Winterize in Phoenix??

[flitzwhopper]

Being new to the thrill of having a coach, I have noted that there seems to be a process of protecting the unit from freezing. Okay... Okay... i know it doesn't get cold in Phoenix but on a couple of mornings there will be a thin sheet of ice on the birdbaths... usually gone pretty quick. Just wondering.

Thanks

Mike

[myboyburt]

And they live outside of Apache Junction (unincorporated Pinal County) - just a few towns away from you. Guess Dad feels it's better to spend the hour or two to winterize it then to chance having any issues at the start of camping season.

[Turtle]

I live on the mild Redwood Coast and we get a few mornings a year of temperatures down to 26 to 29 degrees. I just put a gallon of antifreeze in an almost empty water tank and run it through the system and that seems to do it. I hope I haven't just been lucky with that formula. My thinking is that we really don't get that hard of a freeze so I don't have to be that exact with the winterizing. This is just my experience. If you choose to do this also, don't hold me accountable for any adverse outcome. Jamie

[CanoeStream]

re: Turtle's post -- I don't drink out of my freshwater tank but many people regret putting antifreeze in there. It is very hard to remove all traces in the spring. See: the top 2 threads in the winterizing subforum.

Bryan Leipper has measured inside temps in cold weather and posted in the past about very moderate internal temp swings inside the trailer -- for California. One example here. I can't imagine you have any worries in Tempe! I say this from a background of growing up in southern Texas and two days of 'blue northers' freezing down for two days at a time. None of this applies if you move your Airstream to even mildly higher elevations!!

[john hd]

here in the frozen tundra i usually don't worry about winterizing untill we get consistant temps in the mid 30's.

i have gone out after a cold morning and checked and always seen the thermometer in the trailer above freezing.

john

[Turtle]

We don't drink or cook with water from our freshwater tank. Jamie

[flitzwhopper]

My friends... it would appear that one of the best parts of joining the AS community is that there are always folks who are willing to help out. Thanks for taking the time to offer your opinions.
An interesting comment from an engineer friend of mine.... He opined that if the system is under pressure that pure water will stay liquid below the nominal freezing point. He suggested leaving the supply system pressurized and to not worry unless there were temperatures below 30 degrees for more than 12 hours.
Merry Christmas!
Mike