My freshwater system consists of a 6 gallon plastic tank with a hand pump on a sink. Here's the question: If I pump out the water, pour in a cheap fifth of vodka and pump that out, will next year's and forever's water taste like vodka? Is that any better/worse than the "pink stuff?" Thanks for any insight. Drew
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Vodka won't work...
Straight uncut vodka won't freeze, but even an 80-20 cut will. So unless there's no water left in your tank or plumbing, vodka won't protect it from a hard freeze...anyone who claims it does doesn't need to winterize the plumbing. However, if there's no water left in the system to freeze, you don't need vodka OR antifreeze. So unless you intend to suction every drop of water out of the tank and blow every drop out of the plumbing, use antifreeze. Recommissioning the system in the spring will get rid of the antifreeze taste/smell. The sanitation system needs winterizing too. If you have a portapotty, just make sure both the reservoir and tank are completely empty. If you have a marine toilet and holding tank, here's what you need to do: 1. Pump holding tank out, then rinse thoroughly by completely filling with fresh water and 1 gallon of white vinegar twice. 2. Close toilet intake through-hull, disconnect inlet hose and stick it in a gallon of non-toxic ("the pink stuff") antifreeze. Pump the whole gallon through the system into the holding tank. Do not reconnect head intake hose to the through-hull. 3. Pump the head 50 times to get as much fluid out of the system as possible. 4. After the boat comes out of the water, open all the sea cocks to drain any trapped water. Do not use antifreeze in a Lectra/San or PuraSan. Follow manufacturers instructions to winterize all Type I and II MSDs.
Straight uncut vodka won't freeze, but even an 80-20 cut will. So unless there's no water left in your tank or plumbing, vodka won't protect it from a hard freeze...anyone who claims it does doesn't need to winterize the plumbing. However, if there's no water left in the system to freeze, you don't need vodka OR antifreeze. So unless you intend to suction every drop of water out of the tank and blow every drop out of the plumbing, use antifreeze. Recommissioning the system in the spring will get rid of the antifreeze taste/smell. The sanitation system needs winterizing too. If you have a portapotty, just make sure both the reservoir and tank are completely empty. If you have a marine toilet and holding tank, here's what you need to do: 1. Pump holding tank out, then rinse thoroughly by completely filling with fresh water and 1 gallon of white vinegar twice. 2. Close toilet intake through-hull, disconnect inlet hose and stick it in a gallon of non-toxic ("the pink stuff") antifreeze. Pump the whole gallon through the system into the holding tank. Do not reconnect head intake hose to the through-hull. 3. Pump the head 50 times to get as much fluid out of the system as possible. 4. After the boat comes out of the water, open all the sea cocks to drain any trapped water. Do not use antifreeze in a Lectra/San or PuraSan. Follow manufacturers instructions to winterize all Type I and II MSDs.
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