Winterizing Compressed Air Inquiry

[EastlakeRoo]

When winterizing, What is the typical amount of compressed air pressure used to blow out the lines? I don't want to little but then again I don't want to much. Thanks.

[rockin'ray]

I am not sure if this helps but I just recently bought a blow out plug to connect to the water inlet for this. On the package it says not to exceed 50 psi. Other than that I am not sure as this is our first year with a trailer so the winterizing isgoing to be a new experience.

[EastlakeRoo]

I've seen posts for 20 psi all the way up to 50 psi so I want to play it safe and see what others are safely using. I don't want to run into the situation of blowing lines.

[skidoonut]

i have always used 40 to 50 psi. it is lots of pressure. pull your drain plug on the hot tank first, then bypass the hot water, then start opening taps one at a time. don't for get the outside shower. i have had a few friends do that a few times. then just pour a couple of cups of anitfreeze down the drains.

[youroo]

Place press. reg. in air line before it goes into the adaptor plug at the city water inlet. This can be safely set at 40psi. Youroo!!

[3 Happy Campers]

40-50 psi is all the old gray plumbing systems could handle.
All current RVs use PEX, aka Cross-linked polyethylene
PEX can handle a lot more pressure than is really needed to clear the lines.

[threegr8katz]

I get the fitting into city water inlet, BUT WHat sorce of air are you all using?

[3 Happy Campers]

I have a Dewalt 200 psi / 15 gal compressor in my garage.
You don’t need anything that big .
A portable one big enough to run a nail gun will do the job just as well.

[threegr8katz]

kewl I think I have a friend with one of those.... any other ideas? How do you control the psi outage?

[3 Happy Campers]

All compressors have a regulator knob on them to dial in the pressure you need.
Every tool has its own psi requirements.

An inpact gun may use 90 psi & a brad nailer will use a lot less.

[threegr8katz]

Thanks again for the great Ideas Dave an Juday>

[EastlakeRoo]

OK, I got the fitting into city water inlet that connects to compressor just wanted to check on the psi. Thanks Everyone for responding.

[3 Happy Campers]

Just Dave here now.
Judy is still in bed & she is not allowed to use anything in the garage.
Dazey is on the porch.

Glad to help!

[MtnGuy]

I know that I am paranoid, but unless you have a moisture filter on an air compressor, I would not use an air compressor. Have y'all noticed what comes out when you drain the condensate ?? It is nasty, oily water. I don't want that stuff in the drinking water lines of my camper. Even though I have a perfectly good air compressor, I use a bicycle pump on my lines. Good exercise too, although I probably blow the lines with less than 100 cycles on the pump.

[NWJeeper]

Once again Chap I have to disagree with you on the compressed air issue.

Electric home air compressors are oil less, thus what you are getting in your air is condensate (water, no oil).

This is why compressor tanks have a petcock on the bottom to periodically drain the water out of them. However, I fully recommend that everyone with a home air compressor should pay the $20 at Home Depot or your local hardware store and buy a water separator filter. This will do a great job of keeping the water out of your air.

Good lord you must have arms like Popeye Chap!

[MtnGuy]

Hey, we can have friendly disagreements here......not a problem.

My home compressor was advertised as oil less. But when I drain the condensate out of it onto a paper towel or rag, it comes out dark brown. Whatever the dark brown stuff is, I don't want it in my drinking water lines. Of course, that is at the bottom of my tank, but I wonder if that vaporizes some when the compressor is running.

A water separator filter should remedy that problem.....but I just haven't gotten around to putting a unit on my compressor.

All of that being said, I also have to wipe the cobwebs away from the intake area of my bicycle pump before use.

Did I tell y'all that I am paranoid.

[NWJeeper]

Hey, just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get ya!

[threegr8katz]

you guys are just to much..... Thanks NWJeeper!!

[frankm]

Dan if your compressor has a metal tank then the dark brown stuff is rust mixed with water.

[dezolen]

I would still fill water lines with antifreeze even after blowing them out with air as you will never get all the water out. For the $6.00 in AF it's not much of an expense and cheap insurance against a blown waterline which will more than likely be in a location that is impossible to get at.