Winterizing - Surely Not???

[bncinwv]

Yes, already!! Have to take the rig to CW of Akron tomorrow and do not know how long they will have it for step recall and paint touchup from the mishap last year. A half hour and four gallons of pink stuff later we are ready for cold temperatures. Ironically, the need for the pink stuff is increasing this year as we have a local weekend trip planned on Nov 11 which will again require winterizing afterward. Then we have a trip to Myrtle for a few days before Thanksgiving which again will require winterizing afterwards. All told, including the boat, we will be purchasing about 15 gallons of the pink stuff this year. Thank goodness Walmart has a roll-back price of $2.58 a gallon!! The 15 gallons will be a new record for us, but we feel it is a necessary evil!
Bingo

[Dam Worker]

I used to blow out my RV systems and have some friends that still use that method. I started using the antifreeze quite a few years back and feel that my unit is safer from freeze issues by using it. I need to buy some more, but hopefully I should not need it for a couple more months. Sounds like you will be using a bit more than normal but you get to enjoy your unit a few more times..

Tom Marty

[Eagleback]

Blow the lines out then add pink. Then i would place the empty jug under the faucet and blow the antifreeze into the empty jug and that will save at least some of your fluid to reuse again.

[bncinwv]

quote:Originally posted by Eagleback

Blow the lines out then add pink. Then i would place the empty jug under the faucet and blow the antifreeze into the empty jug and that will save at least some of your fluid to reuse again.

Interesting, I might try to recover a gallon or two from the low point drains!! Anyone ever tried that, I assume I can turn the onboard pump on and open drains and it should be solid pink!
Bingo

[BB_TX]

Opening the low point drains is the first thing I do when I start winterizing. Pink comes out within a matter of seconds. Would not gain any thing by running much longer.

[bncinwv]

quote:Originally posted by BB_TX

Opening the low point drains is the first thing I do when I start winterizing. Pink comes out within a matter of seconds. Would not gain any thing by running much longer.

Which is how I do it, I was wondering when recommissioning the rig for use, if the pink stuff could be captured for re-use at the low point drains, seems like it would work?
Bingo

[DarMar]

Re-use is something I have always thought about but then I always wonder if and how much it could have been diluted from mixing with water somewhere during the winterizing process???

In the end an extra jug or two is pretty cheap insurance.

[bncinwv]

Good point, DarMar!! Even if I recovered half, the savings would be five bucks (at the Walmart roll-back prices!!!!).
Bingo

[MIMF]

I have had good success at using the low point drains and opening every faucet in the house! Including the pressure relief valve on the water heater. When the low point drains quit dribbling, I close the valve and all the faucets. Then, for good measure, I hook up the air compressor to the city hook up and set the regulator to 40 psi and go around and open each faucet individually until only air is rushing out. When they have all been blown out, and the compressor disconnected, I go around again and open them all up, including the low point drains. Last, I go around and pour antifreeze into every drain to fill the p-trap. All done!

I realize that I have made several trips thru the house but, I have never had anything freeze and bust.

[Steve and Susie]

MIMF, thanks for that post. that's my exact procedure also, and have never had a problem, and a couple times it has been pretty cold where it sits in Michigan. happy trails everyone, Steve and Susie

[Dam Worker]

I have recaptured some antifreeze by putting the jug under faucet etc. I only keep the first little bit as I use water to push the antifreeze out for camping season. In doing so I am sure if I saved it all it would be diluted somewhat. If someone used air then I am pretty sure your antifreeze would have the same freeze rating as a new gallon. I guess I am getting lazy as I do not use my compressor to blow the system out in the fall or in the spring.

Tom Marty

[1retired06]

Four gallons sounds a bit high??, but good you are winterized.

[BB_TX]

4 gallons is what I use. That does include the washer/dryer.

[bncinwv]

Ditto Bill,
In addition to the washer, we also have a drawer dishwasher that gets winterized.
Bingo

[BB_TX]

And the black tank flush line.

[bncinwv]

quote:Originally posted by BB_TX

And the black tank flush line.

Yup, have the outside shower hooked up to it and have to run hot and cold through it as well. I actually think we get better each year, because last year I was thinking it took us about 4 and a half (DW's fault since she struggled with the dishwasher - without instructions) and we pumped a gallon just in the dishwasher. This year she improved and only used a half gallon!!
Bingo

[mlh]

I always reuse. But then I'm a tight wad and it never gets below 10 degrees here so it's safe to to so.
Lynwood

[mhs4771]

Plan to start our winterizing process this weekend, BUT it won't be the RV, it will be the house as we'll be leaving for the season next week. Pretty much the same process, compressor to blow the water out of all lines, then pink stuff in all drains, toilet, and washer. No problem doing that the past few years.

[TLightning]

Here's what I've been doing for years. My power is very, very, very reliable power...it has never ever gone out. I put two trouble lights with 60 watt bulbs in all the key areas...washer/dryer, water pump, back of the refer, and some other place I've probably forgotten. Then pink stuff goes in the in the P traps. I use two trouble lights in case a bulb burns out. Puuuleees, no "what if power goes out comments."

[twindman]

What is this pink stuff you speak of?
I drink Kool-Aid that is pink, but that doesn't stop freezing too much.
Another option instead of pink, is to live in Mesa, AZ where we don't get below about 20 degrees for a few hours and back up to 35-40. and that only happens about once every 10 years.