first time winterizing on my own

[polarlyse]

I wired my water pump with plug-in connections. I plan to remove the pump when I winterize this go around. I blow all the lines and dump some AF into the traps. Been good for 9 years.

[HowieE]

The reason the dealer mentioned the city water connection is to ensure that leg of the water system has a chance to drain. If one was to just drain the trailer via the low point drains and having opened each faucet you have to have a way to release the vacuum on the city water connection. it is the old finger on top of a straw filled with water trick.

Now that said I would strongly suggest you blow out the system with compressed air supplied at the city connection and pump anti freeze into the system, with the hot water drained and the heater bypassed closed, connecting before the filter. This will use less than a gallon of antifreeze and guarantee you covered all bases.

Considering where you live and how cold it gets there I would use a 1/2 pint of auto antifreeze in the traps and well drained waste tanks.

[A W Warn]

When I winterize I do the drain/blow/rv antifreeze as everyone suggests. But, mostly I just drain and pump in the antifreeze. Not much blowing.

I found one more necessary step for my 25' Safari. In this trailer, from the water inlet hose connection to the first low point drain is about 8'. The pressure regulator is just before the drain, where the waterline is elevated an inch or so where it connects to the regulator. Since it is elevated some water is trapped between the regulator and the inlet no matter how much air I blow through. When I pump antifreeze into the plumbing using the fresh water pump winterizing kit it does not fill this pipe, since it still has air and water trapped inside it. Because of this trap I have to force some antifreeze through the water inlet. I pour some antifreeze into a hose then blow it through till antifreeze comes out the low point drain.

[m.hony]

I used to just chase the water out with the antifreeze.
Someone suggested that the antifreeze might become diluted and be less effective.
I'm not sure the antifreeze would be diluted enough to matter, but I use air to push the water out of the lines before putting the pink stuff in with a winterizing T next to the pump.

[la nomade]

my trailer is small ...but even with my 290,i put gallons of antifreeze in the potable water tank....drain the hot w tank,put it on bypass... i put on the pump and run the a.Fr thru all the pipes,open all faucets,let it run pink,flush toilet ..briefly open the pipe to the hot w tank... and then drain what is left in the potable water tank...leave all faucets open..put some A.Fr in sinks and shower drain..then comes spring i flush everything with fresh water many times..to make sure its all clean..add a bit of klorox to the fresh w tank and flush it all out several times...i never had a frozen pipe....

[TG Twinkie]

I drain all holding tanks, including the water heater. Bypass the water heater. Use the onboard pump to inject the RV anti freeze into the system. Making sure all faucets run pink on both the hot and cold water side. Flush the toilet until the bowl shows pink. Leave about an inch of AF in the toilet bowl.
Just bought 4 gallons of AF for $10, Not very expensive. I close the black and grey water valves before injecting the AF. I pour AF into all drains. Usually just keep pouring the remainder of the AF into the drains. Putting enough in the grey and black water tanks to completely cover the seal on the valves. Not sure what the minimum amount it takes to cover the valve seals but for $10 I just put the remainder of the 4 gallons into the drains after filling all of the lines.
I use a portable pump to inject AF into the city water inlet as well as the black water flush.

[paiceman]

The factory method is to blow out the lines, they do not add anti-freeze to the fresh water system. They do put AF in the traps and some into the black and grey tanks. They did tell me and emphasized to blow out the blank tank wash inlet.

Bud

[Alwaysready]

Originally Posted by TG Twinkie

I drain all holding tanks, including the water heater. Bypass the water heater. Use the onboard pump to inject the RV anti freeze into the system. Making sure all faucets run pink on both the hot and cold water side. Flush the toilet until the bowl shows pink. Leave about an inch of AF in the toilet bowl.
Just bought 4 gallons of AF for $10, Not very expensive. I close the black and grey water valves before injecting the AF. I pour AF into all drains. Usually just keep pouring the remainder of the AF into the drains. Putting enough in the grey and black water tanks to completely cover the seal on the valves. Not sure what the minimum amount it takes to cover the valve seals but for $10 I just put the remainder of the 4 gallons into the drains after filling all of the lines.
I use a portable pump to inject AF into the city water inlet as well as the black water flush.

Thank you TG for your reply. I did everything that you mentioned including using a hand pump for the sewer clean out and the city water fill. While I added AF in all the drains I didn't think to put some in the grey and black water tanks although I thoroughly drained them. Since I haven't taken our AS to the storage facility yet maybe I'll add a gallon or two to each of the tanks. The other thing I did that you didn't mention (and I assume you didn't do) is use a small electric air pump to force out any water in the lines prior to pumping the AF through the system. Is there a specific reason you don't include that step - seems to be a popular approach??

[TG Twinkie]

I usually pump enough AF into the lines where there is little if any risk of dilution. It is a step I chose not to do. There is nothing wrong with using air to purge the lines.

[NoResults]

TG Twinkie do you live next to the antifreeze factory? I am finding rv antifreeze for about $4.00 a gallon.

Dave

[TG Twinkie]

No. I live in far western Nebraska. I was in Wal-Mart yesterday and saw it for $2.58 a gallon. I bought mine at Bomgaars in Torrington, WY for $2.50 a gallon.
We passed thru Salem on our way home from a month long trip to the Oregon coast. Had a great time with beautiful weather.

[NoResults]

Well next winter bring me a couple of gallons of course it will cost me about 500.00 for transportation. If I ever get to your part of the country I could bring something from Oregon.

Dave

[FishByFly]

I feel this may be a dumb question, but how does one hand pump the antifreeze into the sewer clean out and the city water fil? What device are you using ?


FishByFly
because I catch fish on a fly...

2017 25' FB Flying Cloud Queen
2010 F250 Lariat
Past: 2005 30' Safari Bunkhouse
Past: 1986 28' Excella Twin

Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[HowieE]

If you have blown out the system via the city connection that length of pipe is free of water and when you pump in antifreeze via the trailer pump it will be back filled sufficiently. You have to fill the anti freeze via the pump to protect the pump. If you have a filter before the pump make sure you connect before that filter when filling the system.

As for the tanks you should pour about 8 oz. of anti freeze in each trap and dump some directly int the black tank via the toilet, leaving a 1/2 in or so in the toilet. If you remove the cap on the black tank flush connection the water in it should drain the the tank thus clearing itself.

[TG Twinkie]

I leave anti freeze in the black and grey tanks to help prevent the dump valve seals from drying out and sticking to the blade.

[Roadhoop]

What do people use for the compressed air?

[m.hony]

Compressor, air tank, or bicycle pump.


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[FishByFly]

I have an electric air compressor with a tank. Husky Air Scout. Allows me to control the pressures. Easy for my whole family to use to air up bikes and vehicle tires. I can travel with it but don't see the need.


FishByFly
because I catch fish on a fly...

2017 25' FB Flying Cloud Queen
2010 F250 Lariat
Past: 2005 30' Safari Bunkhouse
Past: 1986 28' Excella Twin

Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[HowieE]

When I am headed north and expect freezing before I get home I stop in a truck stop and use their air tower.

[Bob662]

How much air pressure should I use to blow out the lines?