Winterize or Not

[SueNKent]

Getting ready to head south next week. Having a cold snap here in MN. Temps in the 30s in the day, but down to about 27 at night. Generally I wouldn't winterize for just a day or two when temps stay about 25 but the forecast tonight is for a low of 18!!! I'm wondering if I should winterize for the overnight. The fresh tank is about 3/4 full. Haven't run water thru lines since I last drained. Thought of putting some space heaters in the unit and cranking internal temp up overnight. Would prob drain hot water heater regardless....

Thanks

 

[TJFogelberg]

I'm already in NC but have been watching the forecast back home. I would recommend winterizing due to the forecast of temps in the teens. If you don't have a winterization kit (intake tube) installed on your rig, I would highly recommend doing so. It will make the process much easier than pumping antifreeze from the outside water points. It only takes a few minutes and a few $ of antifreeze. Why take a chance?

Here is a mobile rv guy I've hired in the past, I think he is in MN until the end of Oct when he moves to Florida.

https://www.tomsmobilervservice.com/

 

[creativepart]

If it’s that cold for overnight hours followed by above freezing days you wouldn’t need to do any winterizing if you are running the propane coach heater. But if it will be continuously in the low 20’s to high teens for more than 30 hours you should consider taking precautions.

Remember, your RV is a large mass of many different materials. Not all of them are easily or quickly frozen. Such a thermal mass can take many days at consistently below freezing temps to become cold enough to freeze the water in your RV.

You have dozens of gallons of water in your RV. Think of a puddle on the ground with that amount of water and how that freezes outdoors totally exposed to the coldest temps. None of the water on your RV is so exposed and most is surrounded by large metal structures and other materials that don’t drop to freezing temps that quickly.

The coach’s propane heater is the best defense for quick freezes as is using the RV’s various subsystems.

 

[Hollywoodgt]

Get yourself a mini compressor and use make a quick connect for a air line off your your retractable water line. Tis way your blowing all the water out of your hose. Blow out your hot water tank, washer all the faucets. Then add RV antifreeze in all the pee traps so show and all the drains including your washer. There are videos for this. Now you can use the coach when ever and no antifreeze in your lines. You can also use the tool you make to check your system for leaks by adding a pressure gauge in it. Dm me if you want to know what you need. Been doing this with my alke house and previous campers forever

 

[Morich]

Depends on which RV, trailer or motorhome, enclosed on the bottom or not and things like how much plumbing is left hanging out underneath, so not enough info given to give a good answer. My current unit has a duct run to the tank area and no pipes outside so just running the furnace on a low setting would do fine, others not good at all.