Air Hose Adapter for Winterizing

Fergie

After trying all the winterizing methods for the past 5 winters, I decided to get serious about the air flushing method as I am getting too old for all the spring cleaning! I came up with an adapter for my air compressor system hose that make the job more thorough and prevents previous problems I had using this method in which I had to pull the Thetford toilet and replace the valve that had frozen and broken.



The attached article gives the details.

Hope this helps someone!

Fergie

4ncar

Good good write up. I use the exact same set up!

xdr

Thank you Fergie! This is a great write-up. I am preparing to winterize our 400 so started searching the site for some knowledge. Was thinking about the anti-freeze method until I found this write-up. Well done!
x

Fergie

To 4ncar and xdd:

Thanks for the gracious comments!

One thing I didn't cover in the writeup was the danger of getting oil or debris from the air compressor into the water lines. I have read several articles about using "Oil-less" and/or "tankless" compressors to avoid this problem. I understand there are in-line air filters you can buy, but I never tried this. The compressor I have and is shown in the write-up has a tank and there must be thousands of these sold by Lowe's, Home Depot and other home improvement stores. It is of the "Oil-less" variety and whenever I use it I do flush it out with the air release valve on the bottom of the tank. Since we have moved to SouthCentral Alaska from Southern Minnesota, I have not seen any moisture or debris when I do this. I did flush out some moisture occasionally during the humid summers in Minnesota when we lived there and I was using it for construction projects. I have never seen any debris.

 Since we use drinking and cooking water on the road brought separately for use in collapsible plastic containers that are handy for placing on campsite picnic tables, we feel we are safe from contamination anyway. 

I just thought I should add these cautions to anyone using the "air flushing" method for the first time. Good luck with this irritating seasonal chore!

Fergie

Denny16

You can get a paint sprayer in-line air filter that uses a roll of good absorbing TP, as the filter material, removes all impurities from the compressed air.  You can also get moisture only type air filters that go between the compressor and air line.  I use these all the time with my air tools.  I also, do not mix air lines, I have clean lines used only for air blowing off tools, or spray painting and air lines used for tools, that use oil, which gets blown back some into the air line.

For tire type air valves, you can get a clamping connector to lick a air hose to the valve, these work fairs well up to around 50-60 psi, and would work on the TaB with air regulated to 40-45 psi.
cheers

ESH

Great write-up, Fergie and helpful comments from others.  Question:  I'm having a hard time seeing the exact parts descriptions on the photos and wondering if anyone has the list as I have to order online vs. getting help in store?  Much appreciated.

ESH

I did come across these on Amazon.  Assuming the combo might do the trick?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XL2IEA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002GQ3SUA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Fergie

To: ESH

I got these at Lowe's with the help of one of the plumbing guys who work there. They had a very large selection of brass fittings. I would assume that any home improvement and/or plumbing supply store would also have them, packaged by various suppliers.

My suggestion would be to do what I did: find the "expert" and tell him what you are doing, namely hooking into a standard female garden hose fitting at on end, and into a standard "quick connect" female air hose fitting at the other end in order to air flush an RV water system for winter. You could even show him (or her) the pictures in my article. I'm sure they would be glad to help you.

I could have spent a long time trying to do this on my own and might still have had to return to get the right combination!

Be sure to use teflon tape when putting the fittings together. Good Luck!

Fergie

Fergie

To: ESH

Sorry, I didn't look at your on-line examples. They look like they would do the job. They just didn't have any in our area at the time I needed to winterize so I decided I needed to make an adapter.

Fergie

runaway30

Thanks for such a clear and concise description of winterizing.

dlb

This is the one I bought.  I like the flexibility.

https://www.amazon.com/Winterizing-Sprinkler-Blowout-Adapter-valve/dp/B07ZSF8Z57/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-5GbmNDy6gIVkcDICh03wwCvEAAYASAAEgKCQPD_BwE&hvadid=397504519911&hvdev=t&hvlocphy=9010304&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14251421667571861159&hvtargid=kwd-623604325642&hydadcr=8060_10893357&keywords=viair+90145+rv+winterization+kit&qid=1596031380&sr=8-1-spons&tag=googhydr-20&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzRlk2TkFQSE1WSzhLJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTQyNTY5QVdFN1NITUVSSFhMJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA4MDg0MjExRVQwM1kwRENONFZXJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==