Do I need to winterize?

[barcar]

I am new to the TT life and we have a Rockwood Mini Lite in central Arkansas. We would like to go south some this winter so don't really want to winterize yet. The tanks are all empty, so do we really need to have it winterized?

[steelpony5555]

Only time I winterize is if it is gonna be in the 20's for more then 24 hours straight. 20's at night and 40-50's during the day no problem but 20 at night and only 26 for the high then I at least blow out the lines and empty the water heater. Blowing out is easy and don't take a lot of time or money. Just get one of the adapters that screw on you water inlet and I have a small pancake compressor to blow out the lines....don't forget the outside shower....We travel a lot in the winter too here in Texas so I don't winterize unless I really have to....

[gspot01]

Hey barcar, I'm in Jonesboro. Just got back today from a weekend trip to the Mountain View Bluegrass Festival. You don't have to winterize it yet. It's not cold enough. Keep on camping!

(The coldest our forecast is showing for the next 10 days is one night with a low of 30 degrees--Sunday night into Monday am. You might want to blow out the lines for that just to be on the safe side, but it won't last long. Supposed to be mid 60s right afterwards.)

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by barcar

I am new to the TT life and we have a Rockwood Mini Lite in central Arkansas. We would like to go south some this winter so don't really want to winterize yet. The tanks are all empty, so do we really need to have it winterized?

Winterizing is not about the tanks, it's about the water lines, faucets and valves.
Tanks have room for freezing water to expand, while the other things can crack or rupture due to expanding ice.

So it's your decision whether to winterize the water lines, faucets and valves or not.

[Cowracer]

Nobody ever sat there in the spring and thought "Man, I really wish I hadn't have winterized my camper".

But a lot of people have sat there and wished that they did. It's cheap insurance and peace of mind.

Tim

[timfromma]

Do you really want gamble with your RV plumbing over $10 in antifreeze and 15 minutes of your time?

[ependydad]

With moderate temperatures like you describe, I'd just use a air compressor and blow out the lines for the nights that it gets under 32 degrees. With a locking blowout plug, you can do it yourself in < 10 minutes; or with a regular one and a helper, about the same time.

When I just blow out the lines, I find it takes almost as long to get the air compressor and accouterments out and plugged in/connected than it actually takes to blow out lines.

See the first few steps here:
http://learntorv.com/winterizing-you...-water-system/

When you're ready to camp, there's no un-winterizing process.

[Still Kickin]

Originally Posted by timfromma

Do you really want gamble with your RV plumbing over $10 in antifreeze and 15 minutes of your time?

X2. Besides, when i'm out there tinkering with it, my wife thinks I am the best, for about two hours anyway. :-)

[RudysWorld]

Originally Posted by ependydad

With moderate temperatures like you describe, I'd just use a air compressor and blow out the lines for the nights that it gets under 32 degrees. With a locking blowout plug, you can do it yourself in < 10 minutes; or with a regular one and a helper, about the same time.

When I just blow out the lines, I find it takes almost as long to get the air compressor and accouterments out and plugged in/connected than it actually takes to blow out lines.

See the first few steps here:
Winterizing Your Camper’s Water System | Learn To RV

When you're ready to camp, there's no un-winterizing process.

^x2, blow out the lines, it takes me more than 10 minutes but it is great insurance. I am in Memphis area and I did mine a week or so ago. I have been racing out there in the cold windy mist and it is not fun then! We are not planning a trip until January to FL. Good Luck!!

[mtnlvr]

Originally Posted by ependydad

With moderate temperatures like you describe, I'd just use a air compressor and blow out the lines for the nights that it gets under 32 degrees. With a locking blowout plug, you can do it yourself in < 10 minutes; or with a regular one and a helper, about the same time.

When I just blow out the lines, I find it takes almost as long to get the air compressor and accouterments out and plugged in/connected than it actually takes to blow out lines.

See the first few steps here:
Winterizing Your Camper’s Water System | Learn To RV

When you're ready to camp, there's no un-winterizing process.

