|
|
11-19-2007, 02:22 PM
|
#1
|
2 Rivet Member
Surprise
, Arizona
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 52
|
Winterizing: using a blowout plug
As a new Airstream owner, I wanted to make sure I winterized my trailer right. So when I read that I should use compressed air and a "blowout plug" to remove water from the plumbing, I bought one at the local RV store. It was easy to attach the blowout plug to the trailer...it just screwed right in to the "potable water" connection.
But wait!!! Where's the air come from?
Lots of people tow their trailer to a gas station and hook the blowout plug up to a regular air hose (the kind used to inflate tires). But that was inconvenient for me, and besides, I wanted to regulate the pressure I blew through the plumbing. So I decided to use my air compressor as the air source.
Unfortunately, I had a heck of a time figuring out how to attach my air compressor to the blowout plug. After many frustrating trips to the hardware store, I finally found the solution, which I'm summarizing here. I hope the following info & photos will be useful to other newbies, too.
The solution is to buy an "air chuck", like the one pictured below. Note that this particular type of air chuck has a "safety lever," which means I can snap it onto the blowout plug for "hands free" operation. The blowout plug is also shown in this photo.
The next photo shows the air chuck connected to the blowout plug. Notice that an air compressor attachment (1/4" NPT Male) has been screwed into the base of the air chuck.
The following photo shows the blowout plug/air chuck attached to my trailer.
And the final photo shows the air compressor and hose.
After completing these connections, I just followed the instructions in my Airstream manual, and BAM!...my plumbing was free of unwanted water. Now I scoff at cold weather!
Hope this info is helpful!
Regards,
Titus
|
|
|
11-19-2007, 02:30 PM
|
#2
|
4 Rivet Member
2000 31' Land Yacht
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 497
|
Don't forget the pump and traps. They need a bit of antifreeze.
|
|
|
11-19-2007, 03:20 PM
|
#3
|
2 Rivet Member
2006 28' Classic
Lake Tomahawk
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 30
|
Added comments, you did the right thing by getting a small compressor, the cylinder isn't "oil" lubricated like most at the gas stations! Now you don't have to worry about oil inside your water lines! Using the lock-on chuck then allows you to open one faucet or valve at a time!
Living in Northern Wisconsin where it does get cold I have never once used "pink" stuff. With blowing one outlet at a time "dry" excluding the traps, That's the only place I put "pink stuff". I have never experienced a freeze up. Of course maybe I'm lucky in those fifteen years.
|
|
|
11-19-2007, 03:53 PM
|
#4
|
Patriotic
1973 23' Safari
North of Boston
, Massachusetts
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,546
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by William Ales
Of course maybe I'm lucky in those fifteen years.
|
you have. I live in Massachusetts, where it gets cold, but not AS cold as WI...(generally).and I've had damage to my water pump by using the "air only" winterizing scenario.
you'll never get *all* of the water out with air, anyway. The only way to completely remove it is to displace it with another fluid.
__________________
Air:291
Wbcci: 3752
'73 Safari 23'
'00 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 QC
|
|
|
11-19-2007, 04:33 PM
|
#5
|
Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Hernando
, Mississippi
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 759
|
Yes, displace with another liquid. As 2Air says...."use cheap vodka!". sounds good to me.
__________________
Rgds,
Scott
Air 16426
Fully retired now!
Remember:
Never start anything before noon and always plan on being finished by 5.
I will never HAVE to be anywhere ever again!
|
|
|
11-20-2007, 10:28 AM
|
#6
|
Ready-to-Travel
2012 30' International
Walkerton
, Virginia
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,166
|
I found that the place you may miss is the shower diverter valve. Lucky for me the plug at the bottom was nylon and easily replaceable. I previously had blown out the lines as you did, but this year I also pumped the pink stuff using the tube and valve attached to my water pump.
It doesn't get that cold here until Jan-Feb, if it does at all. But, the pain of freeze repairs is much worse than winterizing.
Pat
|
|
|
11-20-2007, 10:55 AM
|
#7
|
Classic 30
Sum Wear
, Ohio
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 594
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by TitusLivy
Blah Blah Blah
The solution is to buy an "air chuck", like the one pictured below.
Blah Blah Blah
|
Thanks TitusLivy,
I went to Lowe's the other day looking for exactly that. I thought maybe they sold clamp nozzles like you find on cheap tire inflater, but no dice. I hate Lowe's.
What hardware store did you find it at? Mom and pop place, or a national chain?
__________________
"Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast" - Oscar Wilde
2500HD DMax............30' Classic
__________________
|
|
|
11-20-2007, 11:03 AM
|
#8
|
1 Rivet Short
1989 25' Excella
By The Bay
, Rhode Island
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,620
|
I'm paranoid...I do both...
don't use too much pressure when blowing out the lines-45 psi max rating for plumbing. I keep it lower than that (30 psi), there goes that paranoia again!
Bill
__________________
*Life is Good-Camping all around the Continent*
*Good people drink good beer-Hunter S Thompson*
|
|
|
11-20-2007, 01:07 PM
|
#9
|
2 Rivet Member
Surprise
, Arizona
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 52
|
Hey, Sky!
