Winterizing the plumbing

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J Stage

To by-pass the water heater, I usually take the cold and hot PVC off and connect. However I am frustrated tonight, because I tried it today and I've completely forgotten if they screw off or if the one part pulls off. I have nothing in my notes, so I know it's been easy in the past. Any help out there? Thanks, Joan
 
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Rich Stidger

Winterize the plumbing the easy way

For the last 20 years in the cold northeast, I have performed the following: Run the tanks dry with the pump. Disconnect the inlet to the pump and using my inflatible dinghy air pump blow air backwards into the tanks. This clears any water in the lines between the tank(s) and the pump. Disconnect the outlet of the pump and blow out the pump itself. Connect the air pump to the lines feeding all the faucets and the HW heater. Blow air and open each faucet in turn until water just spits from each faucet. Connect a short garden hose to the drain on the HW heater and using a drill pump suck all the water out of the heater. Close the draincock and disconnect the hose. Reconnect the water pump for next year. Tag the HW heater circuit breaker to assure it is not energized before refilling with water. There is NO NEED to use any antifreeze and thus no need to flush the lines and tanks in the spring of same. SAVE yourself the cost of several bottle of antifreeze and the trouble of lugging them to the boat. ;D
 
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S. Sauer

Winterizing H2O System

I've been doing much the same thing with my 1986 28.5 since I bought it new. It is important to get as much as possible out of the hot water heater, so the suction pump idea is good, so I disconnect both lines to the heater and open the small drain cock and suction everything out the drain cock. I try to get some sailing in in the final weeks of the season with the system 'dry' and blow out the lines again. When I'm satisfied that there is no watrer in the pump, the strainer, lines and water heater, I reconnect everything, do my oil change and winterize the engine and head just before the boat is hauled.
 
J

J Stage

Success today, Bill Murray

Assume you have drained the tank and the hot water heater (on top of heater is a lever, raise it and open the faucet, and be sure to close the lever when through.) Next put pink stuff in tank. I have a funnel with a long flexible outlet. Be sure the water pressure is off. Remove nut only on both the hot and cold, by using a vise grip or second plier on the nut. Then pull out the tube inside of the PVC from the cold and hot. Next screw out the bolt from the hot water side. This is your connector. Push the cold and hot water tube into this bolt from each side being sure the threads are the correct way for next step. Then tighten the nuts down and you have a connection. Next put on water pressure and open all faucets including the outside shower until runs good shade of pink. TURN WATER PRESSURE OFF! Reconnect as originally. Some people leave it this way over layup and then you can flush out the pink stuff quicker. My terminology may be lacking, but this is really simple. Hope this helps you. I'm in the directory if you have any questions. Joan
 
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