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Old 11-22-2016, 09:45 AM   #1
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Winterizing

How many of you blow out your lines before putting antifreeze into them? Won't the antifreeze push the water out?


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Old 11-22-2016, 09:54 AM   #2
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I have never used compressed air to blow out the lines. IMO it does an incomplete job. There can still be water in your pump for example. It doesn't take much water to break a pump. With anti-freeze, there is no doubt. And you should have it in your traps anyway. It's super-simple and takes maybe 3 gallons. Complete protection. Just don't put the anti-freeze in your fresh water tank. Most/many units have a way to switch to a tube to draw in the anti-freeze. Remember to drain your water heater and to bypass it. If you have water filters, take them out of the canisters first.
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Old 11-22-2016, 09:59 AM   #3
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The original poster was not implying just blowing out the lines...he asked how many people blow out the lines before doing the antifreeze process.
I do blow the lines out first, is it necessary...no...but in my head it dilutes the antifreeze less and I pretty much see pink stuff coming thru immediately when I turn a tap on after having blown out the lines.
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Old 11-22-2016, 10:14 AM   #4
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I give my lines a pre-blow before pumping in the antifreeze. Like WFD said, it keeps the antifreeze from getting diluted from water left over in the lines.
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Old 11-22-2016, 11:16 AM   #5
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I open the three low point drains valves and than blow out the lines with compress air. I than add the pink RV antifreeze to the lines, by passing the hot water and fresh water tanks. Since my trailer has the washer and dry prep, I make sure that those lines are also blown out and pink stuff goes through these lines.
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Old 11-22-2016, 12:13 PM   #6
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I drain my lines at the low point drains and also the water heater drain, and bypass the water heater.. I then close the drains and pump antifreeze through the lines.

I suspect using air and then followup with antifreeze would do almost the same.

I would not use antifreeze to push water, would require to much antifreeze to ensure its not diluted enough to offer the protection I need. (-10 to-20 deg F)

Doing just a drain or air could allow small pockets of water to pool. Depending on where the water pools, when it freezes, it will expand and could damage pipes, fixtures, pumps, valves, etc.
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Old 11-22-2016, 01:30 PM   #7
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Using air to blow out the lines prior to drawing in antifreeze allows you to use less antifreeze.

Simply because as soon as the pink stuff starts to come out the faucet (or anywhere else) it is almost pure antifreeze, not a diluted mixture of water and antifreeze.

Edit:
I say 'almost pure' because no one has shown me proof that blowing out the lines removes 100% of all water.
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Old 11-22-2016, 02:20 PM   #8
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I blow out my lines, no antifreeze, cannot stand the taste that lingers. 15 years of hard freeze no issues
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Old 11-22-2016, 02:48 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by timfromma View Post
I give my lines a pre-blow before pumping in the antifreeze. Like WFD said, it keeps the antifreeze from getting diluted from water left over in the lines.
Same here.
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Old 11-22-2016, 05:33 PM   #10
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Never blown out a line. We get long stretches of minus 30 and have never had a problem. If you pump antifreeze till pink comes out of all faucets and toilet why blow out lines?
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Old 11-22-2016, 05:39 PM   #11
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Never blown out a line. We get long stretches of minus 30 and have never had a problem. If you pump antifreeze till pink comes out of all faucets and toilet why blow out lines?


Because the water in the lines will dilute the antifreeze you pump in. If all the water is blown out ahead of time, when you see antifreeze come out, its full strength.
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Old 11-22-2016, 07:08 PM   #12
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Never blown out a line. We get long stretches of minus 30 and have never had a problem. If you pump antifreeze till pink comes out of all faucets and toilet why blow out lines?
As I said previously in this thread, you will use less antifreeze. It won't be diluted.

You don't have to blow out the lines as long as you don't mind pumping enough antifreeze to be sure what comes out is ALL pink and isn't diluted.
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Old 11-22-2016, 07:33 PM   #13
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Getting rid of as much water as possible is why I blow out the lines. Then add the pink stuff. Takes a few extra minutes.
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Old 11-22-2016, 07:44 PM   #14
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I too usually blow out the lines before pumping the antifreeze............ For me usually takes less than 2 gallons for the lines

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Old 11-22-2016, 08:20 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by Oaklevel View Post
I too usually blow out the lines before pumping the antifreeze............ For me usually takes less than 2 gallons for the lines

After blowing out, 1.5 gallons did all lines and plenty in the traps. YMMV.
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Old 11-22-2016, 08:58 PM   #16
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Getting rid of as much water as possible is why I blow out the lines. Then add the pink stuff. Takes a few extra minutes.
Same with me. I was amazed as to how much water remained after draining.
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Old 11-23-2016, 02:23 PM   #17
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Add me in for those amazed at how much water remains in the lines with just a simple draining, especially the toilet. For the time it takes to blow out the lines with my little compressor, its well worth the extra effort and half hour or so after everything is considered. In my Georgetown I will use exactly one gallon of pink stuff then including pouring some down the traps.
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