Winterize in San Francisco East Bay area??

[takeachance]

We are new to the RV world and this will be our first winter with our Airstream. We live in Pleasanton California, which is just over the hill from San Francisco. During the Winter our night time temps can dip into the high 20s and low 30s and usually only for a couple of hours. Is it still necessary to winterize since our daytime temps are usually in the 50s and 60s? Any advice would be much appreciated.

Scott
2007 30' Airstream Classic

[InsideOut]

A couple of gallons of RV antifreeze is a lot cheaper than fixing a broken pipe,pump/water heater/??? Better safe than sorry!

Either that or leave cupboard doors open (to pipes & drains) & heat your trailer to keep it warm on those cool nights.

Shari

[Melody Ranch]

Don't Bother.

[Fyrzowt]

Scott,
You're in a pretty moderate area there, I'm surprised you hit the upper 20's very often. When you do, it wouldn't be for long and you shouldn't have any freezing issues. If you are concerned, you could use anti-freeze.

I wouldn't worry about it though. Maybe I'm a risk taker.

Dave

[nvestysly]

We are in Georgia just north of Atlanta. The temperature can be in the 20s overnight and only as high as freezing during the day - but that may only last a day or two and it does not happen every year.

We have been successful with winterizing by simply draining the water lines thoroughly (via the valves in the under the cupboard), draining the fresh water tank, draining the water heater, then using compressed air connected to the city water connection to blow out any remaining water in the lines. This year I plan to use a filter attached to the air compressor to avoid compressor oil in the water lines. It has not been a problem yet but I want the added precaution. After that we fill the traps with pink anti-freeze and make sure some anti-freeze makes it into the gray and black water tanks. I may have glossed over some of the details so I've attached a PDF file with the specifics.

We use our trailer periodically during the winter months and our 1/2 hour winterizing procedure seems to work for us. When we hop in the trailer for winter outing we don't have to worry about flushing pink anti-freeze from the lines. When we return home and need to winterize again it only takes 1/2 hour or so and we're ready for storage again.

Lucius

winterizing_hints.pdf

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by nvestysly

We have been successful with winterizing by simply draining the water lines thoroughly (via the valves in the under the cupboard), draining the fresh water tank, draining the water heater, then using compressed air connected to the city water connection to blow out any remaining water in the lines. This year I plan to use a filter attached to the air compressor to avoid compressor oil in the water lines. It has not been a problem yet but I want the added precaution. After that we fill the traps with pink anti-freeze and make sure some anti-freeze makes it into the gray and black water tanks. I may have glossed over some of the details so I've attached a PDF file with the specifics.

Sounds like what we do to winterize here...it really is simple and doesn't take too long which is why I would rather error on the side of being overly cautious.

Shari

[skykingpilot]

Hello Takachance!

Welcome. I just replied to a similar question from another AS'er. I would place a quick call to a local trailer dealer and inquire. Further to the point though, I would use a blowout technique as discussed earlier. It is easy, quick and keeps the water system fresh. We are in Duluth MN, clearly long-underwear territory so we do winterize thoroughly. If you want to er on the side of ultra-safe... consider purchasing a very cheap space-heater that operates on a thermostat. For a couple of bucks you're good to go. It will assure your temp inside stay in a moderate range even if you should see unconventional long-term frost for a few days at a time. Cheap mid assurance. Best to you!

[CanoeStream]

An interesting link -- if you aren't traveling to higher elevations! Leipper seems to have recorded some interior temps. I recall a member who got online from high in the Rockies earlier last fall and was facing temps in the teens -- they were panicked and rightly so!

[janetb]

Takeachance, we're in the hills above Santa Cruz, so we have a little warming influence from the ocean. However, we've still had a couple of days in a row when the birds could skate on the bird bath, and dogs bruised their noses on the outdoor water dishes. I'd hate to have this rare but unpredictable freeze ruin those expensive A/S pipes. We plan to do the cursory winterizing suggested by nveststysly "just in case..."
Good luck,
Janet