Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 07-31-2014, 07:41 AM   #1
Family Vacation Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: NC
Posts: 234
Why do we winterize exactly?

Hi everyone,

When I picked up my unit this past May, I was talking to the tech as I was going through everything. I assumed that winterizing was done to stop the water lines from freezing/bursting. He said that wasn't true, it was for the fixtures in the bathroom and kitchen and that in fact leaving a small space heater on in the middle of the kitchen floor is just as good as winterizing (aside from the fact that you could set your rig on fire).
So I'm wondering what exactly doesn't winterizing protect?
I'm coming up on my first fall/winter and haven't yet decided if I'm going to do it myself or bring it in. I'd like to do it myself so if I want to go out on a warm weekend in Feb (we live in NC), I can do it and then re-winterize myself.

As always, thanks!
Mike
__________________
Toyota Tundra 2014 CM 5.7L
Sunset Trail 2014 ST270BH
Equalizer 1000/10000
nachtmsk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2014, 09:10 AM   #2
Full Time Camper
 
cw3jason's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 688
Winterizing is to protect all your plumbing fixtures and hoses. If they freeze you will have one heck of a mess come spring. IMHO a small heater in the middle of the kitchen floor will not help all the plumbing in the underneath area. You should learn how to winterize/dewinterize your rig and dont forget things like the outdoor shower and san-T-flush, these are commonly overlooked. Check out youtube or ask someone who knows for help. I doubt I would trust your dealer to give you good info.
__________________

Jason & Wendy
2014 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7L PSD
2015 Keystone Montana 3711FL
B&W Patriot 16K Fifth Wheel Hitch
cw3jason is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2014, 09:13 AM   #3
Full Time Camper
 
Stan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: 1
Posts: 2,036
I think your tech is steering you in the wrong direction. You are correct in that the water lines will freeze if it gets cold enough - below 30 for an extended time. The PEX lines they use now will actually stretch when starting to freeze due to the expansion of the water - but the fittings/faucets/etc don't. This can break the water line fittings. Water in your pump can also freeze causing damage. Not sure how cold your winters are - maybe a small heater is all you need.
Stan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2014, 09:31 AM   #4
Site Team
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: WI.
Posts: 9,153
Us folks in the cold part of the country winterize to protect the plumbing, and to insure that we won't have a mess to fix come spring when we want to use our unit again.
Lloyd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2014, 09:33 AM   #5
Full Time Camper
 
Loneoak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Winchester, ON
Posts: 1,177
I would think a small heater could cause a large electric bill! The anti-freeze is not expensive and it doesn't take that long to do the job. To be on the safe side, I would winterize. You never know what kind of weather you will get - it could be a super cold winter! Perhaps a friend with an RV can show you how.
__________________

2012 Cruiser Sahara 330SS
2015 F250 Super Duty diesel
Loneoak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2014, 11:40 AM   #6
Full Time Camper
 
Tim D's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: So IL
Posts: 1,811
Winterizing is actually pretty easy once you have done it. Living in NC you probably don't get real cold? I know it is relative to where you live what cold is. LOL. You may be able to just get by with opening all the faucets and low points and just blow the lines clear. I think that's what I am going to do this year. But I would still pour some antifreeze in the sink traps and toilet bowl.
__________________

Tim
13 ST25RB
08 F-250 SC 6.8L XLT 4x4
Tim D is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2014, 12:33 PM   #7
Full Time Camper
 
socoguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: , RI
Posts: 1,164
X2 on comments and advice from Loneoak and TimD. Fairly simple procedure you can easily do no need to go to dealer. I would never be comfortable leaving a small heater on plus the electric cost. The simpler and less costly measures are best. Good Luck.
__________________
Al Laura (Lily & Breeze Portie Girls)
2011 F250 6.7 PS Tuxedo Black 4x4
11 305SKP- TPMS- RideRite air bags
Reese 16K Slider Wet Bolts
socoguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2014, 01:49 PM   #8
Site Team
 
mark5w's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 5,714
Here's a website with the basic info on how to winterize. http://winterize.adventurerv.net/

Good luck
__________________
Mark & Susan
Lehighton, Pennsylvania

EAGLE HT FIFTH WHEEL | 30.5CKTS - '13 Ford F150 SCREW - PullRite Superslide - Roadmaster Active Suspension
Member - "Northeast Adventures RV Rally Group" & "Mason-Dixon Bunch"
mark5w is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2014, 03:37 PM   #9
Full Time Camper
 
OhioMark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: United states of america
Posts: 1,570
I would never leave anything generating heat unattended in camper. You got some good ol fashion bad advice.

