[A/S] Re: 2 winterizing questions

["Rich Walbridge" <richwalbridge@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Listees,

I wonder if even the later Airstreams are set up for draining to the rear?

Part of the winterizing procedures in my '73 Excella handbook stated that
opening the rear drain and lifting the trailing in the front very high (with
the faucets open), will drain most of the water out of the trailer's piping
system.  I always drain the hot water tank at this time as well.

My first experiences of winterizing a trailer always included a compressor.
But, now all I do is drain the system via the "tipping" procedure above and
then I pump in some pink propylene glycol via a little 3 way valve
arrangement at the strainer on the 12 volt pump and then I pump a little
from a bucket thru the city water system.

I do the same thing with my '93 Limited 34' now.  I have a short little hose
attached to a 3 way valve at the strainer.  With the short hose in a gallon
jug of pink antifreeze I run the pump until just solid pink comes out the
faucets, shower, toilet, etc.  While there is a short pipe on the city water
side too, I just give a little blast into that system to ensure nothing is
left undone.  I have a bypass on the hot water system, so I just open that
to the hot water tank briefly to allow some to fill the bottom 1/2" or so of
the tank.  It takes a little running in and out of the trailer checking on
the hot water tank and the fresh water tank drain.

Allowing all this antifreeze to lay within the piping systems all winter
keeps any ice-forming-water from collecting.  I also ensure there is a
gallon in the already-empty fresh water tank too.  I disconnect the kitchen
filtering system and run alittle pink into a hospital wash pan.  Running all
the faucets with the pink stuff fills the traps as well as puts alittle into
the gray and black water tanks.

I have used the air compressor in the past, but I think now that it is an
extra step that doesn't gain me anything.  IMHO!

To each His own!

Rich Walbridge
mailto:richwalbridge@airstream.net
WBCCI#3371