I had no luck in any of the local hardware or home supply stores, so I bought my air chuck from amazon.com. Search for "Milton air chuck". Or use google to search the entire web, and you'll get a bazillion hits. I recommend the type that includes the "safety lever" (aka, "safety grip" or "safety clip").
Good luck!
Titus
|
|
|
11-20-2007, 01:32 PM
|
#10
|
Rivet Master
1971 21' Globetrotter
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Arvada
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,527
|
This is a type of tool designed to thread onto schrader type valves
Aircraft Tool Supply - Cookie Warning
|
|
|
11-20-2007, 01:40 PM
|
#11
|
4 Rivet Member
2003 39' Land Yacht XL 330 hp w/2slides
White Lake
, Michigan
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 329
|
I must be lucky too. I only use air from my MH compressor with a regulator to blow out the lines and put anti-freeze in the traps only. I will run my pump a little while using air and I remove and blow out the water filter.
Most RV service people will recommend air and anti-freeze in the traps only.
My underground sprinkler guy uses only air and so do all the golf courses without any problem. I could be wrong, but so far no problems.
__________________
2003 Land Yacht 396XL
Blue Ox Alladin
2008 Jeep Liberty
|
|
|
11-20-2007, 01:49 PM
|
#12
|
Patriotic
1973 23' Safari
North of Boston
, Massachusetts
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,546
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by bfred
My underground sprinkler guy uses only air and so do all the golf courses without any problem. I could be wrong, but so far no problems.
|
no pumps isolated from the air by check-valves in those systems.
__________________
Air:291
Wbcci: 3752
'73 Safari 23'
'00 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 QC
|
|
|
11-20-2007, 02:41 PM
|
#13
|
"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
|
Samie Same
Quote:
Originally Posted by bfred
I must be lucky too. I only use air from my MH compressor with a regulator to blow out the lines and put anti-freeze in the traps only. I will run my pump a little while using air and I remove and blow out the water filter.
|
Have used the same procedure for the last four years here in Buffalo, run
the pump while pressureizing the lines,(60psi). Works for me
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
|
|
|
11-20-2007, 02:45 PM
|
#14
|
Tom, the Uber Disney Fan
2006 30' Safari
Orlando
, Florida
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,693
|
We have mild winters...compared to you guys up north we don't even have a real winter, but I used the air blow-out method for the delivery pipes and pump, and pink anti-freeze in the drains and some in the "empty" holding tanks. I drained the fresh water tank and hot water tank leaving the valve open on each to allow for expansion if there was any water left in either. I removed the faucet water filter and stored it in one of the drawers and left it and all of the cabinet and closet doors open. I then left the furnace on 50 degrees and kept an eye on the gas tank levels. This winter promises to be harsher (by our standards) than last year's so I may not be so lucky, but I plan on going that route again.
__________________
2006 30' Safari - "Changes in Latitudes"
2008 F-250 Lariat Power Stroke Diesel Crew Cab SWB
Family of Disney Fanatics
WBCCI# 4821
https://streaminacrossamerica.com/
|
|
|
11-20-2007, 03:36 PM
|
#15
|
Rivet Master
1967 26' Overlander
Huntsville
, Alabama
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,018
|
Low cost option
I made an adapter out of an old garden hose end.
Since the regulator pressure is set at 40 psi, the electrical tape used to make up the difference between the airline fitting and the hose has proven, over the last four years, to work well.
Tom
|
|
|
11-20-2007, 03:58 PM
|
#16
|
2 Rivet Member
2007 27' Classic FB
Havelock
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 61
|
You should be able to buy the air chuck at any NAPA auto parts or similar.
Also instead of the tire chuck setup you can buy a brass hose fitting and screw a regular air fitting into it. Available at Home Depot or Lowes
|
|
|
11-20-2007, 05:03 PM
|
#17
|
Rivet Master
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Airstream - Other
Airstream - Other
North Central Texas
, USA
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,003
|
The first time I winterized with compressed air a small piece of teflon tape got caught in the commode valve. It was some excess left in the water lines during manufacturing.
|
|
|
11-20-2007, 06:06 PM
|
#18
|
Rivet Master
1976 25' Caravanner
Vintage Kin Owner
Campton
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,113
|
Blow out the lines with air , fill the traps with antifreeze , run a 1/2 cup antifreeze thru the pump , diconeect the shower hose . This has been good for me for 12 years , we see -20 several times a winter . I also remove the water filter and leave the rear drain valves and HW drain open.
FWIW I like to attach the air to the kitchen faucet so everything goes out the back .
|
|
|
11-20-2007, 07:01 PM
|
#19
|
3 Rivet Member
2003 25' Safari
spokane
, Washington
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 114
|
another tool????
oh great, another tool I need. Looks like it does a great job,BUT WAIT! I've got a wife bought and paid for and she does a great job holding the thingie on the blow out plug.........
|
|
|
11-21-2007, 06:34 AM
|
#20
|
Rivet Master
2016 23' International
Centennial
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,684
|
Northern Tool and Equipment has them for $5.99.
Of course the price goes up a bit because of shipping. But, if you live in a remote area, this may be the way to go for You.
Steve
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|