I am planning to winterize my water system for the first time. I need to disconnect the water pipe from the water tank to run antifreeze through the system. I also need to disconnect the hot and cold water pipes from the water heater and install a bypass. Anybody know how to disconnect the fittings that hunter uses to connect the flexible pipes? Thanks
winterizing the water system
- Thread starter sailaway_H36
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Simple
Depress this, and pull on the hose at the same time.
It will come out of the fitting.
bEFORE YOU DO THIS, take a piece of masking tape, and wrap it on the hose just where it exits the fitting.
This way you will know that you have pushed it in all the way when you re-insert it.
The biggest cause of leaks is people removing these hoses, and then not seating them all the way when re-installng
There is a small circular collet on the fitting.
Depress this, and pull on the hose at the same time.
It will come out of the fitting.
bEFORE YOU DO THIS, take a piece of masking tape, and wrap it on the hose just where it exits the fitting.
This way you will know that you have pushed it in all the way when you re-insert it.
The biggest cause of leaks is people removing these hoses, and then not seating them all the way when re-installng
Shop Vac
When I did not live in Sunny Florida I would use a air compressor or shop vac to blow out any water in system and not have the bad taste of Antifreeze in spring.
I just did for our motor home up in NY before returning to Fl.
Nick
When I did not live in Sunny Florida I would use a air compressor or shop vac to blow out any water in system and not have the bad taste of Antifreeze in spring.
I just did for our motor home up in NY before returning to Fl.
Nick
There may be a c shaped ring just inside the Colette that is designed to keep them from being depressed and allowing the pex tubing to come apart when it isn't supposed to. You may have to slide it out so you can disconnect the tubing
I put a bypass in for the water heater so as to eliminate the need for 5 or 6 gallons of antifreeze it takes to fill and flush it.
I disconnect the line from the water tank and stick the hose in to a gallon of antifreeze. That way I don't have the challenge of trying to get the residue out of the tank in the spring.
Have heard tell that some people buy a few gallons of cheap vodka and use that to winterize the lines. That way they don't have to deal with the taste of residual antifreeze in the spring.
I disconnect the line from the water tank and stick the hose in to a gallon of antifreeze. That way I don't have the challenge of trying to get the residue out of the tank in the spring.
Have heard tell that some people buy a few gallons of cheap vodka and use that to winterize the lines. That way they don't have to deal with the taste of residual antifreeze in the spring.
Antifreeze in the tanks
Here is what I do:
Disconnect hot water tank and drain
Leave tank disconnected.
Pump out water tanks using water system pump
Disconnect pump from tanks.
Then, connect bucket with antifreeze to input of water pump.
Then pump antifreeze through all sink faucets etc.
So, all sink faucets are protected, hot water tank is drained out, no antifreeze in water tanks. Uses a minimum of antifreeze and nothing gets damaged
I don't like anti freeze in the tanks either.
Here is what I do:
Disconnect hot water tank and drain
Leave tank disconnected.
Pump out water tanks using water system pump
Disconnect pump from tanks.
Then, connect bucket with antifreeze to input of water pump.
Then pump antifreeze through all sink faucets etc.
So, all sink faucets are protected, hot water tank is drained out, no antifreeze in water tanks. Uses a minimum of antifreeze and nothing gets damaged
thanks for sharing guys. I was talking to somebody at our club. His technique is to blow the lines with an air compressor. Sounds like a good and simple idea. When I think about it, I do the same for our pool and it works fine. Same is done with water sprinklers. ?..what do you think?
My manual for the AC unit also recommends blowing the line with air as one of the wingerizing method.
My manual for the AC unit also recommends blowing the line with air as one of the wingerizing method.
If you use an air compressor, how does the air/water get past the water pump? Doesn't that block the water going one way or the other? Or do you leave the water pump running while you are using the air compressor?....but I would think that might mean running the water pump 'dry' for awhile.
Good question! The guy I spoke to blows Ir in the system through the water tank vent on the side of the boat.
I talked with our yard guys here and they emphatically do not recommend only blowing the lines. Too much risk if there is a spot where water gets trapped. I blow the system out then suck antifreeze in through the pump intake. Couple of gallons of antifreeze is cheap compared to the headache of finding a ruptured line and replacing it.
On air conditioning winterization, do a search on here as there are many threads already.
I use a method our yard uses. Five gallon pail with lid from home improvement store. Fitted with a 12 volt fluid transfer pump that costs maybe $30. Tubing on the pump discharge. You pump antifreeze backward in the AC discharges until it comes out the intake. Very easy and takes about 10 minutes to do. Uses maybe 1 to 1.5 gallons of antifreeze.
On air conditioning winterization, do a search on here as there are many threads already.
I use a method our yard uses. Five gallon pail with lid from home improvement store. Fitted with a 12 volt fluid transfer pump that costs maybe $30. Tubing on the pump discharge. You pump antifreeze backward in the AC discharges until it comes out the intake. Very easy and takes about 10 minutes to do. Uses maybe 1 to 1.5 gallons of antifreeze.
The easiest thing to do is T all your systems. Take a five gallon bucket and put a tap with valve in the side on the bottom. Close all the thru hulls and supply all from the bucket valve.
For HVAC put hose from bucket valve to T before HVAC water pump. Pour in 1 gallon pink antifreeze. Turn on the bucket valve, turn on HVAC and have someone outside look for pink discharge, then turn off. All done in about 5 minutes.
