Blow out lines vs Anti freeze

[RandK-M]

Originally Posted by 5picker

I agree Mike, it's a personal preference thing for sure.

I guess I don't personally understand the 'antifreeze taste/smell' thing or have been lucky. In about 40 years of using R/V antifreeze, I've never had a taste/smell issue after flushing and sanitizing the system in the spring.

I'm not saying it doesn't happen as I have read a few posts that said that and I'm not calling anyone a liar but I just never personally experienced it in well over 50+ uses of antifreeze. (sometimes winterizing more than once a year)

I think it's just one of those things where some people can detect it and others can't. I can taste and smell it for a few trips, even after sanitizing with bleach. People just have different taste and smell levels just like some can eat super spicy food without flinching and someone like my wife thinks a tiny amount of black pepper burns.

Ray

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by RandK-M

I think it's just one of those things where some people can detect it and others can't. I can taste and smell it for a few trips, even after sanitizing with bleach. People just have different taste and smell levels just like some can eat super spicy food without flinching and someone like my wife thinks a tiny amount of black pepper burns.

Ray

Amen to different levels of taste sensitivity.

I notice some things more than others in my family and likewise, they taste things I don't notice.

Same for sense of smell (which is a huge component of taste). My mother's sense of smell was almost non-existent. Consequently she was a lousy cook. My Dad had to do all the seasoning when cooking.

[RandK-M]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Amen to different levels of taste sensitivity.

I notice some things more than others in my family and likewise, they taste things I don't notice.

Same for sense of smell (which is a huge component of taste). My mother's sense of smell was almost non-existent. Consequently she was a lousy cook. My Dad had to do all the seasoning when cooking.

Yes, you're very right about smell being attached to taste. My wife likes to joke that I have a dog nose because I can be pushed out of an area from some smells that she can barely even detect.

Ray

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by RandK-M

Yes, you're very right about smell being attached to taste. My wife likes to joke that I have a dog nose because I can be pushed out of an area from some smells that she can barely even detect.

Ray

Perhaps it's a gender related condition. Would explain why so many men have problems changing baby diapers that aren't just wet and women think nothing of it.

[jimmoore13]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Perhaps it's a gender related condition. Would explain why so many men have problems changing baby diapers that aren't just wet and women think nothing of it.

As the Church Lady would say, "How Conveeeeeenient."

[RandK-M]

I actually did some draining and blowing out today.
I do is drain all my tanks, bypass and drain water heater and then use the lowpoint drains to get the bulk of the water out. After that, I hook my compressor up to the city water hookup with a quick release fitting and set my compressor to 50 LBS, charge the system and do an initial blow out on all the faucets, toilet, shower, etc....... After that I leave the compressor hooked up at 50 lbs while I do camper cleaning, work around the house, or whatever and over the course of a couple hours, I open faucets and low points from time to time until I get nothing but air. It's not much work or time, I just leave the compressor hooked up and go about my day doing other stuff and take a minute to open faucets now and then.
When done, I leave the system charged with air and tomorrow I'll bleed the low points and faucets again. That way, I not only make sure there's no water, but it tests the system for leaks if it holds air for 24 hours.

I'm not sure where the idea comes from that a couple of drops of water in the system will cause a break. Maybe in an orifice of a toilet valve or some other valve or fitting, but water expands approximately 9% when frozen, so there would need to be enough where if it expanded it would exert force on the walls of whatever it was in.

Ray

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by RandK-M

I'm not sure where the idea comes from that a couple of drops of water in the system will cause a break. Maybe in an orifice of a toilet valve or some other valve or fitting, but water expands approximately 9% when frozen, so there would need to be enough where if it expanded it would exert force on the walls of whatever it was in.

Ray

It comes from threads like this:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ll-185946.html

[Kenneth Deiss]

Originally Posted by Flybob

This is an annual debate that occurs every fall. There are people that have had success with both. There are a few people who have had issues with air only. No one has had an issue with antifreeze. I do both an extra 30 mins and $6.00 and made it through several 72 hours all below freezing.

