

Laying on the floor broke. Yes they are plastic.

[OBX-GL]

Bum,sad to hear that.
Define broke. Are they plastic and split ?

[USMC1833]

Well I have the same issue. Did not winterize due to plans to take it out next week and went out to check on the camper today and the sink faucet broke, the shower head broke and the water filter near the pump broke. How screwed am I?

[PAThwacker]

Wow. It has been so cold in northeast PA last week. The pink was freezing in the toilet bowl.

[colliehauler]

OBX-GL wrote:
No, actually i didn't check the water heater. Hmmm… what would that have entailed ? I guess filling it and running it ? Because i had pulled they plug and drained it in the fall, and bypassed, i assumed it was safe.
Not ?

If you drained it your fine.

[OBX-GL]

Some additional little thoughts.
With the outside grill closed but the hot water plug out, would anyone worry about something crawling in the tank? Also, should the low point drains be left open or closed ?

[handye9]

OBX-GL wrote:
No, actually i didn't check the water heater. Hmmm… what would that have entailed ? I guess filling it and running it ? Because i had pulled they plug and drained it in the fall, and bypassed, i assumed it was safe.
Not ?

Drained, plug out, bi-passed, I think you're safe. The little bit of water that may still be in the tank, has plenty of room for expansion. Most of it evaporated, before the weather turned cold.

[_tiredTeacher]

Road Phantom wrote:
If it were I, ...

OMG! The correct use of the subjunctive. You made this ol' retired English teacher's day. Thank you.

Teach

[OBX-GL]

No, actually i didn't check the water heater. Hmmm… what would that have entailed ? I guess filling it and running it ? Because i had pulled they plug and drained it in the fall, and bypassed, i assumed it was safe.
Not ?

[colliehauler]

OBX-GL wrote:
So heres my little update.
All appears to be good. Running the furnace for 24 hours in insanely cold temps thawed things out surprisingly quickly. Ran the pump and everything pressurized and ran pink. I have monitored things for a few days and see no leaking. Underbelly of course is an unknown but pushing the outside city water valve reveals lots of pressure is maintained as it continues to squirt strong with the pump off for days.

A side note. I have never experienced winter camping in an RV, so am so surprised how well the furnace kept things warm. On the 1F night it maintained 80F inside with the furnace cycling, even the floors were warm.

Thanks all for your thoughts. Still can't believe i found myself in this predicament as winterizing takes only a few minutes. And i sooo new better.

It sounds like you were VERY lucky!

Did you check the water heater?