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sarmimi · 09-14-2005, 09:08 PM

Hi All.

The temperatures where we are staying are supposed to drop to about 20 degrees F tonight, well below freezing. I believe I should drain our fresh water tank, empty the grey water, and empty the black water tonight before everything freezes. Then I plan to empty both the hot water and cold water pipes, disconnect the city water, and empty the water pump. Basically try to get anything that might freeze to empty before it freezes.

Is this what we should be doing? We had not expected to be in such cold weather so early in the season, and are caught a little unprepared. If we are overkilling, please let us know what items we should drain, disconnect, etc. A response asap would be great, as it's 9:08 pm and it will probably get freezing sometime past midnight tonight, so I've only got a few more hours to prepare. Thanks so much!

- Mike & Angela

StingrayL82 · 09-14-2005, 09:13 PM

Mike & Angela,

If I were staying where you are now, that's exactly what I'd be doing, if I thought that the temp was going to get to the point where it could damage my rig....where the heck are you staying???? It was 86 degrees today here!

Frederic

sarmimi · 09-14-2005, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StingrayL82

....where the heck are you staying???? It was 86 degrees today here!

Thanks Frederic.

We are up in Breckenridge, Colorado. It's 9,600 ft elev here, we had about 2-3 inches of fresh snow above 10,500 feet today during the day time. It's bloody freezing right now!

I'll start winterizing right now - everything. All the pipes and tanks. Thanks!

StingrayL82 · 09-14-2005, 09:27 PM

I was stationed in Colorado Springs with 10th Special Forces Group, and Sherri taught me how to ski in Breckenridge, so I understand the temperature difference....now that I know where you are, I say winterizing that rig is the best move you'll make. Good luck to you; stay warm.

Frederic

desi arnaz · 09-14-2005, 10:02 PM

best move he could make is to get the hell outta there..........

yukionna · 09-14-2005, 10:06 PM

You don't need to drain/winterize if you run your furnace.

**Janet H** · 09-14-2005, 10:06 PM

Airstream has a how to winterize article online here. Don't forget to drain the hot water heater.

wingfoot321 · 09-14-2005, 10:56 PM

I am assuming you are not staying in the trailer. If I were staying in the coach and had propane, I would disconnect the water and run the furnace.

Then I would hook up and get the heck out of that elevation.

**jcanavera** · 09-14-2005, 11:08 PM

Just run the water heater and furnace. Your tanks and water pump should be protected. Open the inside access doors if you wish to make sure the lines get some heat. Disconnect your city water hose and if you have an outside faucet on your trailer (like my Classic does), turn off the inside shut off valve, then open the outside valve and drain the small amount out of the line.

We've been out in the 20's with no problems.

Jack

AgZep · 09-14-2005, 11:12 PM

We were in West Yellowstone in late August when the temp unexpectedly dropped to 25 degrees one night. We ran the furnace and left the water heater on and everything was fine. Other than the frozen freshwater hose (doh!), which thawed nicely in the galley sink. The 28' International doesn't have an exterior water faucet on the unit, so you don't have to deal with that (in response to Jack's post which has mysteriously disappeared).

Join the birds and head south for winter!

AgZep · 09-14-2005, 11:15 PM

Jack-

So I wasn't crazy--I did see your original "disappearing" reply!

Silvertwinkie · 09-15-2005, 06:17 AM

I agree, if you are using the Airstream, then simply keep the furnace on at an acceptable temperature and you'll be fine. It's only when you are not using the coach, no furnace running when you have to winterize when the temps get south to or below freezing.....there are folks that fulltime, year round and they do just fine.

If I could, I'd stay the heck there! Most likely more fun and intersteing than anyplace 'round here.

85MH325 · 09-15-2005, 06:57 AM

Most (it's always inappropriate to say "all") Airstreams with furnaces have hot air ducted to the areas with tanks and plumbing. They were designed that way specifically to ward off freezing the systems on a 20 degree night here and there. Leaving the cupboard doors open is a good idea as warm cabin air can circulate more freely through them. I wouldn't count on the furnace for an entire winter, but a night or two in sub-freezing temps won't hurt anything as long as you disconnect, drain those taps with outside exposure, and keep things comfortable.

