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View Poll Results: How do you winterize?
blow out lines with air, pump AF throughout 64 38.32%
only blow out lines with air, pour some AF down toliet(s) and sink(s) 36 21.56%
only blow out lines with air, don't use AF at all 5 2.99%
only use AF, don't blow out lines 57 34.13%
other 5 2.99%
Voters: 167. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 10-22-2015, 02:47 PM   #1
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Winterizing Poll

Just curious who does what.
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Old 10-22-2015, 02:54 PM   #2
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Voted!
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Old 10-22-2015, 02:59 PM   #3
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We camp all winter long here in Central Oregon. I drain and then use antifreeze after every trip once we start seeing temps drop into the teens at night and not above freezing during the day.
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Old 10-22-2015, 03:05 PM   #4
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I've been using compressed air to blow out the lines and just add the pink stuff to the traps. Been doing that for the last few years with no problems.
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Old 10-22-2015, 03:11 PM   #5
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I use AF only.
#1 reason is that I can winterize at the storage yard (don't have to bring camper home) only having to bring my battery. Bring the battery and LP tanks home, and I'm done. But of course, de-winterizing with AF is a process, versus nothing really to do if you only blow out with air.

To a lesser degree, I like knowing that I have removed every bit of water from the lines. It's possible for air to shoot across the top of water at a low point in the hose, leaving. There are techniques for minimizing this risk (hitting with air multiple times, etc), and I know that a small amount may not be enough to rupture a hose.

The time to run AF or to blow with air is about the same.

IMO, if you are going to run AF, blowing out with air first is a complete waste of time and energy.
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Old 10-22-2015, 03:15 PM   #6
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Both!

I have to do both....it got down to -20 below here in Colorado last winter and I've seen a little water inside my brass sprinkler system crack it so don't want cracked lines, water heater, or water pump in the camper.
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Old 10-22-2015, 03:28 PM   #7
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Winterizing Poll

I live in the mountains of Colorado, so below freezing temps are common. I blow out the system to remove slugs of water. I then pump AF into the system. The protection is the antifreeze and blowing the system quickly with air is to remove most of the water.

I only have a small twin tank job site compressor, so it can not provide enough air to clear the system of all water.

Why bother with air? To remove water from the city water connection & force water out to prevent it from diluting the antifreeze.


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Old 10-22-2015, 09:49 PM   #8
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voted. I blow (easy turbs) and use A/F in the drain trap, although i forgot one year with zero issues.

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Old 10-22-2015, 09:57 PM   #9
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Old 10-22-2015, 09:59 PM   #10
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I just blow out the lines and drain HW tank. No pee traps in ours so no AF down drains. No issues so far in 20 plus years but we have mild winters here and us the RV year round.
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Old 10-22-2015, 10:44 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ontherock View Post
I've been using compressed air to blow out the lines and just add the pink stuff to the traps. Been doing that for the last few years with no problems.
FWIW, my RV dealer warned me against that saying that it takes very little water in the water pump to break it.
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Old 10-23-2015, 09:15 AM   #12
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Thanks for initiating this poll - very informative. I wouldn't mind seeing the same poll taken with a geographical spin.

I'm curious to know what folks do here in Georgia. I personally blow out my lines and then pump AF throughout just to be safe, but have often wondered if that's overkill for my location.
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Old 10-23-2015, 09:32 AM   #13
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Quote:
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FWIW, my RV dealer warned me against that saying that it takes very little water in the water pump to break it.
Water is only an issue when there is no room for it to expand as ice. You could have a sealed tank 3/4 full and not have an issue when it freezes. Blowing the lines might leave drops of water here and there, but there is enough 'air-space' that it's not a problem. Once I get my compressor hooked up, I will run the water pump for a few seconds to blow out the water.

The reason I blow instead of using A/F is that my first camper was an 89 Winnebago Class A. The prior owner "winterized" it by dumping about 5 gallons of A/F in the freshwater tank, and then running all the faucets till it came out pink. Nothing ever froze, but despite NUMEROUS flushes, sanitizing and every other thing I could try, the fresh water system still had a distinctive and unpleasant A/F taste to it. To the point of having to haul bottled water around for coffee, drinking and doing dishes.

