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Topic: Christmas Day Project (Read 15 times) previous topic - next topic
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Christmas Day Project
Yahoo Message Number: 157738
Our weather forecast changed from cool to cold, at least for us.  So we took this afternoon to do a full, by the book winterization using compressed air.  Previous posts and guidance from the LD Faithful certainly helped Margee and I with this first time project.  We didn't have any problems with this project, which took a bit over two (2) hours since we also cleaned the holding tanks and flushed the water heater.  Our small compressor wasn't really not up to the task, which is one reason it took us a bit longer.  So I'm looking at holiday sales for a decent compressor.  I already know a 2 gallon is not adequate.  Would a 6 gallon compressor be able to do the job without too many waiting for recharges?  As always, thanks in advance.

Ed & Margee Fort Worth
Re: Christmas Day Project
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 157739
I had the same problem and solved it by buying a 6 gal unit at Home Depot for $99, then the hose and couplings so i have about $150 invested. Bought a Camco fitting at RV supply which screws into the city water line attachment and has a tire valve stem so when you get your fittings be sure to get one which will clamp onto a tire valve stem which allows you to pressurize the system .I found one at a local auto supply. This whole lash up worked well except for getting the residual water out of the water pump. So, after cleaning the filter, disconnected both ends of the pump, wrapped an old towel around it to blot up the water, and ran the pump for a few seconds. Did the number on the HW heater buy pulling the plastic drain plug and replacing it with a brass fitting with a petcock and a reducer to hose so the next time I drain the HW tank it will drain overboard. There is not much space to work so take your time!

Ian, 2015 27 MB "Silver Fox" Seattle
2015 MB
Re: Christmas Day Project
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 157744
The compressor is a Porter Cable 6 gallon, max 150psi and is an "oil-free" unit. I set the output pressure to 50 psi so I don't explode the lines. As we have a gen set I plugged the compressor into that for power when i was doing my monthly "run the gen-set",  and the compressor  cycled on a time or two to rebuild the pressure. As this was the first time i have winterized the rig i probably overdid it on the length of time I blew out the lines but i wanted to make sure. I have a 2 gallon compressor but it does not have enough capacity or recharge rate to effectively blow out the lines.
At his time i am not planning on carrying either compressor on the rig but plan on using a bicycle tire pump to top off the tires when needed. Hope I am not being too optimistic, besides, i need the exercise! Hope this helps.
Ian
2015 MB
Re: Christmas Day Project
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 157747
I am using this compressor http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004285RLS?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00.  I set the out put pressure between 40 and 50 lbs  https://dac.smugmug.com/Cars/Individual-cars/Lazy-Daze-improvements-gadgets/Winterizing-stuff/i-hFcp5wK/A.  The compressor has only a small reserve but does the job just fine.  I have a long hose and keep the compressor plugged in to AC power.  Something easily missed, is that per the manual it is important when opening a water faucet it to only open it a little (so the air pushes the water through the line).   If you open the faucet to far the air will surge past the water and just empty the tank.

This procedure  (opening the faucet just a little) is actually covered in the manual, but not sure where because the manual is in the RV which is in storage.   This part of the proceedure is just a short phrase or short sentence and easy to over look.  The first few times I winterized I was running the pump silly until I re-read the procedure to see what I was missing.

By the way, long running times are an issue for this pump.   They are known to burn out under heavy use.  Still the pump is small enough to keep in the RV for this job and the occasional topping off the tires.

The air hose is long enough that I can reach all six tires when the compressor is plugged in in the galley of the Mid Bath.  For tire filling I rout the hose through the driver or passenger door.  The compressor resides in the storage under the MidBath's dinning room bench seat that has a removable top.  It takes up some room, but that area is difficult to access from out side.  I keep my tool box and other heavy items in the same area.
As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath
Re: Christmas Day Project
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 157748
Sears has a great 120 unit (actually several) that works wonders and does not take up much space at all.  Yes, you cannot "blow" out the water system with it (I actually have not tried it and it may work).  The unit I have cost just over $100.  Works very well in getting the LD tires to pressure as well as the bikes, toad, etc.  I"ll post the nomenclature later.

