Winterizing fresh water system

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

SueSeaK

What is the best way to winterize the fresh water system, hot and cold on a 420 hunter, and please don't say have the yard do it
 
Sep 25, 2008
7,499
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
Sue
I think the lack of interest in responding is likely due to the numerous other descriptions this topic elicits frequently. Check the archives here and I'm sure you will find your answer
 
Sep 26, 2008
566
- - Noank CT.
OK here is a quick version of what to do.
Drain and bypass hot water heater.
Drain all water tanks either by running until empty or drain plug (if equipped) run all faucets until pump sputters water and air. Close all from the farthest point working toward the pump.
Fill water tanks with "pink" antifreeze . Depending on boat and plumbing may be several to 6 gallons of pink antifreeze.
Open faucets farthest from pump and run until both hot and cold are running pink. Do the same to all faucets,showers and heads (if fresh water) are running pink don't forget the transom shower if you have one. You can save some of the diluted (not too diluted) pink antifreeze to put in the head for the holding tank or shower sumps if you have them. Check you sink drains to make sure there are self draining if not you will need to run antifreeze thru the drains. If you boat has a ice maker make sure to winterize the supply line. Not sure of what exactly your boat model has but basically you need to antifreeze where ever there is water. A/c system same thing.
 
Last edited:
B

bob12312

Here's the lazy man's way...

I say lazy man toungue in cheek as its just the fastest and lets me move onto something else... I dont bother changing any plumbing /disconnecting reconnecting

1. empty the water out of the water tank by running all faucets on the boat. be sure to run hot and cold water to empty the water heater.
2. turn off the water pressure pump after when faucets run dry
3. fill water tank with 6 jugs of pink non-toxic antifreeze.
4. turn on water pressure pump
5. turn on faucets until pink antifreeze comes out. do this for cold then cold setting on faucet
6. do same for shower head

running the faucets dry on the hot side empties the water heater. turning the pump back on fills it with anitfreeze from the water tank.
 
Sep 25, 2008
7,499
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
running the faucets dry on the hot side empties the water heater. turning the pump back on fills it with anitfreeze from the water tank.
Actually it does not and as far as the "lazy" way to do it, this will cause much more work later on when you have to replace a cracked tank. If that is how you typically winterize, you are very lucky. The pump will only drain whatever it is fed from, not into (the hot water tank).

Dumping antifreeze into a tank to pump through a full hot water heater serves only to dilute the antifreeze which is not supposed to be diluted as doing so makes it TOTALLY ineffective.

It takes less than 5 minutes to drain the tank in which case you don't need to put anything else in it nor do you have to flush it out in the Spring.
 
G

Guest

Winter

Where is SueSeak?

No need to winterize in PNW waters.

Terry Cox
 
Jun 4, 2004
1,087
Mainship Piliot 34 Punta Gorda
Actually it does not and as far as the "lazy" way to do it, this will cause much more work later on when you have to replace a cracked tank. If that is how you typically winterize, you are very lucky. The pump will only drain whatever it is fed from, not into (the hot water tank).

Dumping antifreeze into a tank to pump through a full hot water heater serves only to dilute the antifreeze which is not supposed to be diluted as doing so makes it TOTALLY ineffective.

It takes less than 5 minutes to drain the tank in which case you don't need to put anything else in it nor do you have to flush it out in the Spring.
Second this. you need to get the water out of the HW tank. I drain the tank and still add a little pink stuff to the tank as I am not sure the drain valve gets all the water out.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.