de-winterize

[dianezeb]

Hello. Can anyone tell me how to get the antifreeze, that i put in for winter,
out of the pipes? Do I just reverse what I did and open the valves? I followed the instructions posted on this website under "articles" to winterize it. Now it's time to head out to Big Bend National Park. Thanx! DZ

[skater]

Just keep flushing it out. You can open the valves to drain it (and it's non toxic), but you'll still need to run water through the system.

By the way, I no longer use that method. Compressed air is so much better, because there's nothing to flush in the spring. I need to update that article.

[dianezeb]

thank you "Skater"

[skater]

(Moved to the Plumbing forum.)

[sudec11]

It's been a long time since I've posted! I was coming to review how to winterize and notice that some use compressed air. Can you tell me how this is done?

Thanks, Joan

[skater]

It's been a long time since I've posted! I was coming to review how to winterize and notice that some use compressed air. Can you tell me how this is done?

To do this, you need an adaptor to hook on to the city water connection. I recently got one of these, which has a standard air tool connection on it, but you can also use one of these. I was able to find a Schrader adaptor (used for inflating tires) that actually screws on to the second one; otherwise you'd have to stand and hold it. I recommend a good 120 volt air compressor...I managed to kill a fairly expensive 12 volt air compressor by leaving it run too long while doing this.

First, drain the water system, including the water heater, as best you can using the valves. Drain the fresh water tank, and run the pump as dry as possible. The more you can get out now, the easier it'll be to blow it dry.

Once it's drained, hook up the air pressure and start pressurizing the lines - the manual for my trailer says to use 60 psi; the adaptor says not to go above 50 psi (I stuck with the lower measurement). Then just go through and open every valve, one at a time, until it sounds dry (you'll hear water gurgling in the lines). I just winterized our trailer using this method last weekend, and I went through everything a minimum of twice; some of the valves I did three or more times.

[weekender]

I thought I would try the compressed air method this year, but chickened out in the end. I was nervous about getting all the water out, especially concerned about getting the water out of the pump. Curious to to hear if you have to do anything special to get the water out of the pump.

[skater]

I thought I would try the compressed air method this year, but chickened out in the end. I was nervous about getting all the water out, especially concerned about getting the water out of the pump. Curious to to hear if you have to do anything special to get the water out of the pump.

In the B190, I'd just run it until it was dry (they can run dry - I wouldn't do it for hours, but a few minutes won't hurt).

For the trailer, it's easy to disconnect the inlet and outlet and run the pump to remove the water. This is what the manual recommends in fact.