winterizing question - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Problem Solving | Owners helping each other
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 02-24-2014, 03:51 PM   #1
Member
 
Ellentob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 74
winterizing question

My wife doesn't want my using anti-freeze in the water tank and pumping it through the lines. That means blowing out the lines with a compressor. I don't own an air compressor and don't need one except for this one job. Shopping on line for a compressor brought up dozens of options from 12v tire inflaters to more powerful 110v models. I realize I need to regulate the pressure to no more than 25psi and might need to purchase a regulator. My intincts tell me to get a 12v portable one that might get used to inflate a tire or something. I was wondering if anyone has any input or advice on the subject. Can a 12volt tire inflator be used for winterization?
Ellentob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 04:03 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
The 12V models will not produce the volume of air needed to blow out the lines. They do produce enough pressure to inflate a tire, but it is painstakingly slow. If you know a woodworker, they most likely will have one to borrow. You just need the adapter to hook to your water inlet.

Either one like this that uses a tire inflator.



Or one like this that you can hook the air line directly to.

__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 04:05 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
But your wife can rest assured that if you use a true RV antifreeze, then rinse it out good in the spring, it is not at all harmful, and if any residual taste is left, a good cleaning with a cup of bleach to a tank of water will fix that. Then rinse.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 04:13 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Bruce Wray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Pollock Pines, California
Trailer: 2009 Escape 19
Posts: 453
I bought a small portable compressor that has adjustable output-- like $90 -- at Home Depot. Besides winterizing, it's also handy for the trailer tires, and bike tires, and blowing off things that need cleaning.. I'm happy I got it.

Bruce
Bruce Wray is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 04:21 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
Harbor Freight shows a 1/3 hp pancake for $60. For occasional use it may suffice. 1cfm at 40 may be enough oomph.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
padlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 04:37 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
PGDriver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Southern Alberta, Alberta
Trailer: 2015 Escape 5.0TA
Posts: 1,734
Just a side note if your worried about antifreeze and are sold on blowing out your lines make sure you have a oil filter/trap if you have a oil cooled/lubricated compressor otherwise you could be blowing an oil mist in.

I installed a winterizing valve on my 19 and once I have displaced all the water with antifreeze I then drain the lines thus if a small amount of liquid is present somewhere it will not freeze. In the spring I simply flush the system for 2 or 3 minutes and aside from the chlorine in the water I find no taste left behind.
__________________
Cheers
Doug
PGDriver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 05:02 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
Yes, make sure it is an oilless compressor if used for rv lines.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 05:21 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
dave macrae's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: St.Albert, Alberta
Trailer: 21 ft November 17th
Posts: 847
Thats a great idea to use anit freeze and then blow it out, there would be next to none left in there and if there is a small little place that doesn't get drained its antifreeze so it wont wreck anything
__________________
MacRae, 21ft
2016 GMC Yukon SLT
St.Albert Alberta
dave macrae is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 05:55 PM   #9
Member
 
dglasrud's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Kimberley, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 escape 17B
Posts: 63
I just bought an oil filled compressor for just this reason. Never thought about the oil mist. Where can I get an oil filter trap? I didn't know there was such a thing, but now feel that I need one. PGDriver Your comment makes sense
dglasrud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 05:58 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
You can get the filter at most stores that sell compressors. Here is a couple links to ones at Rona. I use one on my 60 gal shop compressor, so it doesn't stain the wood. There is not very much put out, but still worth being careful of.

Mini Air Filter | RONA

This is the one I use in my shop.

http://www.rona.ca/en/air-filter
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 06:05 PM   #11
Member
 
dglasrud's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Kimberley, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 escape 17B
Posts: 63
Thanks again Jim!! We have a Rona store in Cranbrook.
dglasrud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 07:49 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
I'm sure you can operate the compressor without adding the oil, the oil protects the tool and when you use an oil less pump you are supposed to add oil to the tool. With the oil compressor set up there is an oil reservoir, just empty or by pass when using to winterize.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 08:16 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
bvansnell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2010 Escape 13
Posts: 431
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett View Post
The 12V models will not produce the volume of air needed to blow out the lines. They do produce enough pressure to inflate a tire, but it is painstakingly slow. If you know a woodworker, they most likely will have one to borrow. You just need the adapter to hook to your water inlet.
We have been using a small 12 volt compressor (Bon-Aire DD25CN 12V Direct Drive Vehicle Air Compressor/Inflator) we bought at Costco and it has worked very well for inflating tires and also blowing out water lines. The compressor has a built in air pressure gauge. You can pressurize the water system to 30 psi, then open the taps one at a time, and it seems to blow out most of the water, as far as I can tell. I had to remove the washer and screen from the water intake and replace it with a regular hose washer before installing the blowout plug, as otherwise it was not possible to pressurize the water lines.

This compressor is small and portable and we take it with us for adjusting tire pressures when needed.
__________________
Brian

2003 Subaru Forester
2012 Toyota Highlander V6
2010 Escape 13 "Ladybug" Feb 2010
bvansnell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 08:29 PM   #14
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
I've always had luck blowing out the lines in my Scamp with a Black and Decker air station and a Schrader valve. I'm I just fooling myself and feeling lucky?
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 08:31 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
Does that work with one go, Brian? It would seem that it would build pressure, but with little air behind it. I do carry one of those small compressors too, it has come in handy.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 08:35 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
I'm sure you can operate the compressor without adding the oil, the oil protects the tool and when you use an oil less pump you are supposed to add oil to the tool. With the oil compressor set up there is an oil reservoir, just empty or by pass when using to winterize.
With an oil compressor, it is the oil in the compressor that you are filtering out. You are likely thinking about compressors with tool oilers in-line, that do lube the tools. These are used mostly in mechanical shops. In setups that use the filters like I listed, you are trying to remove all the oil from the compressor out of the line, as you would not put and oiler, and an oil filter, in-line with each other.

Even the site compressor I use, uses an oil filled compressor, and even though there is a bit of oil in the line, I still have to lube my tools, though some of the new ones no longer require it.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 09:19 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
bvansnell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2010 Escape 13
Posts: 431
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett View Post
Does that work with one go, Brian? It would seem that it would build pressure, but with little air behind it. I do carry one of those small compressors too, it has come in handy.
Jim

No, I need to pressurize the system several times and blow out until no more water comes out in each line. I have an accumulator in the water line, so once the system is pressurized there is quite a bit of air to help blow out the lines.

I drain the hot water tank separately and pull the anode rod.

I use RV antifreeze just in the P-trap under the kitchen sink since we don't have a toilet or shower in our little trailer.

This has worked fine for three years so far.

When we were winter camping in January we bypassed the hot water tank, hooked up to the water supply, then re-winterized when we got back. Fairly easy to do.
__________________
Brian

2003 Subaru Forester
2012 Toyota Highlander V6
2010 Escape 13 "Ladybug" Feb 2010
bvansnell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2014, 09:33 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
PGDriver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Southern Alberta, Alberta
Trailer: 2015 Escape 5.0TA
Posts: 1,734
With compressors its all about CFM at PSI.
__________________
Cheers
Doug
PGDriver is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:43 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.