TO WINTERIZE OR NOT? September 14, 2005, 08:02:36 pm Yahoo Message Number: 57989I've been told to winterize by adding anti-freeze after draining all, then been told why bother to add anti-freeze if all is drained cuz there's nothing to freeze and the anti-freeze people just want to sell something. Any advice on this? And any advice on what else to do to winterize besides draining pipes and adding or not adding anti-freeze? Thanks... JackieYahoo! for Good Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: TO WINTERIZE OR NOT? Reply #1 – September 14, 2005, 08:55:17 pm Yahoo Message Number: 57991QuoteI've been told to winterize by adding anti-freeze after draining all, then been told why bother to add anti-freeze if all is drained cuz there's nothing to freeze and the anti-freeze people just want to sell something. Any advice on this? And any advice on what else to do to winterize besides draining pipes and adding or not adding anti-freeze? Thanks...QuoteJackie Hi Jackie, we have only been through one winter with Ruby but we just blew out the lines with compressed air and that seemed to work here in COLD Nebraska. She came through into the spring with flying colors.I did buy one jug {still have half of it left} and added some anti- freezer to the traps and put a bit in the black and gray tanks as a just in case but it probably wasn't necessary.DaveRuby the red 04 RK
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] TO WINTERIZE OR NOT? Reply #2 – September 14, 2005, 08:55:39 pm Yahoo Message Number: 57992RV antifreeze is fairly inexpensive compared to automotive radiator antifreeze, so it's not a big expense to do it, unless you fill the water heater. After years of fooling around blowing out pipes, etc. I found that the system that sucks out of an antifreeze bottle behind the water pump is the easiest unless you go to a full automatic system. One gallon of antifreeze is plenty. First, you open all the drains, including the water heater. Let it drain long enough so there is nothing left to drain. Then you close the bypass on the water heater, stick the suction hose in the antifreeze bottle, turn the valve to switch the input to the pump from the water tank to the bottle, and turn on the pump. Then you open the faucets one at a time until you see solid pink coming out of the faucet, then close it. Then flush the toilet to use up what remains, and turn off the pump and switch the input valve again. Now you have pressurized antifreeze in your pipes, antifreeze in the toilet and both sewage tanks. And all it took was 1-gallon of RV antifreeze. I know it sounds complicated, but it really takes less time than to type this up.Dick
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] TO WINTERIZE OR NOT? Reply #3 – September 15, 2005, 12:28:49 pm Yahoo Message Number: 58007QuoteRV antifreeze is fairly inexpensive compared to automotive radiator antifreeze, so it's not a big expense to do it, unless you fill the water heater. After years of fooling around blowing out pipes, etc. I found that the system that sucks out of an antifreeze bottle behind the water pump is the easiest unless you go to a full automatic system. One gallon of antifreeze is plenty.Quote First, you open all the drains, including the water heater. Let it drain long enough so there is nothing left to drain. Then you close the bypass on the water heater, stick the suction hose in the antifreeze bottle, turn the valve to switch the input to the pump from the water tank to the bottle, and turn on the pump.QuoteDick Hi Jackie,We live in Ohio where we experience many months of freezing temps; I'll agree with the above message from Dick for the most part. The problem with his descpription is that Dick mentions closing a bypass valve on the water heater; Lazy Daze does NOT install a bypass kit on the water heater, so it is not as simple as it may sound. I did install a bypass kit on my rig and it was not an easy task, at least not on the Mid-bath floor plan where the water heater is under a rear sofa. I am of the opinion that if you live where winters can be severe, RV anti-freeze is the way to go. I know there are those who are happy with blowing out the water lines with compressed air: I simply don't want to chance it that some water will remain in either a facuet or the water pump that might freeze and damage something. I find it reassuring to see the "pink stuff" flowing out of the faucets and spray wands, and into the toilet. Then I KNOW I am fully protected. I just bought 4 gallons of the "pink stuff" on sale for about $1.50 per gallon; each time I winterize I use about 1.5 gallons. Using the method Dick described I can winterize my plumbing system in less than 10 minutes. The only challenge is getting the water heater bypass system installed and that is a one time ordeal.There are many other things I do when I winterize my rig. Things like placing moth balls in the exterior storage compartments to discourage rodents from seeking a place to nest for the winter, covering the exterior access door to the refrigerator compartment with foil to prevent snow from blowing into that compartment, covering the furnace vents and hot water heater vents to prevent rodent entry, and don't forget to put RV anti-freeze in the drain traps. If you have the outside shower don't forget to include that in your winterizing plans.Good luck, Steve K. (not looking forward to winter quite yet!;-)
