Winterizing... Is it necessary?

[OldBob]

We feel blessed to live in southwest Florida!

[Kenny kustom]

Originally Posted by OldBob

We feel blessed to live in southwest Florida!

Lucky ducky.

I spent the morning blowing snow...


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

I am nice!

[acadianbob]

the first things freezing gets are the pumps and the fixtures. Close tolerances and pressure from expanding ice.

[bareftn]

lets just be cheap and see what happens, so net spring I can read about some poor guy who has all kinds of broken pipes and water prolems because he did not want to spend 20 bucks and 20 minutes

[rjshiflet]

I blew out my lines and poured RV anti-freeze down the drains, but...next time we went out water leaked all over the bathroom floor. Turned out the toilet valve still had enough water (and it doesn't take much at all) to blow out the freeze plug. It was only a $30 fix, but I had to drive an hour each way for the part.

Now, when I blow out the lines I make certain the toilet pedal is pushed down so it completely clears out ALL of the water.

Here's what blew out:
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/s...IoI9A&usqp=CAE

[PhoneDude 8289]

Here in Central Texas I always winterize. 29º into this morning 27º for an overnight low tonight. Remembering the superbowl in 2011, Ice everywhere for a week or more, could happen again.

[Little John]

Morning all!
Well it's -12 here, with the wind feels like -22 and snowing lightly...we don't think about it...we have no choice!
As we try to camp till "Canadian" thanksgiving, we sometimes winterized more than once!
As others have suggested...do it!
LJ


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[5picker]

Originally Posted by tomrob1161

For years I just blew out my lines. One Spring in Memphis, TN, we headed out for the first campout of the year, traveling with some to Huntsville, AL to visit the Space & Rocket Center. Got all set up, turned on the water and blew the knob off one of my shower faucets. We couldn't find a replacement, so we camped without water. Since then I use antifreeze. One drop of water that freezes can cause a lot of headache.

BINGO!

[billcoll]

When water freezes, it expands in the direction of least resistance (remember filling ice cube trays in the old days, and the cubes had little peaks?). If there are a few drops of water in the lines and a gallon or less in tanks, when it freezes and expands, it shouldn't cause any problems. A little antifreeze down each drain is all I do also in No. Ga. and never had any problems.

[B and B]

Do not forget the Toilet hand wand if equipped. Also press the hose inlet for the city water to allow the little bit of water to escape.

[j free]

I don't do it in central California and never have in 18 years of RV'ing.

[Flybob]

It probably takes less time to winterize with antifreeze than blowing lines completely. Antifreeze costs less than $10. Don;t forget outside shower, inside shower, toilet and sink sprayer if equipped. In any case, winterize some way it is not worth the risk.

[PapaE]

Years ago, lived in panhandle of Florida and had pipes burst on trailer. Was an unusual cold front came through... but it happens.


Now, in central Georgia, we blow out the lines (opening each faucet & toilet with air pressure to system), drain the WH, put enough antifreeze in all the drains to fill the trap and be sure some of it runs into the gray/black tanks, antifreeze down the toilet... and drain the fresh water tank... and let the water pump try to pull some water after it is drained (hopefully) so it will not have water still in the pump. A few times, with especially bad freeze, I have left an electric heater running ... or the furnace running but not up to normal temperature, in trailer overnight. That has worked for several years for us... even through some freezes where I have known of people having pipes burst in their houses.

[PhoneDude 8289]

Originally Posted by Flybob

It probably takes less time to winterize with antifreeze than blowing lines completely. Antifreeze costs less than $10. Don;t forget outside shower, inside shower, toilet and sink sprayer if equipped. In any case, winterize some way it is not worth the risk.

X2 Flybob, takes 1-1/2 gallons on my rig "no filter". Run enough pink stuff through the faucets to fill the traps and a couple of inches in the commode. A dab through the outside shower and a little out the low point drains, done. Less than $5.00 a gallon for the prestone rv antifreeze at wally world. I keep a few gallons with me when we travel in winter months. I use to just blow out the lines but this is faster and safer.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by billcoll

When water freezes, it expands in the direction of least resistance (remember filling ice cube trays in the old days, and the cubes had little peaks?). If there are a few drops of water in the lines and a gallon or less in tanks, when it freezes and expands, it shouldn't cause any problems. A little antifreeze down each drain is all I do also in No. Ga. and never had any problems.

Yep, no problems until that one little drop remains trapped (with no room for expansion) in one of the faucet valves, the pump check valve or some other inconvenient location.

Blowing out with compressed air is great and I do it too... but... it's not all I do.
At $2.98 a gallon, the pink stuff is really priceless.

[mud yapster]

I'm in south east Texas just drained hot water heater and blew all the lines out, that's how I've winterized for the last 20 years but I keep pink stuff on hand case the weather really goes cold like in the 20's then I pump pink stuff thru my lines. Only had to do that a few times a few years back when it got down to 7F. for a few days. I don't have pee traps but if I did I'd put pink in them just in case.

[D-maxx dave]

SW Louisiana. Never winterized. Do most of our camping in cold months, freeze warnings are forecast days ahead,and snow is "Big News" here!

[RiverBird]

Live in NW Atlanta. Forgot to open the shower hose when I blew out the system between winter camping trips. Grandkids turned on the shower and water sprayed everywhere. Quick trip to CW for a new shower head.

Yes! You need to winterize in north Ga.


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[Rich5117]

For those that use anti freeze in the lines. Do you have any problems with water tasting bad when you de-winterize? We used antifreeze the first time after getting an Rv took a month for me not to taste it. Now blow out lines and anti freeze in drains, have not had any problems in past 10 years. I also leave all valves open after done.

[doc73]

I had not used AF for the last 10 years winterizing.. I decided I would use it this time. We get cold snaps so I needed to winterize a few times before putting it away for the season.. MAN I flushed the system and the water tasted bad for a few days before clearing out. I think I will blow out the AF before flushing in the spring and might just stick to using air like I had always done in the past.