Air vs. Antifreeze winterizing

[TVB]

Hello everyone. Longtime popup camper but brand new X17Z owner. Thank you to everyone for all of your "A to Z" advise (my favorites are the MODs, such creativity here). My question and poll is about winterizing. I have a read a great deal on this site about winterizing using air and winterizing using antifreeze and I still don't have a winner (I am leaning towards air but can appreciate the damage frozen water can cause all the plumbing components). I am in New England and have very cold winters and would love your vote and advice on this matter. What say you community?

[oldmanAZ]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new JayFeather.

I voted for 'air'.

If you've already previous posts on this topic, IMO it's unlikely you'll discover new information to help you decide.

Your post implies that the temps in New England get very low and that worries you. It doesn't matter how far the temp goes below freezing or if it stays below freezing for some period of time. The damage is done when the ice/water expands at approx freezing; not when it goes to some temp below freezing or the water stays frozen for some period of time. But I'm betting you already knew that.

[Fyrehuntr]

Antifreeze. Live in Ohio, winters can be brutal or mild; we plan for brutal. Have been using antifreeze for 15 years or so. No issues. Make sure you open every outlet, fill the toilet, and fill all P-traps. Don’t forget outside lines such as low point drains, outside showers, etc. I use a bucket to empty a small amount from holding tanks, just to make sure there is no water. Also don't forget to press in on the one way valve at the water inlet for city hookup. Be prepared for a little pressure, use a towel draped over your hand to absorb the splash. I also open a faucet somewhere in the system just to bleed off any pressure before storage. I don’t like storing plumbing under pressure for the winter. The antifreeze will turn into a pink slushee when frozen, but it does not expand like water.

just my 2...

[Jagiven]

I can not vote as I do both.

I blow out the lines first. Antifreeze the system. Then blow out the lines again.

In the spring, when I flush the system, atleast 1 cup of antifreeze comes out of the kitchen faucet. To me that says there is a low spot that water would collect, freeze and cause major damage.

Where I have Historically stored my TT, has seen winter temps as cold as -40of. I want to ensure maximum protection. Hence I do not want watered down antifreeze, as that will raise the freezing point..

[RogerR]

I am a double barrel shotgun guy. Blow it out, run antifreeze and blow it out again.

Why, because a frozen valve on my old out door shower was almost impossible to fix. And I don't want to find out what fun it would be to fix something else like that.

[TVB]

Ohio winter beats NH winters everyday, you got me. Where is the "the one way valve at the water inlet for city hookup" located for me to press?

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by TVB

Ohio winter beats NH winters everyday, you got me. Where is the "the one way valve at the water inlet for city hookup" located for me to press?

It is part of the city water connection. Remove the hase washer, that has the screen. Push on the inlet, to break the vacuum and allow the water to drain.

If you use compressed air, you blow it clear.

[RogerR]

Use the blowout adapter like the one in amazon or any rv place $6

try this search for one

Travel Trailer: Air Compressor Quick-connect Plug To Male Garden Faucet Blow Out Adapter Fitting

[Griswald One]

Not sure where the confusion is.... BOTH!!! I would never trust air to have completely cleared the water and the collection of small drips left behind will naturally coalesce into bigger pools of water. If you are lucky they coalesce somewhere where they will not cause damage. If you are unlucky...

Anti-freeze is good to -40 if it is not diluted, leaving water in the lines dilutes the antifreeze and reduces it’s effectiveness.

[Tunce the traveler]

Originally Posted by Griswald One

Not sure where the confusion is.... BOTH!!! I would never trust air to have completely cleared the water and the collection of small drips left behind will naturally coalesce into bigger pools of water. If you are lucky they coalesce somewhere where they will not cause damage. If you are unlucky...

Anti-freeze is good to -40 if it is not diluted, leaving water in the lines dilutes the antifreeze and reduces it’s effectiveness.

X2 trust him!!! Antifreeze is cheap.

[Iraqvet05]

I do both.

[Sundancer330]

Strange time of the year for a winterizing poll. Both processes work just fine so I didn't vote.

[Kahoneys]

I do both and live in Minnesota eh so our winters are worser!!! blow then anti and let it sit through the -30 temps.

[Midnightmoon]

I blow out the lines and then throw some antifreeze in the traps. No issues here in PA.

[TCNashville]

Antifreeze all the way. Indiana winters are brutal.

[Kim Gass]

Originally Posted by TCNashville

Antifreeze all the way. Indiana winters are brutal.

BWHAHA>.. It still snowing here. And too cold to plant.. Yep temps dip below freezing..

We are barely getting leaves on some trees.. We are in 5th winter.

[jimp]

I've done both methods, and with the TT and seeing how easy it is to just push some AF thru the lines and opening all the facets, I will forego the air method in the future. We can have some cold temps here but are usually short lived ( a couple days, lows in the single digits). I lost a toilet valve (had to replace) using the air method as it did not clear all the water out in our Class C. To each their own.

[BJR]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

I can not vote as I do both.

I blow out the lines first. Antifreeze the system. Then blow out the lines again.

This. I did this last year so the antifreeze didn't sit in the lines and possibly impart an off-taste to the water. Yes, heresy, we drink the campground water.

Edit: Prior to last year, I was blowing out the lines then using antifreeze.

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by BJR

This. I did this last year so the antifreeze didn't sit in the lines and possibly impart an off-taste to the water. Yes, heresy, we drink the campground water.

Edit: Prior to last year, I was blowing out the lines then using antifreeze.

Still leaves a bit of a taste, but I can flush the lines quicker

[Big1]

I do both just for a piece of mind now the dealer where I bought mines from just did air when I got it but I just put some antifreeze in the peetrap and toilet.