Winterizing with air ?

[MyronL]

Someone's been chewing on my black valve handle!

[Donna D.]

Tasty!

[PleinAirCedar]

I would blame pack rats for that. Maybe getting one of those high pitched clicking devices that snowmobile outfitters use on their rigs during the summer would help?

[jumboscott]

Here is what the new models have, tube for the Winterizing process.

[yardsale]

Originally Posted by oldwave

I have blown out my airlines the last two winters with a Costco 12 volt air pump and have had no issues at all with the air method I followed the procedure exactly

I followed the same procedure as you did, also with a 12v tire inflator. No water comes out of the spigots but I hear gurgling. Did you hear that as well?

[gbaglo]

Sounds like you only have enough air pressure to disturb the water in your lines. I sure wouldn't count on that tire inflator to do the job.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by yardsale

I followed the same procedure as you did, also with a 12v tire inflator. No water comes out of the spigots but I hear gurgling. Did you hear that as well?

As Glenn said too small of a compressor won’t work. You need a decent flow rate (CFM) not just pressure. Some good advice has already been given...

Originally Posted by Ian G

I only use air to winterize both my trailers and have never had any issues. The trick is to use low pressure (40 psi max) and lots of air volume, that is the only way to displace water in the lines. A small 12V compressor will not clear the lines.

[steve dunham]

Winterizing our 21 tomorrow morning . Blow out the lines , pump in some -75 below RV antifreeze , fill the traps and into winter storage it goes !!

[yardsale]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

As Glenn said too small of a compressor won’t work. You need a decent flow rate (CFM) not just pressure. Some good advice has already been given...

Guess so. The thing is I've used the 12v for the past 4 winters and haven't had problems. Just Lucky? Anyway, neighbor has a tank compressor I can use.

[oldwave]

I would use the compressor until it was gurgling close all the faucets momentarily to build up some pressure and open again. Did this 3 or 4 times and seems to pretty empty

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by oldwave

I would use the compressor until it was gurgling close all the faucets momentarily to build up some pressure and open again. Did this 3 or 4 times and seems to pretty empty

That's why I use RV antifreeze. I don't have to hope I've done the job. I can see pink flowing from the taps.

[oldwave]

Well this my third year with this method and no antifreeze in my water system except for traps
Whatever works for you is fine. I’d rather not put antifreeze in pipes, as inert as it is.

[RJV]

I winterize my trailer using the air only approach. After draining the fresh water tank, I open all the taps and the toilet and run the water pump for about 20 seconds .. not more. Then I close the taps and toilet ... pressurize the system to not more than 40lbs psi and then I open one tap at a time to clear each line individually.

I believe that approach is detailed in the users manual as well.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

That's why I use RV antifreeze. I don't have to hope I've done the job. I can see pink flowing from the taps.

Hi: gbaglo... Put some food colouring in the Vodka!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[freetodream]

When using just 25 psi air pressure at the city water inlet 2-3 times: Does that safely remove all of the water from the 12 volt pump or is something more needed?

(I don't have a water heater or bath)

[gbaglo]

Not familiar with Scamp ( indicated in your profile ), but ETI says to run the pump for 15-20 seconds after you've drained the fresh water tank and drained and bypassed the water heater.

[jxoco]

The output side of the water pump has a back flow preventer valve.
That is why when you hook up to city water it doesn’t fill your freshwater tank.
The line from the freshwater tank to the pump can have water in it.
The compressed air will not blow this line out.
I have an inline filter there so I just unscrew it.
A few drops of water fall out but the rest of the water in the line siphons back into the freshwater tank and clears the line.

[Thane]

For my 2006 17b I use air in the fresh water line and antifreeze in the drains.

I remove the outside shower handle and the outside shower water valve stems. One year the handle cracked and a different year a valve stem was loose, hence the removals.

It gets as low as 15 F and this seems to work for my old trailer.

[Riolongo]

What is the opinion on RV antifreeze, ethanol based, or glycol? The glycol based antifreeze is approximately 4 times the cost, is it any better, safer?

Thanks,

Mike

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Riolongo

What is the opinion on RV antifreeze, ethanol based, or glycol? The glycol based antifreeze is approximately 4 times the cost, is it any better, safer?

Subject has been extensively discussed. Do a search.