The 5 Best Air Compressors For RV Winterizing
Who doesn’t love traveling with their RVs? There’s something comforting about having your home on the road. Recreational Vehicles make camping a breeze! You can spend days, weeks, or even months on a trip. You get to soak up the sun, and as they say, “be one with nature.” You get to have new experiences and see new sights! There is a lot more than an RV can offer.
But it’s that time of the year again, the leaves are falling and the weather’s getting cold. Before you know it, the night is longer than a day, and it’s not as comfortable as it was to travel in your RV. A lot of people choose to store their RVs during winter and be back on the road by spring. If this is your plan, make sure that you don’t forget to take care of your RV by winterizing it.
Winterizing your recreational vehicle makes sure that your vehicle is in top shape by the time winter is over. It also minimizes your expenses when it comes to your RV’s maintenance. The primary concern for winterizing, and probably why you’re reading this article right now, is figuring out how to winterize your rig’s water line. Winterization of the plumbing system involves removing water from the lines, preventing damage to valves, pipes, and faucets from water that expands and turns to ice.
There are three ways to winterize your plumbing system:
- Flushing the system and filling it with RV antifreeze
- Blowing the water from the pipes using an air compressor
- Combining the two methods
In this article, we’d be discussing the possible best air compressor for RV winterizing.
Comparison Chart
Viair 45043 Automatic Function Portable Compressor
This product is the first and only 100% duty cycle portable compressor on the market. It usually can run for longer periods of time. It has an automatic pressure regulation system and a maintained default of 145 PSI.
Porter-Cable PCFP02003 3.5-Gallon 135 PSI Pancake Compressor
The Porter-Cable PCFP02003 3.5 Gal 135 PSI Pancake Compressor Air delivers f 2.0 SCFM delivered @ 90 PSI pump. It has a 3.5-gallon tank and 135 max PSI for longer run time and quicker recovery. It has a feature of an oil-free pump that requires no maintenance yet is durable. It uses a low amp 120V motor.
Porter-Cable CMB15 Hand Carry Compressor Kit
The Porter-Cable CMB15 150 psi, 1.5 gallons Oil-Free Fully Shrouded Compressor runs a 2.0 CFM at 90 PSI. It has a quick compressor recovery time. The 1.5-gallon tank is easy to carry, and it includes a water drain valve and rubber feet. It uses a low Amp 120v motor that works well and starts easily in cold weather.
PORTER-CABLE C2002 Oil-Free UMC Pancake Compressor
The Porter-Cable Pancake Compressor is constructed with a pancake style tank. Because of this design, it ensures optimal stability. It features a water drain valve, rubber feet, and a 150 PSI. The higher pressure design provides longer air tool performance that allows quick recovery time.
VIAIR 45053 Silver Automatic Portable Compressor Kit (450P-RV)
The VIAIR 45053 Silver Automatic Portable Compressor Kit (450P-RV) is a powerful unit that releases high PSI with ease. They are originally made for RV use, so winterizing your RV with it is no problem!
Best Air Compressor for RV Winterizing Detailed Reviews
Viair 45043 Automatic Function Portable Compressor
Product Highlight
This product is the first and only 100% duty cycle portable compressor on the market. It usually can run for longer periods of time. It has an automatic pressure regulation system and a maintained default of 145 PSI. That’s not all! It is the first in the VIAIR’s portable compressor product line to have an automatic shutoff function. This unit is guaranteed a 100% duty cycle and capable of up to 150 PSI pressure continuously without further resting time. It uses a temporary connection to a 12-volt battery power source that is easy to establish and has a user-friendly set-up. Lastly, it offers a range of accessories stored in its easily portable soft-case bag.
The Good
Although the Viair 45043 is relatively more expensive than other air compressors, it’s definitely worth the buy! Aside from its power and time capability, it is well-reviewed by a lot of other people. It’s a no brainer that the unit is one of the most powerful ones in the market as it is specially created as a 100% duty cycle portable compressor. It has innovative functions that make the product more efficient such as the automatic shutoff function and a smooth operating system that assures you a quiet use. It comes with accessories as well as heavy-duty battery clamps that are sure to be of use. Most of the reviews also say that the product is highly durable and effective, a definite buy!
The Bad
As much as we would like to offer you the perfect product, there were still reviews on the flaws of the units. Customer reviews reveal that the unit’s accessories are not always consistently durable. The rubber isolators of the tray where it rests in also break off over time, according to a review. The hose that it comes with is also not as durable as those of the other customers. There was also a comment on a flawed design of the unit when the battery clamps didn’t hold on to the battery terminals.Some of the switches are also reported to be flimsy. There were only a select few out of the hundreds who reviewed the product. We still think that the quality of the unit is top tier and deserved to be ranked first.
PROs
CONs
Porter-Cable PCFP02003 3.5-Gallon 135 PSI Pancake Compressor
Product Highlight
The Porter-Cable PCFP02003 3.5 Gal 135 PSI Pancake Compressor Air delivers f 2.0 SCFM delivered @ 90 PSI pump. It has a 3.5-gallon tank and 135 max PSI for longer run time and quicker recovery. It has a feature of an oil-free pump that requires no maintenance yet is durable. It uses a low amp 120V motor. What’s great about it for winterization is that it starts quickly and works smoothly in cold weather! It is highly portable and is easy to transport because it only weighs 26 lbs. It is also very user-friendly with only two primary controls: power switch and regulatory turn-knob. It has decent power and extended run time. A steal for less than a hundred dollars per unit!
