Subject: Re: [airstream] Almost Winterized
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 18:29:25 -0600
From: Randy Hoops rhoops@coin.missouri.edu
Reply-To: airstream@airstream.net

At 11:57 AM 12/18/98 EST, Hunter wrote:

My Airstream made it through last winter without anything other than what you've had done. With the drains open and your moving it, there is almost no chance any remaining water is in the lines. It's also what my 1793 Airstream owner's manual says to do.

Here's what I did additionally this year: Close the drain valves (I have 5, two in the back and three under the sink)I found the (already installed) water heater bypass valves, and bypassed the empty water heater. (These valves were in the cabinet next to the toilet - I'd not seem this side of the water heater before). This keeps you from wasting 10 gallons of Antifreeze by filling the heater.

I then bought a kit by Camco that had a three port valve and a couple of feet of clear plastic hose. Afterward I found there was already a valve under the sink next to the water pump. The hose and fitting did come in handy though. This "T" valve sits between the fresh water tank and the DC pump.

You turn the valve so that the water pump pulls from the hose, which you stick into a jug of RV antifreeze. Then you open each faucet and the toilet valve in turn until the red stuff flows. In the process the drain traps get enough antifreeze to displace most of the water.

I suppose you could just put the antifreeze in the fresh water tank and pump from there too. If you don't have a way to bypass the water heater, then you will end up filling it with antifreeze and that's a waste.

Even though I followed this process, I'm not sure why I did it. Last year worked just fine after blowing out the line with compressed air, and putting antifreeze in the traps.

Randy Hoops - Springfield, MO