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] TO WINTERIZE OR NOT? Reply #4 – September 15, 2005, 10:50:08 pm Yahoo Message Number: 58011Very true. I paid to have the bypass installed. It looked like too much work for me.Dick
Re: TO WINTERIZE OR NOT? Reply #5 – September 15, 2005, 11:12:16 pm Yahoo Message Number: 58013we Quotejust blew out the lines with compressed air and that seemed to work here in COLD Nebraska. She came through into the spring with flying colors.I did buy one jug {still have half of it left} and added some anti- freezer to the traps and put a bit in the black and gray tanks as a just in case but it probably wasn't necessary.Dave Ruby the red 04 RK I did as Dave did, blew out the lines as indicated in the direction in my manual. I live in Wyoming and it got down to -30 degrees last winter. Had no problem this spring with the lines but did have a problem with my water pump. Turns out it was one of the faulty ones from the factory last year. I plan to blow them out again this year and will probably take the pump out as well (only about a 15 minute job). I also added antifreeze to traps.Rick Lechner '04 23.5' FD
Re: TO WINTERIZE OR NOT? Reply #6 – September 16, 2005, 06:11:12 pm Yahoo Message Number: 58032Quotemy manual. I live in Wyoming and it got down to -30 degrees last winter. Had no problem this spring with the lines but did have a problem with my water pump. Turns out it was one of the faulty ones from the factory last year. I plan to blow them out again this year and will probably take the pump out as well (only about a 15 minute job). I also added antifreeze to traps.Rick Lechner '04 23.5' FD Rick, I too had a bad pump and what a great idea to remove it this fall - thanks. It wasn't a big hassle to change out the pump but why take the chance when they are so easy to remove and put back in.DaveRuby the red 04 RK
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] TO WINTERIZE OR NOT? Reply #7 – September 21, 2005, 05:36:03 pm Yahoo Message Number: 58249Thanks for all the advice; I was hoping to not have to do all this winterizing for the mere fact that I'd like to be able to go grab "Normy" on those weekends that are snow-free (please God give us some) and just take off on a spur-of-the-moment type thing. Thanks again.nukamper2000 no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] TO WINTERIZE OR NOT? Reply #8 – September 21, 2005, 08:07:18 pm Yahoo Message Number: 58257The procedure I gave you using RV anti-freeze from a bottle to suck through the system is as close to what you want as you can get. Takes less than 10-minutes to protect. Takes no time at all when you want to leave. You just turn the water on for 20 seconds or so when you are ready to use the sinks or shower. You don't even have to do that until you get where you are going. The toilet will take care of itself. And you don't have to be perfect. The RV anti-freeze is potable, so it won't hurt you if a little is left in the line when you make coffee. The only thing that takes time is letting the hot water tank fill up, which needs to be done after the lines are flushed the first time. If you want to let the kitchen and bath faucets run for a few seconds before you leave, you can then open the valves on the hot water tank, and let it fill while you are underway. Can't get much more simple.Dick
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] TO WINTERIZE OR NOT? Reply #9 – September 21, 2005, 08:39:34 pm Yahoo Message Number: 58259Well, thanks even more! JackieRichard Hughes rhughes@...> wrote: The procedure I gave you using RV anti-freeze from a bottle to suck through the system is as close to what you want as you can get. Takes less than 10-minutes to protect. Takes no time at all when you want to leave. You just turn the water on for 20 seconds or so when you are ready to use the sinks or shower. You don't even have to do that until you get where you are going. The toilet will take care of itself. And you don't have to be perfect. The RV anti-freeze is potable, so it won't hurt you if a little is left in the line when you make coffee. The only thing that takes time is letting the hot water tank fill up, which needs to be done after the lines are flushed the first time. If you want to let the kitchen and bath faucets run for a few seconds before you leave, you can then open the valves on the hot water tank, and let it fill while you are underway. Can't get much more simple.Dick
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