Using Vodka to Winterize Fresh Water System?

[JoyRide28]

Ahoy All, a friend of mine recently suggested that the best way to both protect the fresh water system from freezing and killing any microbes over the winter (lay up) season is to pour a gallon of (cheap) Vodka into the tank and run the faucets until it has worked its way through the lines, faucets, etc...

The boat is stored indoors, in an insulated but unheated space. Our coldest temps are usually teens and 20's, and generally that will only last for a few days at a time. Average winter temps are in the 30's and 40's...

Has anyone tried this? Does it work, or is it perhaps crazy?

Any comments welcomed (well, within reason).

Thanks!

Peter Cipes

 

[JRacer]

Don't know if it will work as planned. But, having hot and cold running Vodka will certainly impress the neighbors! ;-)

 

[25yearslater]

Sounds viable to me. Disinfecting and protecting. Of course you could also use Hennessy to really impress your friends.

 

[capejt]

but be careful

Just don't go checking the water tank with a lit match for light!

 

[Joe23455]

Re: but be careful

Makes Sense, why not gin with a twist of lime(handles scurvy).
Great will working on the hard on those winter days !

 

[rpwillia]

Cheap Rum

Been using cheap rum for years. The main upside is it gives the water tank a nice aftertaste. :dance: Does not matter if you use colored or clear as when you are winterizing you can tell right away that the rum is running through the system (it foams a little and you can smell it. On our 310 it usually take 2 gallons (about $10.00 each gallon at the liquor store). Of course if you prefer gin or some other whiskey that is your choice.

 

[dparilla]

Any alcohol will work. However it will evaporate faster than antifreeze. That said it also helps to dry out the lines which can be good except on rubber parts. It does make cleaning easier, and I've always wanted a vodka luge on the boat.

 

[r.oril]

I don't even have a fresh water system, but I might have to change that! LOL!

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Might as well use nothing in the tank

Straight uncut 80 proof vodka doesn't freeze to at least -2 F (the temp in my freezer)...however, a solution of 80% vodka-20% water does. So unless you blow ALL the water out of the system, leaving only straight uncut booze in the tank, it's gonna freeze at temps below 0 F...at least down to -2...not sure what the freeze point of 80 proof alcohol is. But if you blow all the water out of the system, you wouldn't need to use anything...'cuz it's not freezing temps that cause damage, it's ICE...water expands 10% when it freezes. And besides, unless you forget to drain the water tank, it's rarely the inch or two of water left in the tank that does the damage, it's water in the PLUMBING that does.

What's more, boat hulls, and anything in a boat below the the waterline, take their temperature from the water or air in which they're sitting. So if you keep your boat in the water for the winter and the water never freezes hard, the fresh water system shouldn't need any freeze protection beyond just draining the plumbing. But if you haul, and temps stay below freezing 24/7 for weeks at a time, you have only two choices: blow ALL the water out of the plumbing or use antifreeze according to directions...and then recommission your system in the spring to remove the taste/odor of the antifreeze.

So those who swear by vodka as an alternative to antifreeze don't really need to use anything at all in the system...they're just wasting cheap booze. So make a pitcher full of bloody mary with it instead...it would be a waste of GOOD vodka to use it for those.

 

[25yearslater]

If vodka don't do it one thing will wipe out any chance of freezing and even the toughest bacteria including the beneficial ones in your digestive system. Everclear 190 is available in most states and as the name implies is 95% pure grain alcohol. Come spring fill your water tank with your favorite fruit punch and PAR-TAY. But stay at the dock and sleep it off on the boat. It also makes your water tank an auxilliary fuel tank when undiluted.

 

[CalebD]

I've used a 3 liter bottle of cheap vodka or gin to winterize our FW tank for several years and I'm quite happy with the results.
Per Peggy's comments our boat is on the hard and outside so the temps vary but it typically can get as cold as 10 to 20F. Before pouring in the cheap booze the tank is drained of all liquid.
I see several benefits to doing this.
- I hate the taste of anti-freeze so none gets into my water tank
- costs a little more then anti-freeze but much more fun
- it makes a great hand cleaner as other fall/spring work goes on
- does not need to be completely drained before filling with water come spring

YMMV

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

If you remove ALL the liquid, you don't need the vodka. But hey...it makes you happy and you're not doing any harm to the system, so if that's how you want to spend your money, have fun. But I wouldn't recommend continuing to do nothing more than pour 3 liters of booze into the tank if you move to MN...or even to Buffalo, 'cuz they have REAL winter weather.

 

[Ross]

I pump my water system as dry as I can but I know that there will be low places in the lines where water can accumulate. After I have the system pumped empty, then I disconnect the line from the tank and add the alcohol there and pump until I have what seems to be straight vodka at my faucets. It will start to freeze at about -10 but won't be solid enough to break piping until it hits -15 and holds for a time.

 

[dscribner]

I'd try it sober first.

 

[jerry]

Couple of years ago I winterized with grain alc. Good to -50 F. In the spring I got all kind of black sludge out of the pipes. Water tasted much better the whole summer. Been doing it ever since.
Maybe overkill for antifreeze, but sure is a great disinfectant.

 

[Ron20324]

Somewhat like ROSS, on the output from my water tank I put a shutoff valve, then to a tee. One side of the tee goes to the plumbing as before, the other side to a shutoff valve that has a short length of hose. Run the pump to empty the tank, then switch to the short hose to add anti-freeze- whatever the type. No anti-freeze enters the tanks..

 

[Maine Sail]

Before pouring in the cheap booze the tank is drained of all liquid.
I see several benefits to doing this.
- I hate the taste of anti-freeze so none gets into my water tank

Why, why, why do people AF the tanks? Drain them, disconnect the inlet to the FW pump and suck the AF into only the hoses or blow the hoses out if you feel lucky.

- costs a little more then anti-freeze but much more fun

No argument there..

- it makes a great hand cleaner as other fall/spring work goes on

Yes, and an expensive one..

- does not need to be completely drained before filling with water come spring

YMMV

If you winterize the system right the only thing needing flushing is the plumbing hoses. In the spring you can simply stick the FW pump inlet hose into a bucket of fresh water and the hoses flush in no time. Do this BEFORE removing the water heater by-pass. Trying to flush a tank or water heater that was antifreeze protected, through dilution, takes about 100 times more water.

WINTERIZING A FRESH WATER SYSTEM

 

[jimmcgee]

Wouldn't grain alcohol damage the rubber seals in the fresh water pump?

 

[Freedom77]

I never eat fruitcake, 'cause it contains rum, and one little bit turns a man to a bum,
Oh can you imagine the terrible strife, of a man eating fruitcake until he get tight. Fair Winds and Full Sails...

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

We never eat cookies because they have yeast,
And one little bite turns a man to a beast.
Oh, can you imagine a sadder disgrace
Than a man in the gutter with crumbs on his face?