Is antifreeze really necessary?

[rohlingerrv]

I live in the south carolina so our winters are not harsh so all I ever do is drain all the water and leave the faucets open, I've been following this procedure for years and have had no problems. I now have a new 5th wheel and all this talk about running anitfreeze thru the water systems has gotten me to start thinking about doing the same.

[LadyWindrider]

I look at it this way, $8.00 for antifreeze, ( 2 gallons), or $180 plumbing repair bill. I'm in North Carolina, and I understand where you are coming from, but for me it is cheap insurance. Male sure you antifreeze the drain traps also. Good Luck.

[3 Happy Campers]

There’s one thing I’ve come to realize, everyone has their rituals they swear by.
Whether it’s how to set up or break camp or winterize.
What works for one person I might consider lame.

Like the antifreeze in the drain.
I am in PA & don’t make it a point of putting any in the drain other than what might come out of the faucet when I’m running it through the lines.
Now windrider will probably tell you I’m crazy.

You say you have been following your routine for years.
Just because you have a new camper I don’t see any reason for you to change it.
As you said SC winters are not that harsh.
If I were in SC I myself wouldn’t go the extra step with the pink stuff.

You have to do what helps you sleep at night.

[dezolen]

Winter in South Carolina? Wanna trade places?
draining water lines is more than enough
You would need below freezing temps for a few days to do any damage

[MightyMike]

Originally Posted by dezolen

Winter in South Carolina? Wanna trade places?
draining water lines is more than enough
You would need below freezing temps for a few days to do any damage

Yeah, really. I can just imagine when I'm out shoveling the latest gift from Ma Nature later this year, the OP will be sittin on the porch probably watching a beautiful sunset!

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by windrider

it is cheap insurance

Since we don't drink water from the tap, I could not agree more.
For us. Pink stuff till we head south, then a blow out with air when we get back till it warms up and a solid freeze risk is past. A day or two sub freezing is no problem, its the week or more that will get you.

[kvtaylor]

In south Carolina you could just blow out your lines with 30 lbs of air starting with closing off (bypass) your hot water tank and start opening the farthest spigots till all of the water comes out. Then move to the next one. Be sure to do the bathroom toilet and outside shower. You don't need any antifreeze in the tanks. Be sure they are all drained. I would put a little antifreeze in the sink traps. If you have a washer/dryer that needs to be blown out too. Also if you have a ice maker, use a 110v line to your silinoid leading to the ice maker to open it for air to pass thru. It can be accessed from the outside. Now saying that, last year, i didn't flush out the antifreeze from our morothome (in january)till I was in Brunswick Ga. And then when in Florida, we did freeze up one night for a couple of hours. You never know about the weather.

[08flagvlite]

I live in Jacksonville Florida, and do not think for a minute that it does not freeze here! I can show pics of a 4 foot high snowman that me and the wife built in our frontyard in '86. I don't however winterize my camper, we use it at least once a month year round. If a hard freeze is predicted, 22 degrees or lower, I'll turn the heater on at 52, so it'll keep it from freezing. Randy

[acadianbob]

My RV maintenance guys have said that just a drop or two of water is enough to ruin your water pump in a hard freeze. I personally don't trust air blowouts to totally remove all moisture. So, I just go straight to the antifreeze; $6 and 15 minutes; pumping it through the pump throughout the trailer. Then I don't have to worry about it.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by acadianbob

My RV maintenance guys have said that just a drop or two of water is enough to ruin your water pump in a hard freeze. I personally don't trust air blowouts to totally remove all moisture. So, I just go straight to the antifreeze; $6 and 15 minutes; pumping it through the pump throughout the trailer. Then I don't have to worry about it.

Excellent point, Bob. I hadn't really thought about that before. Blowing the lines through the city water connection does not include the water pump.

[BigDTx]

I live in the Houston Texas Area and I asked a RV tech on friday of last week about winterizing. I was having the Roof cleaned, conditioned and resealed. He told me in my climate that the antifreeze is not required. He tells me that unless it drops below 20 degree's then it is not needed. He also tells me if it is going to be that cold to bring the TT home nad plug it in for with the furnace set on low and it would be fine untill the cold spell passed. Since this Tech also owns the mobile repair service I believe his reccomendations due to the fact he bassically turned down the winterizing job saying it was not neccesary thus saving me money.

just my .02 cents worth.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Danielflading

Since this Tech also owns the mobile repair service I believe his reccomendations due to the fact he bassically turned down the winterizing job saying it was not neccesary thus saving me money. just my .02 cents worth.

Not to be a wet blanket, but does that mean if your water pump or several plumbing elbows freeze then crack he will fix them free?

I am thinking he is booking future work. Just sayin....

[BigDTx]

He tells me it has be at least 20 degrees for there to be a problem, I can not remember it ever being that cold here, and if it does get that cold it will not last. I have seen snow here two times in th last 31 years and it was gone within an hour.

Now i will watch the forcasts and if it will be that cold then I will plug it in and run the furnace like he reccomends.

I am now knocking on wood for good luck

[Herk7769]

The way of the world. You ask for advice; get several conflicting answers; select the one you think is right; and you go with it.

As long as you are happy with your choice, more power to ya.

[kbrown1075]

Originally Posted by Danielflading

He tells me it has be at least 20 degrees for there to be a problem, I can not remember it ever being that cold here, and if it does get that cold it will not last. I have seen snow here two times in th last 31 years and it was gone within an hour.

Now i will watch the forcasts and if it will be that cold then I will plug it in and run the furnace like he reccomends.

I am now knocking on wood for good luck

I live 35 miles NW of Baton Rouge and will be doing the same thing. I have a ceramic heater for a mid size room that is in the middle of the TT. The furnace's lowest setting is 55. I set the ceramic heater for 60 and the furnace for 55. I know that the ceramic heater won't be able to hold that temp if it gets near freezing and then the furnace will kick on and help out but I prefer to use electric than the LPG. I only set this up if we get a freeze warning. By 10 am we are well clear of freezing temps. The freezing temps only last a couple hours in these parts (about the same as Houston). There's my 2 cents.

[Herk7769]

Hmmm, with inflation the way it is; we need to change that comment.

Lets put our two bucks in. That would be about right.

[kbrown1075]

I don't have 2 bucks.... I camp!!!!!!!!!

[kbrown1075]

I should add to my previous post: I want the furnace to come on. The duct work runs near the plumbing putting heat around the plumbing, tanks, and drains. So when it does get cold I do want the furnace to run but not a lot.

[Dodge Guy]

I wouldn`t trust just blowing it out with air. there is always a low spot that will collect water. and the pink RV antifreeze is safe, so it will not harm you.

Spend the $10 and do it right!

[rvgolfer]

If you remove the pump it won't freeze. Most pumps come out with ease. hey that rhymed