Many years ago I did not use anti freeze just blew out the lines a little water sat in an elbow in tub faucet and froze a night mare to find and replace.also antifreeze keeps washers lubed.
I highly recommend the pink stuff
Ken

[coupe1942]

Okay, either way wouldn't you need something in the tank to keep the seals from drying out, be it antifreeze or anything else? Curious, as I know nothing as to doing this, other than YouTube videos and watching threads as this often confuses me more than helps, as there is just too much back and forth over which is better vs what works and why. Sorry, but I would likely go to my dealership on the first go at it, just to watch and learn, as i am much more of a tactile and visual learner than someone who learns only by reading about it. My question above is not meant to start up any back and forth, but just to find out if the seals get damaged if they are not moist in some manner in this final process.

[jaybe]

Originally Posted by afmiller

I've done some reading and the issue seems to vary greatly among people. What is the best way to winterize your plumbing. I live up in cny where it can get into the -20s. I've read some people just blow out their lines others use antifreeze and some blow it out, then use antifreeze.
My main concerns with blowing lines out is I will miss some whater somehwere at some point and have an expensive bill. Also I remember reading something about sagging lines.
On the other hand I've read that the AntiFreeze can be hard to get out of the system sometimes, as well people taste the antifreeze even after fushing the lines multiple times. I've come to understand there are 2 typesm the Ethonal based and Gycol based ones. Is it true the non ethonal is easier to get out and get the system back to normal during de winterzation compaired to the Ethonal one. Also that the Ethonal one can tend to dry out seals in the pipes compaired to the other type. I am really trying to do whats best to extend the life of the equipment.

Thanks for your time

I remember in my first days of winterizing my first trailer 6 years ago I paid $400 for a dealer (Because I can't park an RV in my community) to basically remove my tub and everything around it to replace a fitting behind the tub that froze during the winter. From that day on it has been blow lines then antifreeze them. For peace of mind, I'm not going back to one or the other. It's both. My new Rockwood 2507 deserves the best treatment.

[jughrad]

Here is a video I made on the subject. I plan to do a de-winterizing video soon but I have never had a problem flushing the system. Don't put any antifreeze in the fresh water tank or the water heater or you will have problems flushing.

https://youtu.be/6ArNTjM7kPs

[darqman]

I've owned my rig since 2013 and have blown the lines out myself every year. I've not had a single surprise when I go camping in the spring. I have one toilet, indoor shower, outdoor shower, outdoor sink, kitchen sink and water heater. Takes about an hour to ensure ALL water is out.

[jd4010]

I do both.....blow out the lines and then run the pink stuff. For under $10 a year, I get peace of mind which to me is priceless.

[DES-1]

Originally Posted by Kenneth Deiss

.also antifreeze keeps washers lubed.

Ken

Since when do plumbing washers, valves, etc. need lubrication?!

[danking49]

I don't have an air compressor and am too cheap to buy one. Pumping anti-freeze through the system guarentees all water is removed if you do it right. Never had an issue with the smell after dis-infecting the system in the spring.

[FPerry]

I’ve always blown out my lines with no issues except for my own mistake. Forgot to flush the outside shower one year. I also flush my irrigation as someone else stated never having any issues. To me antifreeze is an alternative to those that don’t have compressors. Due to the pressure I use it’s important to always keep at least one faucet open so pressure can’t build up to a point of bursting the lines.

[HATCHET19]

I've been blowing out lines for over 10 years now with no problems. And I live in Michigan. You do what feels right to you.

[Tsjosh]

All I can add is a new water pump is about $80, antifreeze is $6. Make the wise choice.

[HappyTrav]

This is my 3rd camper in 20 years. I always just blew them out and put antifreeze in the traps and sucked some into the pump to be safe. I never had a problem.

I just did mine. I blow it out and add antifreeze to be safe. It’s $2.58 a gallon here and if I blow it out first I can get it done in a gallon or a gallon and a half. Pretty cheap insurance. I installed a water filter with a built in bypass so that saves some.

When blowing it out remember to:
Drain the HW tank and engage the bypass valves.
Turn down the pressure to about 60lbs
Open the low point valves
Outside shower
Black tank flush

Make sure that you open and close the bypass valves while blowing the lines out. Sometimes you can get water trapped in the bypass. I got about 4-5oz out when I did this on my new camper.

I always also leave all the valves open.

Bob

[pojp58]

Blow out the lines. Its easy.