Last updated on October 30th, 2023 at 06:57 am
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RV winter travel has its unique steps for preparation. The cold weather can pose a whole new set of problems for you and your rig if you’re unprepared. Winterizing your rig (which includes everything from winter covers to increased insulation and preparing your pipes) is the process of making sure your RV is well-suited for cold weather demands.
Blowing out your water lines with a strong air compressor is a great step to keep water from sitting in pipes and potentially freezing when winter hits.
So, what PSI can blow out RV water lines?
An air compressor can safely blow out RV water lines between 30 PSI and 40 PSI. It’s essential to keep within this range as any lower than 30 PSI may not blow out RV water lines effectively. Any more than 40 PSI poses risks to RV plumbing pipes and could cause considerable damage.
The steps taken work to prevent so many issues, and among the most important of them all is blowing out your water lines. The intense cold can pose lots of problems to your rig, with a common one being your pipes freezing. Anywhere water travels in your rig, be it your pipes, water lines, or tanks, become susceptible to issues when the weather becomes very cold.
Let’s dive deeper into why PSI is so important and how to use it when blowing out your RV’s water lines!
What Is PSI?
PSI or Pound Per Square Inch is a unit that reflects the pressure on a given surface. It’s most commonly used to measure the air pressure within a tire, but it can also be used when blowing out the lines in an RV. As PSI is simply an indication of pressure, it’s easy to understand but also important to get right.
Whether you’re looking at the PSI of your tires, water pressure, or blowing out RV water lines, ensuring you use the correct PSI is crucial. An air compressor is an ideal tool for blowing out RV water lines, but each one may have different settings you need to be aware of prior to use. This will help prevent using a PSI too high and causing damage throughout your RV plumbing.
What PSI Can Blow Out RV Water Lines?
Winterization is something that shouldn’t be put on the back burner. It’s a vital step in protecting your rig in the best way possible so it stands a good chance against sub-zero, harsh, winter weather. Blowing out the lines in your RV removes all of the water in the pipes, meaning there’s none left behind to freeze, expand, and burst the lines.
Using the correct intensity is vital in keeping the pipes throughout your rig in great condition moving forward. It can be tempting to whack the air compressor to the max and get the job done as quickly and powerfully as possible, but this high intensity can do more harm than good. Sticking to using an air compressor set to between 30 PSI and 40 PSI is wise as it limits the chance of RV water line damage substantially.
If you don’t have an air compressor to hand, RV antifreeze is an alternative way of protecting your RV plumbing. Both methods of winterization have pros and cons, so it’s a good idea to consider the method you’re more comfortable using.
Blowing out the water lines keeps the process chemical-free, but it’s hard to know if every last drop of water has been removed from the lines. RV antifreeze is a quick and easy way of winterizing the water lines, but this requires a yearly purchase of antifreeze and also involves the use of chemicals.
How Do Air Compressors Work?
Air compressors are motorized tools powered either by electricity, gas, or propane. They use a lengthy hose to blast high-pressure air wherever it’s needed. Luckily, their fairly simple purpose makes them reliable for many different tasks. Winterization of your RV is what they are best for, but if you need to inflate your tires or even do some cleaning, they can help.
When used for RV winterization, an air compressor blasts air at high power into the RV plumbing, which clears any water from the lines. Essentially, these tools transform power into compressed air, resulting in a safe and effective way of clearing water from RV plumbing. If you’re new to RVing or haven’t used an air compressor before, I recommend taking things slow!
Using any new equipment can be daunting, but with patience and practice, you’ll be confident in no time. When looking to blow out your rig’s water lines, they are the tool for the job, however, it’s important to know what to look for when choosing one.
What To Look For In An Air Compressor?
There are many different tools available for RVing, but which ones are the best to buy? Air compressors come in all different shapes and sizes, so choosing the right one for your RV is crucial. An air compressor that’s too weak won’t blow water out of the lines well enough, but an air compressor that’s too powerful could cause damage.
PSI
The first and most obvious factor to be aware of is the PSI of an air compressor. Remember, the best for your RV’s water lines is between 30 PSI and 40 PSI, so this is something to keep in mind while you shop.
