winterizing

[chief14326]

I have been pouring the "pink stuff" into my water tanks for the last 4 years. This spring I could not get the smell out of the water system. After I winterized the engine I drained the tanks, including the hot water heater. I also plan on cleaning the tanks in the spring to try and get the "pink stuff" odor out of them. I also plan on replacing all of the water hoses as they look pretty bad. Is this enough to keep form getting any damage to the system? The head was never even used this season, and in fact the pink stuff is still in the bowel. We did not do much sailing, and I made everyone use the facilities at the dock.

I just can't help feeling that I am doing something wrong, as I have had a routine that has been working for so many years. It is just that antifreeze smell that would not go away this year. I even tried a bleach solution in each tank as I have done each previous spring, but no luck. This is the reason I have decided not to add the antifreeze to the tanks and water system this winter. I also do not want to go the vodka route. Is there anything wrong with just leaving the system dry?

 

[sailingdog]

Chief-

After flushing the antifreeze from your tanks and such.... I would recommend shock-treating the freshwater tank and then after flushing it with water, treating it with Vinegar. Vinegar is a good way to deodorize water systems.

 

[Jenni]

I think leaving your water system dry would be a good alternative to filling with antifreeze. The reason you drain the tank is just to stop the water from freezing and cracking your water system when it expands. I would think as long as the tank is reasonably empty there will not be enough water in it to cause significant expansion.

 

[higgs]

Calling Peggy

Peggy has a method involving bleach and vinegar. Perhaps she will post it.

 

[Tim R.]

You probably got the odor this year because the hot water heater was turned on when there was still AF in it. Peggy's book is excellent for this sort of thing. I highly recommend it.

 

[Maine Sail]

There is no

There is no problem leaving it dry if you can assure the entire system is dry. Doing this usually requires an air compressor, vigilance and an understanding of the way air will flow though pipes (path of least resistance sort of stuff). It involves opening a circuit blowing it out, shutting it down, opening the next circuit etc. on and on until you don't even get a mist out of the faucets.

By simply turning on the water pump and pumping the tank dry your system still has plenty of water to split and freeze and would by no means be "dry".

Another very reliable method is to suck anti-freeze only through the pipes. I have a link to some info on this here:

Winterizing A Fresh Water System (LINK)

Like Tim I highly recommend Peggie Hall's book!

 

[Stu Jackson]

And the way to find Peggie's article

is found here: http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=550882