Roger

Silvertwinkie · 09-15-2005, 07:06 AM

I can't speak for the real vintage units, but this post seemed to be in regard to a 2005 and all newer Airstreams (at least as far back as the late 90s) have some sort of tank heating system and comfort heat. The bottom line is that the unit in question does have forced air heated tanks and a fairly robust BTU furnace ( I think 30k BTUS). I would as an extra bit of caution pour some RV antifreeze in the holding tanks (gray and black), keep the furnace set to at least 70 degrees (higher if it's near zero).

The only newer coach that I know that doesn't have forced air on the tanks was the 22' units that had electric heaters on the tanks....these units at one time (possibly still) only had on 12v battery too...which is a non-issue all around for this 2005 28' CCD.

There are people that fulltime all year around in Airstreams of various vintages. Temps on some I've seen on this forum get below zero. It's not fun camping/living, but it can be done safely and successfully to even below zero outdoor ambient temps.

desi arnaz · 09-15-2005, 07:07 AM

the pex pipe is fairly forgivable if you do have a freeze.

wingfoot321 · 09-15-2005, 09:01 PM

Sarmimi,

Where are you all tonight. Did it hit the 20degrees last night that you were concerned about. Let us know how you are doing

sarmimi · 09-15-2005, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingfoot321

Where are you all tonight. Did it hit the 20degrees last night that you were concerned about. Let us know how you are doing

Hi all.

First, thanks for all the advice. Yes, it hit below twenty last night. We ended up draining everything just as a precaution and did fine. We are actually here for one more week (Angela has a Doctor's appt next week, so we need to stick around), and will probably hit a few sub-zero nights along the way. Sounds like we can just keep our furnace running and disconnect the water connection and will still be fine. Don't worry, we are heading to warmer temps next. Although, it hit the 60's today and was very sunny, but the nights are cold (only 31 F tonight though).

Here are some pics of all the frost and ice at night and around 7:30 am the next morning so everyone can appreciate how cold it got!

- Mike & Angela

67caravel · 09-15-2005, 09:52 PM

Sarmini,

With any luck, we'll be heading to Telluride this weekend. We expect to hit low 30's at night and 50's and 60's during daylight. We'll likely head to Aspen shortly thereafter (with any luck). Our 22' CCD has tank heaters and, frankly, I'm not concerned about freezing up as Jack and Twink attest. We're packing our down sleeping bags and filling the propane tanks.

I just spoke to Westfalia who has a newer 19' and he had to leave his trailer up in Brec because he was having trouble with his tow vehicle - so I heard it was cold up there in Summit County. Brrrrrrr! Sure looks nice tho. Where are you staying in "B"? BTW, you said "sub-zero nights". Unless you are talking Celsius, I think you meant "sub-freezing nights". At least I sure hope so.

Westcliffe, Colorado (southern part of the state) had a hard freeze last night. Looks like an early winter is setting up.

Best to you and Angela! Hope all the parenthood stuff is looking good. Congrats again.

X

Porky Pig · 09-15-2005, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcanavera

... and if you have an outside faucet on your trailer (like my Classic does), turn off the inside shut off valve, then open the outside valve and drain the small amount out of the line.

Petunia and I are in West Yellowstone ... temps are expected to drop into the high 20s.

Good advice, Jack. I forgot about the outside valve. I actually had to get the manual out to see where the inside shut off valve was located! When I went outside to open the outside valve ... just a tiny dribble came out. Better safe than sorry.

By the way ... there are 2 other Airstreams here tonight ... and nobody is leaving!

sarmimi · 09-15-2005, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xray

I heard it was cold up there in Summit County. Brrrrrrr! Sure looks nice tho. Where are you staying in "B"? BTW, you said "sub-zero nights". Unless you are talking Celsius, I think you meant "sub-freezing nights".

Best to you and Angela! Hope all the parenthood stuff is looking good. Congrats again.

Definitely cold here in Breckenridge! Yes, I was talking Celsius. And here are some more pics of the area I took today/this morning. All the fall leaves are starting to turn, and within the week will probably peak.

Angela is doing well, although the morning sickness started to get to her this past week. For those curious, we found out about 2 weeks ago that we are pregnant with our first child. Very unexpected, but we are incredibly excited! I joked to Angela that since our child is an Airstream child, we should name him/her after an Airstream name, such as Thor, Bambi, Argosy, etc.

But she nixed those names and that idea immediately.