Bob in Florida (Actually SC for Christmas) SE 5. 30IB AE
Kathy and Bob on the Go
Re: Christmas Day Project
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 157749
"This procedure  (opening the faucet just a little) is actually covered in the manual, but not sure where because the manual is in the RV which is in storage.   This part of the procedure is just a short phrase or short sentence and easy to over look.  The first few times I winterized I was running the pump silly until I re-read the procedure to see what I was missing".

This reminder was very helpful.  We made the same mistake yesterday.  It certainly could have made a difference.  Thank you.

Ed & Margee Fort Worth
Re: Christmas Day Project
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 157750
Ed & Margee,

I replaced my oil-free with this model (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-8-Gal-Portable-Electric-Air-Compressor-TA-2530B/202564847) this fall.  A little more capacity than you were thinking about, but that's not a bad thing.

It worked great for winterizing.  Quiet (compared to the oil-free), quick recovery, and a small footprint.  Tucks easily under my workbench in the shop.  Very satisfied with it for the price.

Bill
Bill
2003 -- 23' FL
Re: Christmas Day Project
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 157752
We continue to think we are close to knowing what we need to know to maintain our LD.  And to think I thought I was a bit of a DIY guy.  Silly me.  I'd sure be up that proverbial creek without the many pathfinders on this forum.  So tomorrow, we're back at the LD to re-do the waterline blowout procedure.  At the end of the day, we're still having fun.  And so it goes.

Ed & Margee Fort Worth
Re: Christmas Day Project - winterizing the water system
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 157754
I was curious about "open the faucet just a little" statement because I have always opened the faucet(s) all the way when winterizing with a compressor. Reading my '02 LD manual, I see the statement " Go to the cold water side of the faucet closest to the water pump. Slowly open this faucet until air replaces the water flowing from the faucet." I set my compressor at around 60-65psi (75 is max per the manual) and just leave the faucet totally open until no more water comes out and then I move on to the next faucet or set of faucets. I don't see any language about opening the faucet "just a little". Perhaps this is an addition in later manuals. Regardless, the key to effective winterizing is getting all the water out of the system no matter how one does it. I usually make the rounds of all the faucets a 2nd time just to make sure the lines are clear. It could be that using a not so powerful compressor would require not opening the faucets fully.
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Christmas Day Project
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 157755
Follow-up on the above post.  Page 112. paragraph 7 for 2009 LD.  "Air compressor regulator gauge should be set at approximately 50 psi."   Page 112, paragraph 8 for the first step.  "Go to the cold water side of the faucet that is located closest to the water pump.  Slowing open this faucet until air completely replaces the water flowing from the faucet."   This last statement is at close to the "open the faucet a little" as I can find in our manual.

Ed & Margee Fort Worth
Re: Christmas Day Project
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 157756
The "slow open" was the trick for me.  I open just a little until the water started to run.  As soon as air starts to escape I close the faucet.  Then slowly open again until nothing but air escapes.  Then I go to the hot water next step (hot water in the same faucet?)  By going slow I give the compressor time to recover and keep the tank mostly charged.   Before I reinterpreted the wording of the statement I found slowly opening the faucet all the way allowed to much air to escape causing the pump to work very hard.

I too do the process of blowing each line a few times from start to finish just to make sure water has not puddled some where.

Please don't take my link as a ringing endorsement for the pump I am using.  There are better values out there.  I got mine a two years ago and for some reason I was on a tight time line (either a trip or winterization, I forget).   Should have done the purchase in the summer when I had more time.  The pump does fit in the storage space; is mostly vertical so does not take up a lot of other wise useful storage space and it is not horrible for the job intended.   The down side is that there are better values.  I showed the link so the OP would know what kind of pump I am working with.
John
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath