Winterizing an Interstate?

[Interstate1]

Hello, I am a newbie at this whole thing...Could someone please explain to me the steps on what I need to do to winterize my Interstate? I live in Michigan so the winters can be pretty brutal. Thank you.

[Interstate1]

I did find this to be helpful... but still somewhat confusing >>>>>>>>>>>

Here is a helpful document from the Airstream website: http://www.airstream.com/files/libra...2a30ebe0b4.pdf
This document gives you generic winterization steps and you will need to adjust/modify for the specifics of your Interstate which you can find in the Interstate Owners Manual; see Plumbing (Section G).

If your Interstate will be experiencing temps below freezing, you need to spend the time to get this process right! Breaks in interior water lines can be very difficult to find and repair and if a leak goes undetected the damage caused can be very costly to fix.

[Boxster1971]

Welcome!!
Winterizing was discussed in length a few weeks ago. Go to this thread for details.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240...ate-95019.html

Also be aware that the owners manual may not be totally up to date on the details. My 2013 was delivered with a manual that had many errors on details of variuos valves needed to winterize. I think it was not updated from 2012 as I got an early 2013 model. Hopefully Airstream has updated the 2014 owners manual.

[Interstate1]

Thank you so much!... I really don't want to screw up the whole winterizing process.
Do you think it's a good idea to have a RV Service Department take care of the winterizing for me for the first winter? I don't have a certified Airstream Interstate dealership near me. Is it a pretty standard process for any RV dealership to do?

[Lily&Me]

Probably any rv dealer can do this for you.

Doug does ours. It's rather painstaking, but important to be thorough. The step by step directions should be in your owners manual.

Remember the outside shower, folks, and run the fluid thru both hot and cold. We missed something last year, sprung a leak and had to have the whole thing replaced.


Maggie

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by doug&maggie

Remember the outside shower, folks, and run the fluid thru both hot and cold. We missed something last year, sprung a leak and had to have the whole thing replaced.

Also remember to winterize the black tank flush fitting, if you've ever used it. If you never used it, it should be dry as a bone, but that check valve will retain some water and freeze if you've used it even once. I can run a hose from the exterior shower to the flush fitting to get the antifreeze to the fitting under pressure.

[73shark]

Welcome to the forum.

If you haven't used the black water flush valve, you should at least once to ensure that they didn't install the check valve backwards like they did on mine.

If you decide to use RV antifreeze, be sure to use the hot water heater bypass valve so you don't fill it with several gallons of expensive fluid. Of course you should also drain the hot water heater.

[MotorCity57]

Interstate1,
Welcome to the forum. I live in in Troy, MI and I've had my 2011 Interstate for a few years. I keep the RV in an unheated storage facility during the winter so at least it's covered up, but still needs winterizing. I have that done at A&S RV in Auburn Hills. I've considered doing it myself but the cost of having it done is not too bad (about $120). They sell Roadtreks, not Airstreams, but handle the simple maintenance items (like winterizing) for me.
John

[joemikeb]

After reading the manual, all of the posts on winterizing, and the number of things that can go wrong in the process, my dealer's winterizing charge looks pretty reasonable. Especially considering the job is guaranteed so if anything is not done right and there is a freeze related damage, they eat the cost. I think I will let them do it.

[Interstate1]

I greatly appreciate all your feedback... Thank you soooooo much :-)