Winterizing takes me every bit of 20 minutes a season, not counting the trip to Walmart to buy antifreeze.

If I can do it, anyone can. The only way to screw up is to forget to open the water heater bypass...
__________________

2017 Ford F350 Super Duty 6.7 King Ranch Crew
Sold the 2016 Crossroads Sunset Trail Grand Reserve 32BH
2020 Grand Design Momentum 320G
OhioMark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2014, 07:21 PM   #10
Full Time Camper
 
anaro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mebane, NC
Posts: 2,394
Nachtmask- I see you are in Orange county. I'm just up the road in alamance county. I'm guessing you got your ST from one of the two local camping worlds. Winterize your trailer yourself, don't pay them to do it. It is easy and quick. The rv/marine antifreeze is available at Wal-Mart for a few $ per gallon. Save the jugs the antifreeze comes in. If we get a warm weekend, you can run the pink stuff back into the jugs and reuse after the trip. We do get cold enough here to do damage to the tt. One of my friends busted a line running to her toilet (her trailer is at a lake about an hour from me). We usually winterize for the season in November and dewinterize in March. Occasionally we take a Feb trip and just do a fast rewinterization when the trip is done.
__________________

2014 Chevy Silverado 3500 SRW Duramax
2011 Zinger ZT26BL-sold
2014 Sabre 34REQS

***Member of the Mason-Dixon Group***
anaro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2014, 12:44 PM   #11
Weekend Camper
 
swimimg3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Illinois (IL)
Posts: 13
Does anyone but me, blow out all the lines with a small air compressor..???
I'v done the RV antifreeze, but think blowing out all the lines is easier.
Any dis-advantages?
Thanks
Tom
swimimg3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2014, 01:56 PM   #12
Full Time Camper
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DFW, TexUS
Posts: 1,032
I do that and THEN put in the antifreeze....

I think the issue is that some valves/low points will always collect some water...

last winter while at the dealers for 3 months and they said they winterized but didn't - my shower controls and icemaker line greeted me the next time out with falling waters
__________________
johnboytoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2014, 01:59 PM   #13
Weekend Camper
 
Livewire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Cookstown On.Ca
Posts: 77
I do both here in Ontario Canada,by blowing the lines out first you don't need near as much anti freeze to do the job.
__________________
Lyle and Louise

2011 250 super duty

2012 Cruiser 305

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/...h_89f92fae.jpg
Livewire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2014, 04:15 PM   #14
Family Vacation Member
 
MEHoffman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: PA
Posts: 190
X2 on the blow out then add RV antifreeze. I picked up four gallons at local home center for $1.50 / gallon after rebate this year.
__________________
~Mike & Kim~
NW Pennsylvania

2014 Rockwood Windjammer 3008W Diamond
2012 Toyota Tundra, 5.7L
MEHoffman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2014, 04:40 PM   #15
Site Team
 
DavisK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: VA
Posts: 1,715
My last trip planned for this year is to Talladega in October. I am thinking about taking a small air compressor along and blowing out the lines before we leave. Then I figure I would leave all of the faucets open and drive the 650 miles home with the caps off of the low point drains. I think with all of the movement, everything should be dry by time we get home.
__________________

2013 Silverado 2500HD LTZ CC 6.6L Duramax Diesel
2023 Rockwood 2445WS
Buster, miniature Dachshund
2023: 9 trips, 48 nights in 12 states, 2 provinces, 8120 miles
2022: 3 trips, 18 nights in 4 states, 2352 miles
2019: 7 trips, 43 nights in 6 states, 5336 miles
DavisK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2014, 07:29 PM   #16
Full Time Camper
 
Tim D's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: So IL
Posts: 1,811
I blew out all my lines then antifreeze. I think this time I will blow them out but just use antifreeze in traps and toilet. I have talked to several campers that is all they do. That way if I choose to go somewhere I won't have to worry about flushing all the lines. It gets cold here but may be more important for folks where it gets reeeaaallly cold and stays that way.
__________________

Tim
13 ST25RB
08 F-250 SC 6.8L XLT 4x4
Tim D is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2014, 10:16 AM   #17
Full Time Camper
 
ewbldavis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Canton, OH
Posts: 937
Ditto - blow then fill.

Blowing out helps get rid of more water (also helps push a bit out of HW tank if you blow before switching bypass).

Antifreeze is more insurance. I spent $4 on 2 gal. of antifreeze. Well worth the piece of mind.
__________________
Eddy & Brenda
Canton, OH
2015 Silverado HD 6.0L
2014 Zinger 32QB
ewbldavis is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Crossroads RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:55 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
×