winterizing with compressed air

[rp53]

I really don't like the pink stuff, would like to blow the water out just don't know how to do it. I know I will still have to put the pink stuff in the p-traps but how do you blow the lines out, is there an adapter that hooks to the city water intake? we have never used the fresh water tank.

sorry if this has already been asked

[coupevillefish]

Yes, there is an adapter. I have done it both ways but much prefer the air method.

You should be able to find the adapter at any RV center, probably in the Walmart RV section, and I assume, Amazon. Just keep your pressure at about 20 pounds and open one facet at a time. Of course, empty the fresh water and hot water tanks first.

It's really a two person job at least for us. One at the compressor and the other doing faucets.

[Flybob]

You just need one of these.
Blow Out Hose - Direcsource Ltd TS-N19 - Winterizing - Camping World
Be careful not to use too much pressure.

[coupevillefish]

Originally Posted by Flybob

You just need one of these.
Blow Out Hose - Direcsource Ltd TS-N19 - Winterizing - Camping World
Be careful not to use too much pressure.

That looks like it could be done by one person. Mine is a simple cap with a nipple. I have to hold the air nozzle to it.

[FRRVR]

Originally Posted by coupevillefish

It's really a two person job at least for us. One at the compressor and the other doing faucets.

Same for me, its much easier that way.

[Velosprout]

It is a little like wearing a belt and suspenders, but I blow out the airlines with my air compressor first then pump the pink antifreeze through. I bought one of those Wal-Mart plastic air connectors, but it broke right away. So, I drilled out the plastic air adapter and threaded in a spare quick-connect adapter to my air line. (Absolutely make sure that you have reduced the pressure on your air regulator so you don't blow out all of your water lines.) This makes it a one-person task. You have to run through less antifreeze to get it all the way through the system, since you are only pumping out air and not water; and you have winterized with certainty. Only takes a few minutes.

[waiter21]

I have a couple of these, Camco makes them, sold by most RV places, walmart, etc.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Camco-Blo...ingMethod=p13n

Although I've done it with compressed air, to me it adds another step that isn't necessary. so I simply drain the lines, then flush/fill with pink RV antifreeze. I use about 2 gallons, this includes dumping some into the ptraps and toilet.

I open low point drains and all the faucets, then come back in a few days and pump pink into all the lines. The whole process takes about 15 minutes and I don't need to drag the compressor out.

If you decide to blow the lines out, use one the of brass fittings attached to the city water. Your compressor should have a regulator, set it to about 20-30 psi.

Hook the air line up to the fitting, then start with the farthest faucet, open one faucet at a time, until it starts puffing air. Don't forget the toilet, outside faucets, and the washing machine. When finished, let it sit for a few minutes, then repeat the process.

I would drain my water heater by removing the drain plug, and close the bypass valves.

[emm-dee]

I'll add that when you remove the anode rod from the water heater be sure there is no compressed air in the system. You might get a little wet. Don't ask me how I know that.

[rp53]

thanks for the advice folks, that's what i like about this place if u have a question there are plenty of folks willing to help out

[KingFisher]

I just find an old garden hose end and clamp it on to my air compressor hose fitting.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by emm-dee

I'll add that when you remove the anode rod from the water heater be sure there is no compressed air in the system. You might get a little wet. Don't ask me how I know that.

I like to put my water heater into bypass BEFORE using compressed air.
Keeps the crap in the tank from being blown throughout the plumbing.

[SidecarFlip]

Originally Posted by coupevillefish

Yes, there is an adapter. I have done it both ways but much prefer the air method.

You should be able to find the adapter at any RV center, probably in the Walmart RV section, and I assume, Amazon. Just keep your pressure at about 20 pounds and open one facet at a time. Of course, empty the fresh water and hot water tanks first.

It's really a two person job at least for us. One at the compressor and the other doing faucets.

Put a pressure regulator on your air line.....

[ScottBrownstein]

You can get the parts for an adaptor at Home Depot or Lowes. I have made (and lost) a bunch of them. I use a quick disconnect threaded into a MIP hose male fitting. Some of the adapters have a tire valve, hard to use easier to just set the regulator to 20 pounds and then connect to the city water fitting.

[donniedu]

Instead of buying one of those cheezy pieces of junk, I made my own. A air quick coupling a small hose clamp and a 12 inch piece of an old white water hose is all it takes.

[audiocentric]

In days of old, we had a 91 Sunlight trailer, and I used compressed air to blow out the lines. I purchased the inexpensive adapter through Amazon and it worked fine.

We now have a relatively new Forest River X-Lite and, after reading a number of posts regarding winterizing, have gone the anti-freeze route. I just winterized our trailer yesterday, and it took about a gallon of product and the use of our water pump to pump the anti-freeze through the system. What many people have indicated is that the anti-freeze helps keep the rubber seals in the water system pliable, and that would definitely be a good thing to help prevent future water leaks and endless cursing trying to find the cause.

Just a thought!

[gickes]

get the adapter for your city water inlet use compressor at 40lb of pressure and blow out the lines. don't forget to set the waterlines to winterizing position. I believe that a bicycle pump would do this if you dont have a compressor. just to be safe I always add antifreeze little work for piece of mind

[ottawapaul]

Originally Posted by Flybob

You just need one of these.
Blow Out Hose - Direcsource Ltd TS-N19 - Winterizing - Camping World
Be careful not to use too much pressure.

X2.

This hose / adaptor makes it a one person job. You can hear the compressor cycling as you move from faucet to faucet in the trailer. Works like a charm. I think the hose itself has a warning not to exceed 40 lbs pressure.

I always bypass and empty the hot water tank first. Then use the compressor, and finally pump a gallon of antifreeze to keep seal moisturized - and back up insurance.

[Ian Walker]

Guys I know everybody prefers to blow the lines BUT an old
RVer taught me that the pink antifreeze is better BECAUSE
as you all know the TT's are all thrown together at the factory
& I'm sure anybody who has crawled underneath will agree with that.
The water lines are just hanging under the trailer and anything
just hanging will have a low point. When you blow the lines,
the air will pass over the low points and leave some water in the lines
so you introduce the possibility of frozen lines. Also there's a
possibility that some water line that you don't have access to
might freeze (Murphy's Law). So use air if you must but understand the possible consequences.

[sfsgm]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned (I think) is that to be sure you drain your water filter and pull the filter out, if you have one built into your trailer.

[rockfordroo]

These are much cheaper than the others in the posts above. You just have to hold the air hose onto them.



$1.86 at Camping World.