Greetings Dan!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan S
I've never "winterized" the Argosy and paid for it this spring with several splits in the copper tubes (post hot water tank).
I do not own a air compressor and am curious as to what at a minimum I should do. I've seen some RV anti-freeze additives that you pour into the water tank and assume you just cycle it through all your lines....
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
Dan
Seattle, WA
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There isn't a genuinely simple answer to your question. Your Minuet may (or might not) have a water heater bypass installed for winterizing -- this is an assessment that will need to be made prior to identifying the best procedure for winterization. The general preferences for winterization have changed slightly over the years, but the principles remain the same . . . . protecting the plumbing supply lines from freezing. In the absence of a water heater bypass, I suspect that you may find the following procedure as one possibility:
- Open all of your coaches drain valaves
- Fresh Water Tank Drain Valve
- Water Heater Tank Drain Valve
- Below Kitchen Sink Low Point Drain Valve
- Below Bathroom Vanity Low Point Drain Valve
- Change forward to rearward pitch of coach by alternately lowering or raising tongue jack to change angle of coach to coax water to find its way to low point drains.
The above process was one that I was taught to utilize early on when an air compressor wasn't available . . . . while not absolutely effective it can be a stop gap in an emergency. At the conclusion of the above procedure, I would then add RV Antifreeze to my freshwater tank and circulate it through the system . . . . the downside is that without a water heater bypass, you are looking at between 7 and 11 gallons of RV Antifreeze depending upon the size of your water heater . . . Since the Minuets typically have a 6-gallon water heater, you would likely be looking at closer to the 7 gallons of RV Antifreeze. With the cost of RV Antifreeze, once through with this process would come close to paying for a small compressor that could serve as a pressure source for blowing out your water supply lines. Beginning about ten years ago, my typical winterization was simply to drain the lines then blow them out with compressed air . . . and have been trouble-free thus far. The previous owner of my Minuet had added a water heater bypass so it is a simple process to add about a gallon of RV Antifreeze to the lines once the blow-out is completed . . . and since its water supply lines are more difficult to reach for service/replacement, it makes sense to add the antifreeze. With the water heater bypass, it is a simple matter to disconnect the suction hose on the water pump and insert that hose into the Antifreeze to draw antifreeze into the system . . . with the water heater bypassed it typically takes only about one gallon to fill the water supply lines.
Good luck with your research and investigation!
Kevin
P.S.: The usual recommendation is to also pour about one cup of RV Antifreeze down each of your coach's drains to keep the traps from freezing.