Winterizing in Texas While Still Using Rig Regularly

[brrit2000]

We use our Class C motorhome at least twice a month and store it on a piece of land an hour from our house, but wonder how best to approach winterizing it. This week we have some temps with lows in the upper twenties and highs in low forties. Wondering how best to protect the water lines.

I do have electricity available so I could run a ceramic heater to keep temps above freezing, but I worry a tad about leaving a heater running.

I could winterize the motorhome, but that seems like a real pain every time I leave the motorhome for a week or two.

So, what do you guys do and/or recommend in this situation in the winter months?

[Rustic Eagle]

I agree, leaving an electric heater unattended isn't a safe option, plus if the area has a power loss, well.......

I would use a small portable compressor and blow the lines out, drain the HWH, etc...., much easier then dealing with split pex tubing.

Plus, those forecasted low's in the upper 20's could drop, or last longer into the day then anticipated ......, I'm presently in Kerr County watching the same forecast.

Bob

[RoyBraddy]

I use the 12VDC compressor with no tank on my off-road setup. i can blow out my lines real quick after draining the the freshwater tank. Then I add a bit of thepink stuf to the two P traps I have.

This works out great for me as we too use our off-road trailer just about anytime we get an urge. Just add fresh water water and we are back in business...

I never did like the thought of filling the water lines with the pink stuff... Getting the pink stuff into the heater coils would not be a good idea as well...

I would probably do something different in the real cold weather areas but here in Northern Virginia the temps only get down to freezing just a few times and it never stays cold the next day. Of course the things keep changing but since doing this since the mid 70s I haven't had any freezing up of things yet just blowing out the water lines with the small air compressor... I got an adapter from AMAZON that screws into the city water port where I hook up my tankless 12VDC air compressor.

Roy Ken

[RoyBraddy]

Spent alot of time in the Wichita Falls area in my working years and those Blue Northers can sneak up on you in a hurry haha... Spent a few nights camping at Medicine Park OK just north of Lawton OKLA. Had some pretty cold nights there as well at Camp Doris in the Wichita Mtns Wildlife Refuge... Blowed out a few water lines here over night as well...


Roy Ken

[brrit2000]

I'm liking the air compressor blow out idea.

I found a connection from Camco that will connect the compressor to the water inlet, but I'm not familiar with air compressors. I'm seeing them from $50-200. What the heck do I need? Storing it and price are my main motivators.

[norty1]

decisions: 12vdc or 120v ac, ID you want to use it to air up tires, it will have to have the capacity to go up to 110 or higher psi.

Lower psi his used to blow out air lines, in the 30 to 40 psi range.

[Rustic Eagle]

For an inexpensive and compact 12VDC compressor primarily for blowing the lines I would think something like the following would do the job:

12-Volt Air Compressor - Wilmar 60404 - Air Compressors - Camping World

I frequently see RV'rs with the following pancake style 120V compressor, a little larger but can handle a wide range of applications (home, etc.):

Shop PORTER-CABLE 0.8-HP 6-Gallon 150-PSI 120-Volt Pancake Electric Air Compressor at Lowes.com

Bob

[WaltW]

I've used a 120 VAC compressor to blow out my lines for years. Only time you have a problem is when you skip a step. One year I skipped the ice maker and yep got freeze damage.
Drain all tanks
Drain HW heater
Remove water filter
Blow out all lines by opening faucets/valves including shower, toilet, and ice maker
Pour pink stuff into drains incl toilet
Follow instructions for washer/dryer if you have one

[Bikester]

WaltW has it right. All those things. Doesn't take that long.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Bikester

snip........ All those things ......snip

...... plus run the water pump dry.

Bob