Winterizing Cabin

[MinnesotaMike]

We have a trailer house as a cabin and I just drained the lines.

Would it be a better idea to leave the valves open or shut them.

Does it make a difference?

I've closed them in the past but I usually have minor problems in the spring.

Thx,

Mike

[leech~~]

There were a few posts on this subject a few weeks back. I leave all mine open.

[Hoey]

Open or closed valves, no big difference. Important point is to drain and blow out the lines to force water out of the drains and traps (if you do not treat each one with RV Antifreeze) and low dips in any of the supply lines.

[WallEYES]

Make sure the main valve closes....Gate valves are prown to not shutoff and bypass water thru time and fill your system. I would leave all my faucets left open.

[frazwood]

First, I drain my hot water heater. Next, I use an air compressor to blow out all of my supply lines (my fridge has a water supply... I blow this out too). Finally, I open all of my taps.

For the drains/traps, I add RV antifreeze to each. I also sponge out the water from the toilet (and its tank) and add RV antifreeze to the toilet.

I'm hardly experienced at this, but I have not had any problems in the spring each of the last two years.

[delcecchi]

That is basically what I do, and have done for the last 25 years.

Don't forget the tank on the back of the toilet. I see that was noted.

Open all the faucets, including in the shower.

I use a little hand pump rather than a sponge.

The water heater drains faster if you run some pressure from the compressor.

Keep some pipe on hand, and solder and a torch if copper just in case. A couple of times something didn't work right. Once it was the pipe from the shower valve to the head. Didn't open one of the valves and it stayed full of water.