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03-22-2008, 10:46 AM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member
1962 22' Safari
1973 25' Tradewind
1968 30' Sovereign
Salt Lake City
, Utah
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 264
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What tool to get for blowing out the lines?
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.
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03-22-2008, 10:52 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
Airstream - Other
2016 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Bosque Farms
, New Mexico
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,030
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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
__________________
ACI Big Red Number 21043
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03-22-2008, 10:52 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2021 27' Globetrotter
Saint Louis
, Missouri
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,108
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This is what you probably want. Many well stocked rv stores will have them.
__________________
Dennis
BRN #20321 Air #4056
"Oooh - They have the Internet on computers now!" - Homer Simpson
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03-22-2008, 11:20 AM
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#4
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_
.
, .
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,812
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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'
__________________
all of the true things that i am about to tell you are shameless lies. l.b.j.
we are here on earth to fart around. don't let anybody tell you any different. k.v.
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03-22-2008, 12:44 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
St. Cloud
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,280
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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.
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03-22-2008, 01:10 PM
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#6
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4 Rivet Member
1962 22' Safari
1973 25' Tradewind
1968 30' Sovereign
Salt Lake City
, Utah
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 264
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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.
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03-22-2008, 01:35 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
Princeton
, New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
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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.
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles
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03-22-2008, 01:56 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1974 27' Overlander
1954 26' Romany Cruiser
1960 26' Overlander
Rockingham County
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,410
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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
__________________
'74 Overlander (T-O-Bee)
'46 Spartan Manor (Rosie)
'54 Cruiser (Bogart)
'60 Overlander (Hoagy)
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Duramax
WBCCI 1754 - AIR # 6281
www.balrgn.com
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03-22-2008, 04:42 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
Massachusetts
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: 1964 17' Bambi II
Posts: 4,282
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In a pinch, just use the plug at a gas station air pump.
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WBCCI Region One
Attitude is the only difference between ordeal and adventure
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03-22-2008, 04:59 PM
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#10
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More than one rivet loose
Currently Looking...
Los Alamos
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,756
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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.
__________________
Michelle TAC MT-0
Sarah, Snowball
Looking for a 1962 Flying Cloud
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03-22-2008, 05:25 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
Massachusetts
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: 1964 17' Bambi II
Posts: 4,282
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thecatsandi
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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.
__________________
WBCCI Region One
Attitude is the only difference between ordeal and adventure
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03-22-2008, 08:11 PM
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#12
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More than one rivet loose
Currently Looking...
Los Alamos
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,756
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Quote:
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.
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I moved my pump....
__________________
Michelle TAC MT-0
Sarah, Snowball
Looking for a 1962 Flying Cloud
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03-23-2008, 06:42 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
Massachusetts
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: 1964 17' Bambi II
Posts: 4,282
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thecatsandi
I moved my pump....
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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.
__________________
WBCCI Region One
Attitude is the only difference between ordeal and adventure
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