The Good
The Porter-Cable PCFP02003 is one of the cheapest products in our lists, yet it is here for a reason. It rivals more expensive brands because of its reliable power and prolonged run time. Other than that, it is quick and easy to use that lets you control the pressure of your unit by just turning a knob! It’s perfect for cold weather, so you won’t have to worry about it when winterizing your RV. It runs almost completely silently and can be transported very easily because of its small size.
The Bad
Although the Porter-Cable PCFP02003 is definitely worth more than its price, there are still customer reviews that reflect consistent problems with the unit. For one, the unit only lasts for a few years. One customer claimed that it only lasted for 18 months.It also has a lower tank capacity, so it only quickly recovers if the use is light. For winterization, however, you might need more heavy-duty equipment.
PROs
CONs
Porter-Cable CMB15 Hand Carry Compressor Kit
Product Highlight
The Porter-Cable CMB15 150 psi, 1.5 gallons Oil-Free Fully Shrouded Compressor runs a 2.0 CFM at 90 PSI. It has a quick compressor recovery time. The 1.5-gallon tank is easy to carry, and it includes a water drain valve and rubber feet. It uses a low Amp 120v motor that works well and starts easily in cold weather. It has a unique, fully enclosed design that provides protection from hot or moving parts. Another nice thing about it is that it includes a 25-Feet coil hose and an 8 pc accessory kit!
The Good
It is a reliable product because it doesn't leak air, is quite portable, and the regulator and gages all work fine.Its housing design is highly compact and is even light enough to be carried around!
Even for its small size, it beats top PSI and SCFM of much larger units. The unit is compact and powerful.
The Bad
The Porter-Cable CMB15 is a highly well-reviewed product that assures you of quality equipment! There were only limited complaints on the product; however, they did appear in the customer reviews. Some of the complaints are the unusable accessories because of the impracticality of changing the accessory used. One review said it was “pointless.” Another complaint is under design, claiming that there was a flaw in the balance and center of gravity of the product that it is vulnerable to falling down and therefore being damaged. Fortunately, there were no negative reviews on its performance as a compressor!
PROs
CONs
PORTER-CABLE C2002 Oil-Free UMC Pancake Compressor
Product Highlight
The Porter-Cable Pancake Compressor is constructed with a pancake style tank. Because of this design, it ensures optimal stability. It features a water drain valve, rubber feet, and a 150 PSI. The higher pressure design provides longer air tool performance that allows quick recovery time. Includes an oil-free pump for no maintenance, and uses a low AMP 120V motor works great in cold weather. More than that, it is specially designed for easy transportation and contains cord wrap with a 6-gallon capacity. At 34 lbs., it is compact and decently portable!
The Good
The Porter-Cable C2002 150-PSI, Six-Gallon Oil-Free Pancake Compressor packs a big punch. It is easy-to-use and provides optimum performance with its motor technology. For convenience, this efficient unit runs off of normal household circuits and offers mess-free, oil-free operation. The C2002 is also powerful and efficient and works great in cold weather, so it's great to use for winterization! It features a high-flow air regulator that allows more work at a higher pressure, giving you the flexibility to take on a variety of jobs.
The Bad
The PORTER-CABLE C2002 Oil-Free UMC Pancake Compressor is a compact and powerful unit; however, there were negative reviews on its other aspects. For one, it is a noisy unit, so it is not recommended to be used as well indoors. IN line with this, it sends strong vibrations. Although the product is generally easy to use, the user manual and the breaking in the procedure are difficult to understand. Lastly, it is not considered durable by a lot of customers.
PROs
CONs
VIAIR 45053 Silver Automatic Portable Compressor Kit (450P-RV)
Product Highlight
The VIAIR 45053 Silver Automatic Portable Compressor Kit (450P-RV) is a powerful unit that releases high PSI with ease. They are originally made for RV use, so winterizing your RV with it is no problem! It offers a lot of innovative features such as an automatic shut-off function that makes it more efficient. It is perfect for heavy-duty use yet surprisingly user-friendly! A wonderful product and must-have for RV enthusiasts!
The Good
The VIAIR 45053 Silver Automatic Portable Compressor Kit (450P-RV) is one of the most well-reviewed products on this list. It is a powerful unit that is perfect for RV and winterization! It has a variety of functions and accessories. But it makes sure that the machine is relatively easy to navigate. Most of the reviews praise the products’ reliability and durability. For such a heavy-duty product, it is quiet and user-friendly.
The Bad
The VIAIR 45053 Silver Automatic Portable Compressor Kit (450P-RV) is a reliable unit that is full of crucial features. However, there were still some negative reviews on it. Aside from its relatively high price, the unit takes a long time to fill up because of its high capacity. There were also notes of small parts that were easy-to-break.
PROs
CONs
Conclusion
Those are all the recommended and, according to customer reviews just last year, the best 12 volt RV TV’s we can find in today’s market! It’s more than just looking at the product highlights but understanding the dynamic of its advantages and disadvantages too! We hope that this list was able to help you identify your best 12 volt TV for RV’s or, at least, help you narrow down your choices. To incredible trips ahead, keep safe and entertained!
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