I vowed that I would never EVER use A/F in my freshwater system anywhere again. I honestly would rather replace broken lines or the pump than deal with the A/F taste again.

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Old 10-23-2015, 09:49 AM   #14
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Quote:
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Water is only an issue when there is no room for it to expand as ice. You could have a sealed tank 3/4 full and not have an issue when it freezes. Blowing the lines might leave drops of water here and there, but there is enough 'air-space' that it's not a problem. Once I get my compressor hooked up, I will run the water pump for a few seconds to blow out the water.

The reason I blow instead of using A/F is that my first camper was an 89 Winnebago Class A. The prior owner "winterized" it by dumping about 5 gallons of A/F in the freshwater tank, and then running all the faucets till it came out pink. Nothing ever froze, but despite NUMEROUS flushes, sanitizing and every other thing I could try, the fresh water system still had a distinctive and unpleasant A/F taste to it. To the point of having to haul bottled water around for coffee, drinking and doing dishes.

I vowed that I would never EVER use A/F in my freshwater system anywhere again. I honestly would rather replace broken lines or the pump than deal with the A/F taste again.

Tim
Two things there. Not sure if the air pressure actually goes through your pump. And there's not much room in that pump. Also, you never put AF in the fresh tank. You use a valve and hose on your pump inlet to switch between the fresh water tank and a tube where you can suck AF out of the bottles. AF in the fresh water tank is a mistake.
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Old 10-23-2015, 09:54 AM   #15
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Parked in my yard
All tanks drained
Blow out lines and HW tank
Add A/F via water pump to lines (only)
A/F down the drains to fill the traps
Remove any liquids...even dish soap
Leave nothing that would invite rodents
Remove batteries
Slides in
Heaters set to come on just above freezing
(set at - just to take the chill off and move the air)

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Old 10-23-2015, 10:02 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mud yapster View Post
I just blow out the lines and drain HW tank. No pee traps in ours so no AF down drains. No issues so far in 20 plus years but we have mild winters here and us the RV year round.
Voted
You don't have those U shaped pipes under you sinks? Those are to prevent the smell from you gray tanks coming back the drains for the tanks. I have never seen sinks without one but I guess it's possible.

i do both air and AF but I but probably over doing it but only takes me a few minutes to do it.

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Old 10-23-2015, 10:32 AM   #17
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The results are a little surprising so far. I expected the blow out with air & use AF choice to be first, and it is, but I didn't expect the AF only choice to be second.

I figured the two "air only" choices would be higher.
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Old 10-23-2015, 11:09 AM   #18
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If you use AF and have not seen my posts under "vinegar vs. ammonia" you should review.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...d.php?p=989794

I was surprised to learn some RV antifreeze contains methanol or ethanol! These are not compatible with the polyethylene tank (Black, Gray, & Fresh water). It makes holes in the tank!

I used an AF with ethanol once and it did leave a taste in the water stored in the FW tank. It soaks into the plastic and leached out into the stored water. The wife has required bottle water since for consumption, even though it's been three years and I can't taste it anymore.

I now make sure the RV AF doesn't contain methanol or ethanol. Most of time the labels state if it has alcohol, but all ways check the MSDS as I found one brand listed special blended inhibitor and reading the MSDS indicated the inhibitor was ethanol!

If the label states it is flammable that your sign to leave it on the shelf!



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Old 10-23-2015, 11:19 AM   #19
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I bought this stuff from Menard's. It seems to be ok.



MSDS here.
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Old 10-23-2015, 11:29 AM   #20
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I think it was a Splash Pool/RV AF I got from Lowes the one year that contained ethanol. The pool AF always seam to have ethanol. You need to check each time as they reformulate all the time. I am finding more that advertise they are alcohol free.

It interesting they advertise this is good to -50 deg, but the MSDS indicates the freeze point at 9 deg?


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