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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / November 2004Winterizing
I have a small trailer with three holding tanks that are easy to drain. There is an electric pump that draws water from the fresh water tank and supplies water to the sink and toilet. If I empty the fresh water tank and then run the electric pump until it pumps air, will that remove all or most of the water from the pump so it can withstand a freeze? If so, and I then drain the other two tanks, I have winterized it very simply, and without antifreeze. I read about 'blowing out the lines' using air under pressure. If it is a positive displacement pump, then I don't think one can blow air through it because when the intake is open, the outlet is closed, etc. Comments welcome, especially from anyone who has done this. Thanks, Carl << If I empty the fresh water tank and then run the electric pump until it pumps air, will that remove all or most of the water from the pump so it can withstand a freeze? If so, and I then drain the other two tanks, I have winterized it very simply, and without antifreeze. >> I was told by my dealer not to run the pump dry. I bypass and drain the water heater then use a gallon of antifreeze to winterize by running the antifreeze thru the pump and lines. I let it run enough at all points so the drain traps are winterized too. Very simple and takes maybe 10 minutes. DSteiner I see where "Carl" <c@invalid.com> contributed in part: >If I empty the fresh water tank and then run the electric pump until >it pumps air, will that remove all or most of the water from the pump so it [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >Comments welcome, especially from anyone who has done this. To winterize *most* rigs the right way: DRAIN water tank & water heater BYBASS water heater CONNECT pump inlet via hose to jug of pink stuff (use tee/valve) PUMP AF into pipes 'til it comes outa faucets (and shower, toilet) DUMP holding tanks For more detailed, illustrated winterizing information see Les Doll's Painless Winterizing, at The RVer's Corner, <http://www.rverscorner.com/articles/painless.html>. In very mild climates you can get away without winterizing at all. Some get by using compressed air, a few by just draining. But if you want to be fairly sure of NEVER having to fix split plumbing parts, the above system is as easy and foolproof as we know about. NOTE: When "un-winterizing", flush the pipes with water BEFORE placing WH bypass valves back to normal. DISCLAIMER: My advice can't be trusted. I have no college degrees and know almost nothing except what I've learned from almost a half century of rv'ing and many years doing engineering work. I've never towed a 34' TT with an Intrepid or Cherokee but have survived many equally stupid tricks. I currently own NO Banks headers, fuel magnets, deer whistles, "Smart" solenoids or louvered tailgates. I've never deliberately allowed a holding tank to freeze solid, and have no financial interest in whether you join RVCG, wear clothes, use the Michelin RV tire guide to justify overinflating your tires or hate Firestone. If you take my advice, I guarantee absolutely NOTHING. Got that? Will Sill >I have a small trailer with three holding tanks that are easy to drain. >There is an electric pump that draws water from the fresh water tank [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >Thanks, >Carl Hi, The problem with your method is that it will not remove water from any low spots in the pipes or from any traps in the drains. If that water freezes it could cause you problems. The best bet is to get a winterization kit for your water pump, install it and use the water pump to pump RV anti freeze though out the pipes. Then dump some in the drains and toilet. See the following web site for some good information. http://www.rverscorner.com/articles/painless.html At about $2.50 per gallon and a half hour or hours worth of time, winterizing your RV using RV anti freeze is cheap insurance. Take care and Happy Campin... RichA "We Get Too Soon Olde and To Late Smart" >Hi, > The problem with your method is that it will not remove water from [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >RichA >"We Get Too Soon Olde and To Late Smart" There are 2 (kitchen and bathroom) "P" traps and mebbe one in the shower. Can I not just pour some pink into each drain? I see where unkadean <roamerbeans@k7no.com> contributed: >There are 2 (kitchen and bathroom) "P" traps and mebbe one in the >shower. Can I not just pour some pink into each drain? ::sigh:: You can even save $1 by using windshield washer fluid instead of the pink stuff - hey, it's your rig. I stand by my recommendations for the best way to make sure you don't ruin plumbing. The cost of screwing up by half-assed methods is so high, and the cost and time required to do it right are so insignificant that it's kind of