Marc L
Well-known member
There was a poll earlier this year about how do people winterize: http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php?topic=35427
I had answered antifreeze only, but now I have to change my answer to blow out the lines. Here's why:
Well, after hauling the trailer home for the winter on the weekend, I tried to winterize the trailer like I usually do using only antifreeze. It's the first time I was winterizing this trailer since we upgraded mid-summer. There was no bypass hose at next to the pump, but there was a valve and a screw fitting for one. But since the pump is 10 feet away from the fresh water tank and I did not have a fitting and hose to put on the pump to winterized, I removed the hose from the fresh water tank instead. This had two advantages: (1) I had enough hose to stick the end in the antifreeze jug; (2) it would also winterize the section of line from the tank to the pump.
So once I was all setup, I flick the water pump switch to ON. No noise. I figured, that's odd, so I opened a faucet in-case there was already enough pressure in the system so the pump did not need to come on. Still no noise. So I get the multitester out and disconnected the pump. I checked the voltage going to the pump: 12.6V. So there is power, but pump not working. So I guess a new pump is on the shopping list.
In the meantime, I wanted to winterize NOW! to get it out of the way. So I hauled out the 60 feet air hose from the garage to the trailer and made a make shift adapter that I could put in the city water connection and air hose quick connect. Set the pressure to 30PSI and blew out the water from all the lines. I still need to put a cup of antifreeze in all the P-traps.
Still debating if I will buy a pump or not. We are seasonal with full hookups, but we do play next summer to go on a trip somewhere for a week during our vacation to change from the routine, so who knows where we will be. Also at the beginning of the season, sometimes we end up at the campground before it is officially opened. The owner does not care if we are camping year round, but he only has the electricity and water on from the May long weekend (Victoria Day) to the October long weekend (Canadian Thanksgiving/Columbus Day).
I also hate the location of my pump underneath the kitchen sink for two reasons, it uses space and it's far from the fresh water tank. When replacing, I will likely relocate it under a dinette bench. The fresh water tank is under belly, but the line going to the pump is coming through the floor into a dinette bench, this would be a better location for the pump.
Things to ponder on this winter along other mods I plan to do before next season like adding shelves in a closet, making an enclosure for the stereo (I did not come with a radio), adding additional TV outlets, fix the gray water venting, ...
I had answered antifreeze only, but now I have to change my answer to blow out the lines. Here's why:
Well, after hauling the trailer home for the winter on the weekend, I tried to winterize the trailer like I usually do using only antifreeze. It's the first time I was winterizing this trailer since we upgraded mid-summer. There was no bypass hose at next to the pump, but there was a valve and a screw fitting for one. But since the pump is 10 feet away from the fresh water tank and I did not have a fitting and hose to put on the pump to winterized, I removed the hose from the fresh water tank instead. This had two advantages: (1) I had enough hose to stick the end in the antifreeze jug; (2) it would also winterize the section of line from the tank to the pump.
So once I was all setup, I flick the water pump switch to ON. No noise. I figured, that's odd, so I opened a faucet in-case there was already enough pressure in the system so the pump did not need to come on. Still no noise. So I get the multitester out and disconnected the pump. I checked the voltage going to the pump: 12.6V. So there is power, but pump not working. So I guess a new pump is on the shopping list.
In the meantime, I wanted to winterize NOW! to get it out of the way. So I hauled out the 60 feet air hose from the garage to the trailer and made a make shift adapter that I could put in the city water connection and air hose quick connect. Set the pressure to 30PSI and blew out the water from all the lines. I still need to put a cup of antifreeze in all the P-traps.
Still debating if I will buy a pump or not. We are seasonal with full hookups, but we do play next summer to go on a trip somewhere for a week during our vacation to change from the routine, so who knows where we will be. Also at the beginning of the season, sometimes we end up at the campground before it is officially opened. The owner does not care if we are camping year round, but he only has the electricity and water on from the May long weekend (Victoria Day) to the October long weekend (Canadian Thanksgiving/Columbus Day).
I also hate the location of my pump underneath the kitchen sink for two reasons, it uses space and it's far from the fresh water tank. When replacing, I will likely relocate it under a dinette bench. The fresh water tank is under belly, but the line going to the pump is coming through the floor into a dinette bench, this would be a better location for the pump.
Things to ponder on this winter along other mods I plan to do before next season like adding shelves in a closet, making an enclosure for the stereo (I did not come with a radio), adding additional TV outlets, fix the gray water venting, ...
