Low Point Draining

[erm626]

Why would you want to drain your Low Point Drains when completing a camping trip ? I will only when winterizing. But I hear some people are doing it.

[SeaDog]

It might be that some folks drain the lines because they are under the believe that stuff will grow in the lines if water is left in them. This is just a guess

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by erm626

Why would you want to drain your Low Point Drains when completing a camping trip ? I will only when winterizing. But I hear some people are doing it.

Since opening the low point drain combined with opening the faucets will drain the remaining water out of the lines, perhaps they want to start a new trip with fresh water. Just speculation though.

[erm626]

I am now thinking, it was meant when winter camping, so when traveling the lines don't freeze. I see no point to drain the lines, in a closed system. Which is not exposed to air in summer travel.

[Cruzrtwdgt]

I did when I had the 6 gal water heater so it would not continue eating my anode when not camping - it drains the water heater and I would remove the anode. Now with an on demand water heater, I still do it just because...

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by erm626

I am now thinking, it was meant when winter camping, so when traveling the lines don't freeze.

That would make more sense. They may have blown out the lines to reduce the chance of plumbing damage from freezing water.

[moose074]

I drain mine because partially out of habit, because the guy doing the PDI suggested it. I also do it because I have parked the RV in August thinking I was getting a few more trips in before the freeze and never did. I also do it even if it can’t happen because no air in line but, in back of my mind I think of the water cooler, ice chest, or fridge that had just a little moisture left in it molded, or the Gatorade style water bottle that developed that nasty taste because it wasn’t allowed to air out. Plus it used to take 3 seconds, now I have to roll under the trl

[itat]

I drain our water system whenever the trailer isn’t going to be used for more than a couple of weeks. I worked in municipal public works for over 35 years, 25 of which included water treatment and distribution. There are enough horror stories out there of bad water that I drain ours out of an abundance of caution and use a 0.5 micron filter. Even if we don’t drink it, we shower and brush our teeth with the water going through the trailer’s water lines so some will inevitably get ingested.

[yetavon]

Originally Posted by erm626

I am now thinking, it was meant when winter camping, so when traveling the lines don't freeze.

We winter camp a bit, we dont use the water system. Bring several gallons of water from home for drinking, and used water from the campground in a container to flush the toilet. Wash basin for dishes or sponge bath if needed and that goes in the toilet. So it stays winterized and only need to drain the black tanks.
Once its warmed up, we fill the system and run off the onboard tank. Only draining is the main holding tank, only keep a few gallons in there while traveling.

[timm9]

We just completed a 23 day and just under 3000 miles trip. Knowing I was coming home to Snow and 20-degree temps I actually drained my Water Heater, opened the Low Point Drains, and blew out my lines with a compressor to start the winterization process on the last leg of the trip home.

[erm626]

Originally Posted by timm9

We just completed a 23 day and just under 3000 miles trip. Knowing I was coming home to Snow and 20-degree temps I actually drained my Water Heater, opened the Low Point Drains, and blew out my lines with a compressor to start the winterization process on the last leg of the trip home.

Under those conditions I certainly would have done the same. If you hadn't,I am certain damage would have occurred !

[01tundra]

On our 2109 opening the low point drains still leave a lot of water in the system, I found this out by blowing the system out with compressed air after gravity draining. I imagine it's a combination of what's left in the lines and water heater.

We've been using an anode rod with an integral drain valve for the last four years and it works great. It makes draining the water heater simple and doesn't require tools.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by 01tundra

On our 2109 opening the low point drains still leave a lot of water in the system, I found this out by blowing the system out with compressed air after gravity draining. I imagine it's a combination of what's left in the lines and water heater.

We've been using an anode rod with an integral drain valve for the last four years and it works great. It makes draining the water heater simple and doesn't require tools.

True, no tools required but also make folks blasè about checking the anode and flushing the crud from the bottom of the tank.

[Midwest Ed]

A pipe full of properly chlorinated public drinking water will not be exposed to air and as such it will be very difficult for dangerous stuff to grow. Consider the city water pipes and those in your house. Water sits in those for very extended periods.

A pipe that has been drained (especially if it is mostly horizontal) will see it's walls coated in moisture, along with plenty of air. Evaporation will be slow and only possible when the faucets and drains are open. The only other ingredient needed is a hot summer day.

Of course this assumes the TT intermittent storage location (e.g. my house) allows either the water pump to remain on or ideally connected to city water to keep things pressurized. To satisfy the water heater issues then simply put it on bypass.

[poppytoymaker]

Things grow in standing water espeially when in storage in the hot Florida sun and you get an odor from the Truma hot water heater if not drained.

[Joe O]

While we're on this subject, I now have a Fifth Wheel that has low drains in the middle of the underbelly which are not easily accessible unless I crawl underneath to the middle of the trailer. What kind of design is this?

I feel like I won't bother to drain them whether winterizing or dewinterizing.

Did anybody ever not drain these over the years and what is the consequences?

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Joe O

While we're on this subject, I now have a Fifth Wheel that has low drains in the middle of the underbelly which are not easily accessible unless I crawl underneath to the middle of the trailer. What kind of design is this?

I feel like I won't bother to drain them whether winterizing or dewinterizing.

Did anybody ever not drain these over the years and what is the consequences?

If you live in an area that is subject to freezing... the consequences are HUGE!

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by Joe O

While we're on this subject, I now have a Fifth Wheel that has low drains in the middle of the underbelly which are not easily accessible unless I crawl underneath to the middle of the trailer. What kind of design is this?

I feel like I won't bother to drain them whether winterizing or dewinterizing.

Did anybody ever not drain these over the years and what is the consequences?

It’s the same design that’s on my 2015 Wildcat. It’s because my kitchen sink is in my center-of-room island and the low point drains come straight down out of that plumbing. I removed my drain caps and installed quarter-turn ball valves. Then I fabricated a pole/tool with a slot in the end with which I can turn both valves from a kneeling position beside the trailer. I only operate these valves when I winterize/dewinterize - not between trips.