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Old 11-08-2016, 08:11 AM   #1
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Blow out plug

I'm thinking about using an air compressor to blow out the water lines this year.. instead of using RV anti freeze. Can someone provide info on the procedure? Exactly what kind of "blow out plug" do I need? Where does it attach? How much pressure, etc? This is on an aframe camper.. not your normal travel trailer. I have a 2014 Rockwood a122s. Thanks for any comments.
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Old 11-08-2016, 08:50 AM   #2
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blow out plug

The plug is available at Walmart et. al. Camco makes one. Screw it in to the city water connection, attach your compressor to it, and blow one faucet/outlet/toilet at a time. Thirty lbs. Don't forget the outside shower.

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Old 11-08-2016, 08:58 AM   #3
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Camco makes a couple of types of blow out plugs with different ways to secure a air hose depending on what type of air hose fitting you will be using, check out their web site. Walmart usually has them or a local RV dealer. It screws into the water inlet port on the outside of your trailer where you attach your water hose at the campground. You only need about 20lbs of air pressure, when you have applied pressure in the line open up one tap at a time for a couple seconds to expel some water, close the tap to re-pressurize the line and open it again. Repeat until just air comes out of the tap. Do this to any fixtures in the trailer that provide water.

http://www.camco.net/product/blow-out-plugs-10273/
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Old 11-08-2016, 09:15 AM   #4
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The instructions above are good. This article contains links to blowout plugs and more for winterizing.

http://learntorv.com/winterizing-you...-water-system/
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Old 11-08-2016, 09:33 AM   #5
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Also don't forget to open both low point drains. Blow out winterizing is ok in southern climates and is what I do if it's even needed. But I would not trust it for a long hard wintertime. For an overnight hard freeze (low 20's) I'll also set an electric heater in the camper on low.
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Old 11-08-2016, 09:58 AM   #6
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Also don't forget to open both low point drains. Blow out winterizing is ok in southern climates and is what I do if it's even needed. But I would not trust it for a long hard wintertime. For an overnight hard freeze (low 20's) I'll also set an electric heater in the camper on low.
I blow mine out in Northern Illinois. It goes to -25F here. Last year we had almost 3 weeks where it didn't go above -10F. No problems.

The change in ice density between 32F and -25F is small. Once the ice freezes at 32F, it's expansion rate goes down.

Chuck9997: Don't forget you still need AF in the drain traps and toilet.
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Old 11-08-2016, 10:05 AM   #7
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Also don't forget to open both low point drains. Blow out winterizing is ok in southern climates and is what I do if it's even needed. But I would not trust it for a long hard wintertime. For an overnight hard freeze (low 20's) I'll also set an electric heater in the camper on low.


Bull, I live in a so called hard winter climate and have done this for 15 yrs with no issue. antifreeze in all drains and toilets and off you go...
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Old 11-08-2016, 11:34 AM   #8
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What about the end of the plug that attaches to the air compressor? The plugs I have seen say quick connect. Will they fit on the standard air compressor fitting that I use to air up my tires?
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Old 11-08-2016, 11:43 AM   #9
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Pooneil. . Do you open the low point drains before blowing out the lines? During? Or after? Do you close the low point drains when u are finished?
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Old 11-08-2016, 12:16 PM   #10
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What about the end of the plug that attaches to the air compressor? The plugs I have seen say quick connect. Will they fit on the standard air compressor fitting that I use to air up my tires?
If you have something that looks like this:



It will fit on something like this:



Even better IMHO, would be these two things:




Either way will connect your compressor to your water inlet.
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Old 11-08-2016, 12:46 PM   #11
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Even better IMHO, would be these two things:




Either way will connect your compressor to your water inlet.
X2 This is what I use with 25 to 30 psi and an OIL-LESS compressor
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Old 11-08-2016, 02:28 PM   #12
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X2 This is what I use with 25 to 30 psi and an OIL-LESS compressor
found the first piece on amazon.. $7.. whats the second piece called?.. and what size? Found something similar but it's $33.
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Old 11-08-2016, 02:49 PM   #13
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found the first piece on amazon.. $7.. whats the second piece called?.. and what size? Found something similar but it's $33.
Not sure exactly what it's called but it's the piece that goes on the end of the hose coming out of your compressor. Assuming you already have a compressor, you can get an entire starter kit from Harbor Freight for about $15.

Air Tool Accessory Kits

If you don't have one, you can usually catch them on sale for around $50. It's where I got mine and it's worked well for the past 5 years or so that I've had it.
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Old 11-08-2016, 02:54 PM   #14
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found the first piece on amazon.. $7.. whats the second piece called?.. and what size? Found something similar but it's $33.
It is called a quick connect coupler. (AKA socket)

The first piece is a quick connect plug.
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Old 11-08-2016, 02:56 PM   #15
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I use this and a good quality bicycle pump. Use the pump to get 20 psi, open a tap, repeat. No need for a compressor.
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Old 11-08-2016, 03:09 PM   #16
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I use this and a good quality bicycle pump. Use the pump to get 20 psi, open a tap, repeat. No need for a compressor.
That sounds immensely time-consuming. With the quick connectors, I can set the compressor to whatever PSI I want, turn it on and then go inside and open each tap. With 3 sinks, 2 toilets, and 2 showers (one in, one out) I'm still done in 10 minutes or less. It would take me half the day with a bicycle pump.
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Old 11-08-2016, 03:16 PM   #17
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That sounds immensely time-consuming. With the quick connectors, I can set the compressor to whatever PSI I want, turn it on and then go inside and open each tap. With 3 sinks, 2 toilets, and 2 showers (one in, one out) I'm still done in 10 minutes or less. It would take me half the day with a bicycle pump.
I can see if you are by yourself that would be true. My wife helps so I pump and she opens taps. Last year we winterized the whole TT in under 30 minutes including blowing out lines and pumping in the pink stuff. Each person has their method...
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Old 11-08-2016, 03:18 PM   #18
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I can see if you are by yourself that would be true. My wife helps so I pump and she opens taps. Last year we winterized the whole TT in under 30 minutes including blowing out lines and pumping in the pink stuff. Each person has their method...
Ah... Mine was a 3-person job. I did all the work while my father and father-in-law stood around and BS'd.
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Old 11-08-2016, 03:27 PM   #19
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Ah... Mine was a 3-person job. I did all the work while my father and father-in-law stood around and BS'd.
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Old 11-08-2016, 03:30 PM   #20
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I can see if you are by yourself that would be true. My wife helps so I pump and she opens taps. Last year we winterized the whole TT in under 30 minutes including blowing out lines and pumping in the pink stuff. Each person has their method...
My DW helps too... but mostly it is just to tell me what she thinks I'm doing wrong!
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