We winterized out hot water heater on our C30. The heater works two ways - either by an electric element (AC powered) OR from the heat exchanger on the engine. The manual specifically says DO NOT turn the element on when the heater is winterized - it will burn the element up. It is still OK to run the engine though, correct? This will not damage the heater will it? Thanks
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I'm not sure how your hot water heater is wired or set up, but my guess is that when your manual says not to turn the heating element on after the boat has been winterized, they are presuming that you have drained the water heater completely dry. Turning the element on when the tank is dry would probably damage it. If you system also heats water in the tank from the heat generated by running your engine, you should not have any damage by running the engine, even if the heater is dry.
Warren is correct...
Running the heating element in an empty tank or in antifreeze will destroy the heating element. A heat exchanger heats water by simply running hot engine cooling water through a coil of pipe in the tank--the radiant heat from the piping is what heats the water. Running the engine will not hurt an empty water heater tank. You actually read the manual? Wow--that makes you one in a million!
Running the heating element in an empty tank or in antifreeze will destroy the heating element. A heat exchanger heats water by simply running hot engine cooling water through a coil of pipe in the tank--the radiant heat from the piping is what heats the water. Running the engine will not hurt an empty water heater tank. You actually read the manual? Wow--that makes you one in a million!
Thanks Warren and Peggie
This is what I thought - I just did not want to take any chances on ruining something that could be easily prevented.
This is what I thought - I just did not want to take any chances on ruining something that could be easily prevented.
My manual says
not to put antifreeze in the water heater period. It also says to drain any antifreeze out of the pressure pump. This creates the need to drain the heater and bypass it before antifreezing it. This is almost as big a pain as removing the impeller for winter storage which is also required and at least semi necessary.
not to put antifreeze in the water heater period. It also says to drain any antifreeze out of the pressure pump. This creates the need to drain the heater and bypass it before antifreezing it. This is almost as big a pain as removing the impeller for winter storage which is also required and at least semi necessary.
I don't understand
If the water heater is empty, it IS winterized. What possible harm can come from leaving a little anti freeze in the pressure pump? For years I have drained my water heater and all water lines, removed the in and out lines on the pump and blown it dry. No need for anti freeze anywhere on the pressure side at all. The only place I use anti freeze is the head and the raw water intake.
If the water heater is empty, it IS winterized. What possible harm can come from leaving a little anti freeze in the pressure pump? For years I have drained my water heater and all water lines, removed the in and out lines on the pump and blown it dry. No need for anti freeze anywhere on the pressure side at all. The only place I use anti freeze is the head and the raw water intake.
Which pressure pump are you referring to?
'Cuz as far as I know there are no pumps in water heaters. As for leaving antifreeze in the fresh water pump, non-toxic potable propylene glycol is mostly alcohol, which is damaging to rubber...including the seals and valves in fresh water pumps and toilets. That's why winterizing instructions call for using the pump to move antifreeze through the system, but then to continue pumping till as much of the liquid as possible has passed all the way through the pump. As for antifreeze in a water heater, the choices are: drain ALL the water out of it--which requires suctioning the amount left behind by just opening the petcock...or adding some antifreeze to the tank after you've bypassed it. Antifreeze won't hurt the inside of the water heater tank, only the heating element and anode (if there one). In the spring the whole system should be recommissioned to get rid of the antifreeze in it as well the the taste/smell it leaves behind.
'Cuz as far as I know there are no pumps in water heaters. As for leaving antifreeze in the fresh water pump, non-toxic potable propylene glycol is mostly alcohol, which is damaging to rubber...including the seals and valves in fresh water pumps and toilets. That's why winterizing instructions call for using the pump to move antifreeze through the system, but then to continue pumping till as much of the liquid as possible has passed all the way through the pump. As for antifreeze in a water heater, the choices are: drain ALL the water out of it--which requires suctioning the amount left behind by just opening the petcock...or adding some antifreeze to the tank after you've bypassed it. Antifreeze won't hurt the inside of the water heater tank, only the heating element and anode (if there one). In the spring the whole system should be recommissioned to get rid of the antifreeze in it as well the the taste/smell it leaves behind.
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