Engine and Generator do the same thing and look for pink water from exhaust or 2 gallons, whichever is first for each.
Water system - empty lines with pump pump is 2.8GPM, SO TAKES 28 minutes if system full before you start pumping. I tried bypassing and couldn't get those whale fittings off of Hot water heater, so I just pour pink antifreeze into water system at deck fitting. I use 6 gallons and pump until pink flowing out of all fittings including cockpit shower.
Head, Connect into T, pump until bowl is pink.
Empty waste tank at pump out prior to winterizing head, then after dealing with head, pour 1 gallon down waste deck fitting.
Takes 12 gallons to do entire 356 including the HWH. Would be about 6 if I could bypass the HWH.
Good luck with the whale fittings. I figured it would cost more when I couldn't reattach them next spring than the extra 6 gallons of anti-freeze.
For HVAC put hose from bucket valve to T before HVAC water pump. Pour in 1 gallon pink antifreeze. Turn on the bucket valve, turn on HVAC and have someone outside look for pink discharge, then turn off. All done in about 5 minutes.
Engine and Generator do the same thing and look for pink water from exhaust or 2 gallons, whichever is first for each.
Water system - empty lines with pump pump is 2.8GPM, SO TAKES 28 minutes if system full before you start pumping. I tried bypassing and couldn't get those whale fittings off of Hot water heater, so I just pour pink antifreeze into water system at deck fitting. I use 6 gallons and pump until pink flowing out of all fittings including cockpit shower.
Head, Connect into T, pump until bowl is pink.
Empty waste tank at pump out prior to winterizing head, then after dealing with head, pour 1 gallon down waste deck fitting.
Takes 12 gallons to do entire 356 including the HWH. Would be about 6 if I could bypass the HWH.
Good luck with the whale fittings. I figured it would cost more when I couldn't reattach them next spring than the extra 6 gallons of anti-freeze.
Do not reccomend
Antifreeze in pumps & lines is the safest solution
Water will collect in low spots, and air will blow by it.
Antifreeze in pumps & lines is the safest solution
This is why most yards in colder climates use PG in domestic plumbing lines and not air to blow them out.
You do not need to put pink in the water tanks. Simply disconnect the hoses and drain the tanks. Then suck PG into only the pipes after the water heater has been drained & by-passed.
Trying to AF a hot water heater by dilution can lead to this....
And this is what came out of an engine with a split heat exchanger. Owner tried to save $8.00 on antifreeze and it cost him 75 times that amount to fix....
I have yet to see an engine that takes less than 3 gallons in order to maintain the freeze protection of the AF that went into it..
Frozen water is pretty powerful stuff:
Very helpful. I think I am going to antifreeze route
Quadrille: the method you use for winterizing the AC is also recommended in the owners manual. Do you disconnect the inlet hose from the pump or you just let the AF drain through the seacock? Would that winterize the AC pump?
Quadrille: the method you use for winterizing the AC is also recommended in the owners manual. Do you disconnect the inlet hose from the pump or you just let the AF drain through the seacock? Would that winterize the AC pump?
I pump the antifreeze in through the AC outlet until it comes out the intake. I have two air conditioners so I pump in from both discharges. When it comes out the intake it had gone through the pump and the intake strainer.
I purchased the pump from Harbor Freight. Its a 12 volt marine utility pump for $37.99. Here is a description.
Description
This outstanding water pump allows you to pump water at 260 gallons per hour at 50 PSI! Transfer irrigation water, drain a tank or perform other pumping applications easily and safely with this self-priming stainless steel pump. The water pump comes with its own mounting bracket and a 19" 18 AWG cord.
Stainless steel pump housing
Maximum flow: 300 gallons per hour
Total head lift: 35 ft.
Dual threaded inlet and outlet: 3/8"-18 NPT female and 3/4"-11 NPT male
Includes mounting bracket
Not for use with fuel or flammable liquids.
Specifications
Name 12 Volt Utility Water Pump
SKU 94639
Brand Pacific Hydrostar
I purchased the pump from Harbor Freight. Its a 12 volt marine utility pump for $37.99. Here is a description.
Description
This outstanding water pump allows you to pump water at 260 gallons per hour at 50 PSI! Transfer irrigation water, drain a tank or perform other pumping applications easily and safely with this self-priming stainless steel pump. The water pump comes with its own mounting bracket and a 19" 18 AWG cord.
Stainless steel pump housing
Maximum flow: 300 gallons per hour
Total head lift: 35 ft.
Dual threaded inlet and outlet: 3/8"-18 NPT female and 3/4"-11 NPT male
Includes mounting bracket
Not for use with fuel or flammable liquids.
Specifications
Name 12 Volt Utility Water Pump
SKU 94639
Brand Pacific Hydrostar
Yes
I do empty and clean the strainer after I'm done pumping the antifreeze
On my boat the rear discharge is smaller diameter than the front discharge so what I have is a smaller piece of tubing that fits inside the antifreeze pump tubing. A type of reducer so that it fits the smaller AC outlet
I do empty and clean the strainer after I'm done pumping the antifreeze
On my boat the rear discharge is smaller diameter than the front discharge so what I have is a smaller piece of tubing that fits inside the antifreeze pump tubing. A type of reducer so that it fits the smaller AC outlet
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