a no-brainer. IMO. Will Sill >> There are 2 (kitchen and bathroom) "P" traps and mebbe one in the >> shower. Can I not just pour some pink into each drain? > ::sigh:: > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > high, and the cost and time required to do it right are so > insignificant that it's kind of a no-brainer. I have been reading this thread with more than a little amazement. This is a CLASSIC "Yeah, but..." discussion where someone posts a query about [whatever] only to respond to every reply with "Yeah, but...". Your final, hyphenated word is right on. Twits like this only learn the HARD way, if even then. At this point, I say let it freeze. Their local RV repair shop and/or supplier can use the business. <sigh> JR >>> There are 2 (kitchen and bathroom) "P" traps and mebbe one in the >>> shower. Can I not just pour some pink into each drain? [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > <sigh> >JR Mia culpa gents. I was NOT asking the question to mean instead of purging the system. I misread (or did't read thoroughly) the original post and missed the part about putting pink in the drains. D'oh on my part. I guess i deserve the hit from Will. Redelfs should rethink his. Besides, I live in Phoenix and will not spend a penny on this effort. > On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 21:23:18 -0600, Jim Redelfs > Mia culpa gents. I was NOT asking the question to mean instead of [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Redelfs should rethink his. I apologize. I VERY rarely call names and wish to take it back. > Besides, I live in Phoenix and will not spend a penny on this effort. Now, I am confused. Are/were you not the original poster that queried whether his MINIMAL approach to winterizing was adequate? I have never been to Phoenix. Is winterizing even necessary there? JR >> On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 21:23:18 -0600, Jim Redelfs >> Mia culpa gents. I was NOT asking the question to mean instead of [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > JR The op was "SWP" <pawlowscy@spam.quickclic.net> >I apologize. I VERY rarely call names and wish to take it back. > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >JR Hi Jim, I may have worded my reply poorly. I asked if you could winterize drains by just pouring pink into each drain, I was not referring to total winterizing, just drains. I disunderstood the comment that pointed that out. And, yes, we are centered in Phx but haven't been home since April. We are currently on Florence, SC and will be heading back next week. We need to buy another house as we sold the old one. So, I know zip about pink juice. Anxiously awaiting some decent Mexican food!! I see where unkadean <roamerbeans@k7no.com> contributed: >>>> There are 2 (kitchen and bathroom) "P" traps and mebbe one in the >>>> shower. Can I not just pour some pink into each drain? Will said in part: >>> I stand by my recommendations for the best way to make sure you don't >>> ruin plumbing. The cost of screwing up by half-assed methods is so >>> high, and the cost and time required to do it right are so >>> insignificant that it's kind of a no-brainer. Someone else piled on a bit, concluding: >>At this point, I say let it freeze. Their local RV repair shop and/or >>supplier can use the business. Unk: >Mia culpa gents. I was NOT asking the question to mean instead of >purging the system. I misread (or did't read thoroughly) the original >post and missed the part about putting pink in the drains. D'oh on my >part. I guess i deserve the hit from Will. When someone writes, as you did, "Can I not _just_ pour some pink into each drain?". . . I hope I can be forgiven for thinking you were another one of the "my way is good enuf and everybody oughta try it" crowd. Glad to see you were not. But let me point out that you automatically get the pink stuff in drain traps if you follow the direction - even the abreviated ones. I suppose it is possible to catch all the AF coming outa faucets in a bucket in order to keep it out of the drains, but I admit I wasn't farsighted enough to think of anyone doing that! Will Sill >>Hi, >> The problem with your method is that it will not remove water from [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >There are 2 (kitchen and bathroom) "P" traps and mebbe one in the >shower. Can I not just pour some pink into each drain? Hi, Sure that will take care of the traps. Remember to put some in the toilet bowl and you need to get some in the toilet rinse hose if it has one. But , that still doesn't mean you can't have water trapped in some low spots in the hot and cold water lines that run through out the RV. Your best bet is to spring for the winterization kit and pump anti freeze through all the pipes. Take care and Happy Campin... RichA "We Get Too Soon Olde and To Late Smart" |
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