Don't forget to remove the water filter and draining the water heater.

[MOODMAN]

Is blowing out lines just as good as anti freeze?

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by MOODMAN

Is blowing out lines just as good as anti freeze?

There is much discussion on this site. Some (such as myself) feel that is just as good. Others do not and recommend adding anti-freeze.

Tim

[5picker]

Originally Posted by MOODMAN

Is blowing out lines just as good as anti freeze?

Depends on who you ask.
This is one of those 'oh boy' questions that EVERYONE has an opinion on and there has been LOTS of discussion here about.

No one has ever proven to me that just blowing out the lines removes every drop of water in the system and one drop is all it takes to freeze and break something like a faucet, toilet valve or water filter threads. I have seen it happen. So no matter how much you blow, there remains the 'possibility' of something freezing and breaking and only you can decide if you want to take that risk

Adding antifreeze after blowing takes that risk away by either flushing out any remaining drops of water or diluting the water to the point of no harm.

In 40+ years of camping I have never heard anyone say their system froze and broke with a properly winterized unit using antifreeze.

I have seen and heard of others who have had problems only blowing out.

It is totally your choice.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by MOODMAN

Is blowing out lines just as good as anti freeze?

Hotly debated topic

My take is that if you live in a cold region where temps stay below freezing for hours, do the antifreeze.

If you live in a region, like i do, where it is only freezing for a few hours, then blowing out lines can be enough.

[mtnlvr]

How cold is too cold before winterizing? I was hoping to hold off until after Thanksgiving to do it. My Solera has interior plumbing lines, Artic Pac, Foam spray insulation undercarriage and I put foam around the PVC connections to the tanks. I keep a heater running at night with sink cabinet doors open, foam core boards or pillow inserts in all windows and ceiling vents/skylights. I separate cab and coach with a heavy blanket. I put antifreeze down the drains and toilet.
I know I'm ok with nights in the twenties because the daytime temps warm up into the fifties and sixties.
So now the big question is: we have a two day cold front coming in Wed. with nighttime temps as low as possibly 12-17 degrees (forcasts are all over the place.) The daytime temps will be in the upper 40's to upper 50's.
Is this just too cold to chance it? I'm heading out camping next Tues. for the holiday week and would prefer to not be dry camping and using bottled water down the toilet and a plastic tub in my sinks that I dump out. Thanks.

[mike.t]

Originally Posted by barcar

I am new to the TT life and we have a Rockwood Mini Lite in central Arkansas. We would like to go south some this winter so don't really want to winterize yet. The tanks are all empty, so do we really need to have it winterized?

Depends on temp. where you are.

[WFD]

Originally Posted by MOODMAN

Is blowing out lines just as good as anti freeze?

As others have said, totally depends on where you live. I am in Canada just North of the MN border....would not contemplate for 2 seconds not using antifreeze. Takes a few minutes, costs very little, and in spring, everything is just fine! Last thing you want is a burst pipe or fixture in one of those impossible to reach places, and these trailers are full of them.

[barcar]

Thanks for all the responses. It's not that we don't want to winterize it is that we don't know how. There is a valve under the sink but we don't know how to use it. Also we don't know how to drain the hot water heater

[spock123]

I'm in North Carolina and until it gets real cold I just turn the furnace on to 45 degrees and turn the hot water heater on, the gas not electric. I go somewhere every month


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[5picker]

Originally Posted by barcar

Thanks for all the responses. It's not that we don't want to winterize it is that we don't know how. There is a valve under the sink but we don't know how to use it. Also we don't know how to drain the hot water heater

There is LOTS of information on this forum that will help you understand how to winterize your rig.

Do a search for 'winterization' and you will have days worth of reading.

Do a youtube search for RV winterization and you will get hundreds of videos showing tips and techniques.

Finally, If you purchased new.... shame on your dealer for not showing you how to do this. Winterizing is basic RV 101 and everyone needs to know how to accomplish this task if you live in an area where it freezes.

We see more and more reports where dealers simply let their customers down by not showing them the basics at delivery. What a shame!