3 winterizing questions from a newbie

[SpikePoet]

Found a 50X18 foot, heated, air conditioned space for storage with h/c water, 6 15amp outlets, 1 30amp outlet, and compressed air on demand. Didn't see the need to fully winterize so I drained and sanitized the fresh water tank. I'm in northern Ohio so I figured if we got a weather break we might run for the south for a couple of weeks. Both black and gray had been emptied at last campground then I put sanitizer packets in both with a gallon or 2 of fresh water. There is no access to city plumbing at the storage unit so while doing other maintenance I needed to use the head. Liquid only! Several times! Is there any reason I should try to empty the black tank with just a little bit of urine in it? No TP or solids.
Second, if I decide to make a run for the south I will want to complete the winterization before leaving. Again, should I try to drain that black tank first?
Third, I have a 3 way DeWalt inflator that rides with me on trips. I have a Schrader valve to city water plug. The DeWalt does very well with bigger volume air pumping and can be set to limit PSI. Will that work to blow out the water lines for my journey back north?
All advice and assistance is appreciated!
Spike

[majorairhead]

Your black tank will be fine. Before you leave, dump a gallon of antifreeze in it. And yeah, I think your Dewalt will be fine blowing out the lines, but it's been my experience that it takes time to clear the lines of all water. That's why I always run pink stuff through the pump and water lines, but hey, that's just me.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Pretty much the last thing on the winterization list are the black and gray tanks. Has the rest of the trailer already been properly winterized?

The black and gray tanks (if pretty much empty) can quickly and easily be winterized with RV antifreeze.

Bob

[Daquenzer]

I have heated storage. I just blow out the lines and empty the tanks. Plenty enough. Many people just blow out lines even when not in heated storage. No fuss no mess. A little water in black tank is no big deal.

[Hans627]

Some RV antifreeze in the black and gray tank (if you are driving in freezing temps) you will be fine. You might want to blow the water lines but again only if it is below freezing.

Enjoy the trip to warmer weather!

[AirstreamCSH]

We often travel in 20-30 degree temps which means its colder when on the road due to air movement, etc. Have found that black tank will be fine due to movement and it's larger dissolved solids assuming you've done a dump and all that's left is a few new things. Same with Grey. We do, however, dump pink into every drain and that means that extra gets into the tanks. Your primary concern is actually the drain port and not the tank as the tank is largely protected in the belly but the drain port is open to the frigid temps. If you valve is the kind that tends to leak a bit, find an appropriate method to open the cap and let it drain those last streams so when you roll, you don't find yourself with a frozen cap onto the pipe.

The reason you hear many opinions about the air winterization method is that people are exposed to varying amounts and depts of cold. In Texas, the cold isn't Ohio cold in duration or degrees. Texas cold can be blown out, Ohio not so much.

When we visit Jackson Center in winter, we do a blow out and followed by pink. It only takes about 10-min to run a full gallon of pink through the system. Doing this, you capture all the elbows and dips where the condensation and partially expelled water tends to aggregate and freeze. There is a great video using clear pipe on the internet showing that a blow looks like it works completely but leaves behind a decent amount of water that coalesces. Pink stuff is for Ohio cold and peace of mind as a bottle of pink only costs $6 or so.

And don't forget the toilet line. It has a fair amount of water to dispel. When we travel winterized, we flush with pink stuff and don't worry about freezing at all.

[SUP'n Woman]

So, would someone please be willing to explain in simple terms how to winterize & de-winterize my 2021 Bambi 16rb?? Only 1tank, not 1of black & gray! Thanks!

[drbrick]

On my Blog I have a simple - point form Winterization list hope this will help:
https://www.marriedwithairstream.com...-preparations/

[majorairhead]

Break out the manual and follow it step by step.

[Dan and Liz]

If I were heading south, had been in heated storage of 50 degrees or better and didn't expect mid-20s or lower temps for more than a day/night or two, I'd just fill my fresh water tank and head out (I presume you'd run the furnace at night); or if it looked chancier, carry bottled water until arriving in a warmer place. No need to worry about your holding tanks until they are full or near full, when you'll get a more cleansing dump. I've never used pink stuff after thoroughly blowing the lines except a bit in the holding tanks and p traps.

Others will say I'm nuts, but ... so far so good.

[Hermes]

Originally Posted by AirstreamCSH

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And don't forget the toilet line. It has a fair amount of water to dispel. When we travel winterized, we flush with pink stuff and don't worry about freezing at all.

We use windshield washer fluid for flushing when traveling winterized (rated for below freezing temps) which also does the job, since RV antifreeze is not always available.

As recommended you need to press down the toilet pedal valve when winterizing with pink antifreeze to make sure the valve is completely free of water, or else it will crack (it's made of hard plastic with no room for expansion).

[SpikePoet]

As always, great advice and pertinent personal experiences. I value and appreciate the responses. I read the Airstream Forums nearly every day and have gained a lot of insight about solving my own problems (given my technical limitations) Only wish I had more to contribute. Thanks to all!
Spike

[Rich W]

On the outside chance you were to lose power in your storage unit for any length of time, I would always open the low point drains after blowing out the lines. It doesn't take much time to do that and it will give you peace of mind.

I wouldn't worry about any pee in the black tank. Drop some RV antifreeze in there, maybe half a cup. I keep 2 1-gallon jugs of water / antifreeze mix for flushing whether in storage or on the road. As we move south I check the weather reports for the road ahead and if it's looking to be above freezing for the remainder of our trip I will de-winterize at an overnight stop.

When returning north I just push another gallon of RV antifreeze through all the lines on the morning we leave warmer temps. I expect blowing out the lines would work too. Don't forget the outside and inside shower lines. After winterizing, when you stop for the night at a CG, use their facilities and only pee in the black tank. We don't put anything in the gray tank except RV antifreeze in the drains.