Why I Refuse to Winterize My RV Just Yet, by Cavillier Outdoors on YouTube. 8 min 6 s.
- Video length
- 8 min 6 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Turn the water pump off and drain the fresh water tank. Open the low point drain valves so the bulk of the water runs out, then close them again.
Set the regulator on your air compressor to 30 to 40 PSI. Higher pressure can crack PEX fittings, valves or the water heater.
Screw a blowout plug into the city water inlet on the outside of the trailer. It adapts the hose thread to your air hose fitting.
Attach the air hose and open the valve slowly. Let the pressure build only to the regulated level before you open any tap.
Open one faucet at a time, hot then cold, and let it run until only air sputters out. Close it and move to the next fixture.
Work through the shower, toilet, outside shower and low point drains the same way. The toilet valve traps water and is easy to miss.
For the tankless water heater, follow the maker's drain steps first, then blow air through until no mist comes out. Some units need a drain plug out or a bypass kit.
Switch off the compressor, disconnect the hose and pull the blowout plug. Close every faucet and low point drain.
Pour a splash of RV antifreeze into each sink, shower and toilet P-trap so the trap itself cannot freeze.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep the regulator at 30 to 40 PSI the whole time, since full tank pressure can split fittings and valves.
Wear safety glasses, because water and air spray hard out of the first tap you open.
Air alone leaves a little water behind, so add antifreeze to the traps or the lines if a hard freeze is coming.
Check under the trailer for drips after you finish, then look again the next morning.
Questions
Can I skip antifreeze if I blow the lines out with air?
Air pushes most of the water out but not all of it. For a light freeze it is usually enough, but for a hard freeze put RV antifreeze in the P-traps and consider the full pink antifreeze job.
What air pressure should I use on RV water lines?
Keep it at 30 to 40 PSI on the regulator. Anything higher risks damaging the PEX fittings and the water heater.
Will compressed air damage a tankless water heater?
Not at regulated pressure, as long as you drain the unit the way the manual says first. Some models need a bypass kit or the drain plug removed before air goes through.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
