What tool to get for blowing out the lines?

[utahredrock]

I am a full-time Airstreamer who's been in the Sonoran Desert all winter. I need to head to cooler climates next week and it's likely it will be below freezing early in the spring.

What tool do I get so I can blow out my lines?

I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on an air compressor. Is this my only choice? Can I get the proper tools for under $100 or should I take it to a shop and just let them do it?

One of the problems is I will likely want to use my water--depending on the forecast. I'll be in many states over the next few weeks and temperatures will vary.

Regards,

Jim
The Airstreaming Rock Dealer
Visit www.utahredrock.com today.

[eubank]

I guess I'm a little confused (though that's hardly unusual). So why do you want to blow out the lines if you intend to use the water?

Lynn

[cosmotini]

This is what you probably want. Many well stocked rv stores will have them.

[2airishuman]

hi 'redrock...

why not use the furnace and keep the thermostat set to 45 or higher?

and use the water heater?

i do these 2 things in the transitional seasons without freezing lines.

using the adapter cosmotini linked, ANY air pump will work.

a small 12v, foot pump, even a hand air pump. it takes very little air volume to clear the lines.

just don't use a pump that is 'oil lubricated' internally, it will foul the lines and taint the water.

but u still have the water heater and water pump and tanks to consider.

cheers
2air'

[CanoeStream]

What temps will you be driving in? Running the furnace at night should protect you down into the low teens. But watch out if your shower mixing valve is on an outside wall -- those are prone to damage.

Member Leipper took some temperatures in his driveway (trailer standing still, furnace not running). I seem to recall he said it wasn't below freezing inside when the outside morning air was in the low 20s. Driving should be okay if daytime temps are above zero. If any question put a thermometer down where pipes run and check occasionally when underway. There is a broad range of opinions on running any LP appliance while underway. I'd probably do it if an inside thermometer was dipping below 30 degrees. Run the furnace with the thermostat set to 40 degrees or so.

Some Leipper posts on the subject:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f462...tml#post288092
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f462...tml#post288054
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f48/...html#post62625
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f458...html#post60349

Make sure your LP tanks are full.

[utahredrock]

Thanks for all the tips. Am ordering those parts Dennis. Lynn and Bob--I am headed from AZ (lower elevations) to Salt Lake, Boise, Salt Lake, Moab, Albuquerque, and then east from Albuquerque in mid-April. No plans to stop in high elevations, but I'll be passing through some. I should be OK, just want to be safe. If I am headed in to low temps I want to be ready, but also want to use my water when I can.

[HowieE]

When I am on the road in the colder months I carry these 2 items.
The hose is just to fit on the barb fitting on the input side of the pump for drawing up antifreeze.

The other is a male hose to female 1/2 pipe adapter, a 1/2 male to 1/8 female coupling and a 1/8 schrader. Home Depote will have the first 2 and any well driller supply or compressed air dealer shouls have the schrader fitting.

Armed with thes I can pull into any truck stop and using their tire hose I can blow down my trailer in less than 5 mins.

If you are going to want to winterize and unwinterize a few daus later just blowing the system down will work. Just keep in mind that you will have to drain the hot water heater and set the bypass each time before you blow down the system. Make sure the hot water heater is turned off while in the bypass mode. 6 gallon steam bombs can make a mess.

Place the adapter in the water fill. I have my wife in the trailer and starting with the faucet closest to the water fill have her open a the faucet as I hit the system with air. Short bursts of air to make sure you don't blowup the system. Once she says there is minimum coming out of the faucet she close that one and moves to the next and so on through the trailer.

Don't forget the hose on the toilet, the shower hose, and for this period I would remove the filter from the kitchen put the cap on and leave it off till it gets warmer. I say this because you will not be able to remove the water from the filter with air

If your staying in the trailer I would think you are safe with water on board with overnight temperatures above 25 degrees.

[balrgn]

I use one of these with a small compressor. #2 at most places. Hook it into the City water, and alternate opening faucets, as well as the HW tank

Blow-out Plug - Camping World

[yukionna]

In a pinch, just use the plug at a gas station air pump.

[thecatsandi]

and one of these.
Pump Converter Winterizer Kit - Camping World

I have both of the mentoned products and carry a small compressor for tires that will empty out the lines.

[yukionna]

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

and one of these.
Pump Converter Winterizer Kit - Camping World

I have both of the mentoned products and carry a small compressor for tires that will empty out the lines.

Make sure you have enough room to install that pump converter kit. We purchased one for our 2002 but there isn't any room where the water pump is located to install the converter kit.

[thecatsandi]

Originally Posted by yukionna

Make sure you have enough room to install that pump converter kit. We purchased one for our 2002 but there isn't any room where the water pump is located to install the converter kit.

I moved my pump....

[yukionna]

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

I moved my pump....

We explored that option too but there weren't any other areas in our 19' trailer to move it too! So, each winter we resort to wasting a gallon or two of antifreeze because we have to pour it into the fresh water tank.

We minimize the waste by blowing out the lines first but, in the end, it takes four gallons to winterize our Bambi.