I screwed up (forgot to open drains)

[wings011]

we closed up in the rain on Columbus day abd I can't get back on property till May. I realize I forgot to drain the lower level drains....what am I in for next sprng?

[bikendan]

Cracked water lines would be the biggest worry.

[5picker]

I see your profile says Connecticut... What process did you use to "close up"?

Sustained temps below freezing will certainly wreak havoc on water left in piping.

[wings011]

By passed wster heater and pumped in anti freeze till it came out if all faucets..toilet and showers. Thats it..dkbe it 4 years now but I 4got 1 step this time..trsiker in the Berkshires

[richp]

Might be worth paying somebody at an RV dealership or nearby campground a few bucks to go out to the unit and turn those low point drains.


Rich Phillips

[Reverse_snowbird]

If you pumped RV antifreeze into the plumbing, it's possible that the antifreeze will mix with the water in the low point drains because they are all part of one system. It might be enough to protect them from freezing. Did you drain the fresh water tank?

[wings011]

Yes

[HaroldPE]

Where is the unit? Open up low point drains and drain out the water

[wings011]

Its on a private co-op camp...we own the site but it's gated and no entry until May of next year....it has a sealed under belly but I know I am screwed. IN the Berkshires of Mass.

[Skip12]

You're not definitely *screwed*. Like Snowbird said, it could survive by mixing in. Low point drains are relatively easy replacement if it is a problem.

You'd be at less risk if someone could get back there and open the drains for you as RichP suggested.

Not sure if this helps, but at our seasonal site, we're allowed to park outside and walk / ride a bike back to our site...maybe you can get back there without a vehicle.

Good luck.

[wings011]

Might be worth a shot..ty....

[Toddupton]

Did you empty the water heater?

[D W]

Originally Posted by wings011

Its on a private co-op camp...we own the site but it's gated and no entry until May of next year....it has a sealed under belly but I know I am screwed. IN the Berkshires of Mass.

Wow, letting it sit for six months with no eyes on it? For me, that would be unacceptable. Too many things can go wrong during the winter, and left unchecked would be detrimental to the RV.

[Underdog]

If you flushed with antifreeze, there is likely some mixing in the drain tubes. As long as there is some antifreeze present, any freezing will just produce slush rather than solid ice, and expansion will just ooze it through the lines rather than expanding a local area. Don't worry about it, just relax and enjoy the winter.

[phipps33]

Originally Posted by D W

Wow, letting it sit for six months with no eyes on it? For me, that would be unacceptable. Too many things can go wrong during the winter, and left unchecked would be detrimental to the RV.

You must have the option of keeping yours at your house in the winter. Mine goes to our fairgrounds for the winter and once I drop it off I don’t see it again until I pick it up in the spring.

[tkarper14]

After years of reading posts about different ways to winterize, I have come to the conclusion there are four types of winterization processes. 1) Do nothing 2) Blow out lines with air. 3) Run anti-freeze through the lines until the water is replaced with anti-freeze. 4) Do both 2 and 3.

Question to the ones who only run anti-freeze through the lines. Do you normally open the low point drain after filling with anti-freeze? I would think not or you run the risk of having dried residue remain in the lines. If that is the case and the ones who normally only fill with anti-freeze do not have an issue, then the OP should be fine.

OP - I think you stated the fresh water tank was drained. I am not sure if you said you ran anti-freeze through the lines or not. If you did you will be fine. Don't ruin your next six months worrying about it. If you find out in April something went wrong... Fix it and move on. Most likely it would only be the exterior lines that gets damaged. The difficult things like toilet valves and faucets will be fine.

Looking forward to the spring to hear how you worried about nothing.

[HangDiver]

Originally Posted by wings011

we closed up in the rain on Columbus day abd I can't get back on property till May. I realize I forgot to drain the lower level drains....what am I in for next sprng?

One year I winterized in Colorado with antifreeze and forgot to open the low point drains. No problems. Maybe I was lucky.

[U.S.ArmyVeteran]

My small contribution.

The "war department" keeps telling me to use a check list! For setting up and breaking down the camp site. For loading the trailer and TV.

Now if she sees this.............another check list for winterizing ..... ughh.

Shhhhhhhhh

[Eagle-751]

I live in Northeastern Ohio, I blow the lines out with air and use the water pump to push antifreeze through the lines, I have never, not even ones, ever opened the low point lines. I know where they are, but haven't touched them. If they would happen to freeze and bust, it's outside and a quick cheap easy fix. Wings011, don't sweat it, it should be just fine. Like Underdog said, it should not be able to freeze solid.

[D W]

Originally Posted by phipps33

You must have the option of keeping yours at your house in the winter. Mine goes to our fairgrounds for the winter and once I drop it off I don’t see it again until I pick it up in the spring.

I do, but even if I did store at a lot I'd still check it every two weeks for snow on the roof, theft/vandalism and vermin infestation.