Hi all, I need to winterize the fresh water system and I'm not too keen on using antifreeze. Does anyone have experience or advise on just blowing the water out of all the tubing with compressed air? I'd have to buy and install a Tee and a stopper valve on the line near the fresh water tank. Then connect to pressurized air and blow the water out though the faucets. Certainly small amounts of water will be left in low places, but hopefully with enough room for freezing expansion. My 2004 H36 uses Sea Tech tubing and compression fittings so bipassing the water heater and filling the system with antifreeze wont be very easy or reversible. Besides winters in the Northwest are mild, so I might want to go sailing in January and could easily de- and re-winterize with air. Thanks for your thoughts, Kevin
winterizing with air
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Easy with air
I have been using air to blow out fresh water systems on my rv for years and now our boat,because it is a real pain to get the antifreez taste out of the system. First open any fauect until all water is empty in tank and drain any still left in tank. Disconnect the plastic line from the fresh water tank and hook up air and blow air pressure out all faucets until no water comes out including water heater but first drain it. nick
I have been using air to blow out fresh water systems on my rv for years and now our boat,because it is a real pain to get the antifreez taste out of the system. First open any fauect until all water is empty in tank and drain any still left in tank. Disconnect the plastic line from the fresh water tank and hook up air and blow air pressure out all faucets until no water comes out including water heater but first drain it. nick
Exactly what I just did to mine last week
I never bothered to winterize when we lived in Olympia, WA and never had a problem due to the mild winters. However, considering my boat is no longer a mere 15 minutes from home, I took some additional measures this year. Both my father in law and I used a compressor to blow all of the water out of the lines. He rigged up a ball valve with connections that we clamped onto the water lines and then used the valve to regulate the pressure to blow all water out of the lines. After emptying the water tank, we were able to blow out all of the water in all of the lines as well as the water heater. We then worked through each of the outlets/faucets repeatedly until all we were getting out was air. No pink crap in the lines or tank. For reference, he has a hunter34 and I have a vision 32. This works like a champ. Good luck... matt
I never bothered to winterize when we lived in Olympia, WA and never had a problem due to the mild winters. However, considering my boat is no longer a mere 15 minutes from home, I took some additional measures this year. Both my father in law and I used a compressor to blow all of the water out of the lines. He rigged up a ball valve with connections that we clamped onto the water lines and then used the valve to regulate the pressure to blow all water out of the lines. After emptying the water tank, we were able to blow out all of the water in all of the lines as well as the water heater. We then worked through each of the outlets/faucets repeatedly until all we were getting out was air. No pink crap in the lines or tank. For reference, he has a hunter34 and I have a vision 32. This works like a champ. Good luck... matt
Use air, it's easy, details how to do it......
For over 20 years on multiple boats I drain the water tank and the HW tank and then using my dinghy air pump blow out all the water. I blow the line BACK into the water tank(s). I blow the water THROUGH the water pump. I blow the water OUT each faucet in turn from the line after the water pump. I drain the HW heater from the built-in drain into the bilge and then clean the bilge with hot water. I DO NOT disconnect the hoses from the HW heater. No need to buy pink stuff and then have to purge and clean the taste out in the spring.
For over 20 years on multiple boats I drain the water tank and the HW tank and then using my dinghy air pump blow out all the water. I blow the line BACK into the water tank(s). I blow the water THROUGH the water pump. I blow the water OUT each faucet in turn from the line after the water pump. I drain the HW heater from the built-in drain into the bilge and then clean the bilge with hot water. I DO NOT disconnect the hoses from the HW heater. No need to buy pink stuff and then have to purge and clean the taste out in the spring.
Antifreeze
Run the tanks nearly dry till they sputter. Add the anti-freeze and run it through. Stop. Return in the spring and flush with water. Process actually cleans the pipes and avoid potential for bursting from air pockets. The spring run-through takes half an hour. No taste.
Run the tanks nearly dry till they sputter. Add the anti-freeze and run it through. Stop. Return in the spring and flush with water. Process actually cleans the pipes and avoid potential for bursting from air pockets. The spring run-through takes half an hour. No taste.
Agree with Bill, Anti-freeze.
If you leave the plumbing empty you run the risk of mold or other nasty stuff growing in the hoses. If it gets bad enough the only fix is replacing the hoses. Keep the lines filled as Bill suggests.
If you leave the plumbing empty you run the risk of mold or other nasty stuff growing in the hoses. If it gets bad enough the only fix is replacing the hoses. Keep the lines filled as Bill suggests.
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