Some compressors may go above this, but they are likely designed for heavy-duty tires and not the plumbing in an RV. It’s necessary to pick a compressor with a PSI that matches your needs so you’re not stuck with something too weak or too powerful if you choose to winterize without using antifreeze.
Size
Along with keeping an eye on the PSI you’re using to blow out your RV lines, considering the size of the air compressor is also important. A car tire compressor isn’t suitable as these types of compressors tend to be very compact and powerful. Instead, it’s best to purchase a compressor that focuses on blowing out air at a high volume.
Some RVers have success with using a 3-gallon air compressor, but others prefer to use something substantially larger like a 20-gallon compressor. Either way, regardless of the air compressor you decide to use for your winterization, be sure to not exceed the maximum PSI RV water lines can withstand.
Power
Most portable air compressors need to be plugged into a 12V plug or adapter. This should be easy to manage as most rigs either feature a power source that the compressor can plug into, or you’ll be camped at a site with electrical hookups. It’s wise to always double-check the power demands of your rig and ensure any new appliance you purchase doesn’t exceed them, as this can lead to electrical problems.
Duty Cycle
Speaking of power, a stronger air compressor will often have a higher duty cycle. The duty cycle is the time needed for the compressor to cool down after it’s been used. It’s listed as a percentage relative to the hour, for example, an air compressor with a 50% duty cycle can run for 30 straight minutes before needing to cool down.
In contrast, a compressor with a 100% duty cycle can run for a full hour before cooling down. The duty cycle becomes important when considering how long it may take to complete the tasks you need the compressor for.
How To Blow Out RV Water Lines?
RV maintenance is something we can’t ignore! It would be ideal if our rigs took care of themselves, but this isn’t the case, especially during the winter season. There are a couple of different methods of winterization, and blowing out RV water lines with an air compressor is a highly popular one, favored by many RVers from beginner to pro.
Remove Any Water Filters
The first thing you’ll need to do before blowing out your RV water lines is to remove any water filters you may have installed for your rig. This will allow the air to get to all of the areas it needs to, so the process can be completed effectively. Once this is complete, go ahead and empty your gray, black, and fresh water tanks.
Run Faucets And Shower
Additionally, you’ll want to run your faucets and shower to remove as much water as possible so the air compressor has less work to do. Blowing out your RV water lines will remove any leftover water in your rig, but emptying the vast majority before using the compressor will make the job substantially quicker and easier.
You can learn more by watching the video below:
Use A Blowout Plug
Once the water has stopped draining from the faucets and shower, you’ll then need to use a blowout plug. These small plastic plugs are vital as they connect your RV’s water intake system to your air compressor. Once you have them in place, you can hook up the air compressor’s hose to the blowout plug to send air into the water lines.
Set The PSI
Now, before using the air compressor, be sure to set the PSI somewhere between 30 and 40. You’re free to adjust within this range to give the compressor any extra kick needed to clear water from your lines, but any more than 40 PSI may damage them.
Use The Air Compressor
After setting the PSI, simply turn on the air compressor to begin clearing your rig’s water lines. Once one line has been cleared, connect the blowout plug to the next and repeat the process until all of them are free of water. Completing the process can take a bit of time, but it’s far cheaper and less time-consuming than not winterizing and having to deal with damaged RV plumbing come spring!
Some RVers prefer to use a blended winterization method of both an air compressor and antifreeze to limit the chance of frozen pipes even more. If this is something you’d feel more comfortable with, ensure you use RV antifreeze and not automotive antifreeze as there are stark differences between the two.
Closing Thoughts
Knowing how PSI relates to an air compressor is crucial for safely blowing out your water lines. When looking at all the steps to follow in the RV winterization process, checking the PSI is easy to overlook. Keeping between 30 PSI and 40 PSI is a safe way to remove water from the lines and protect your rig come winter.
Choosing an air compressor with a low-duty cycle or forgetting to purchase blowout caps can be frustrating, but failing to use the correct PSI on the other hand can be incredibly damaging. Hopefully, you now know what to look for, and can be well on your way towards keeping your RV’s water lines ready for winter!