Yet another winterizing question

[Acableguy06]

Every one talks about pumping antifreeze thru with fresh water pump, how does this winterize the section of plumbing from city water connection to where it T's into the plumbing. Using the pump method seems to miss that 1-2' section of pipe and check valve. Am I missing something?
Thanks

[Ovair]

That's a reasonable question. When you drain the water from the lines using the low point drain, that section becomes voided. When sucking up antifreeze with the pump, that section does not get filled with pink stuff, but it doesn't need to be. It is empty of fluid at that point in time.

[KyDan]

I blow my system out with low pressure compressed air first and then
use the pink stuff so that line is empty.

Back in the day-- I used to open low point drains and then blow out that
line by mouth. Yep really. I could put my finger tip on the little check valve
in the middle and stick my big mouth around my fingertip and manage to blow
air thru the line.
Neighbors probably saw me and wondered what that crazy guy is doing but
it worked.
You can probably open low point drain and just gently push the check valve
and by letting air in, the water will drain out by gravity.
CAREFUL, if you push that check valve too far it will upset and get out
of position and maybe even pop out of the opening.
That's another reason I use the compressed air method now.

Good Luck!

[acadianbob]

I just do it last after my system is full of RV antifreeze. Then I go out, take the screen off of the city water inlet, and poke the little plunger in the center (with the pump off). The RV antifreeze shoot out of the line. Then put the screen back in and close it up.