Efficient winterizing with anti-freeze
Many are happy just using compressed air to blow out the lines. I'm too worried about water getting trapped in a low spot, and the air blowing over the water. I just finished a major floor rebuild, and just want to be 100% sure all water is displaced.
The previous 2 years, it's always taken a full gallon, then I had to crack open a second to fill the traps. This year, I was determined to get it done with only 1 gallon of the pink stuff.
I got some small clean stones from a Dollar Store, to fill the water filter housing, so not as much wasted there. Tip: Pea-gravel would be even better. Either way, pour AF thru the stones to pre-fill the filter housing before securing the housing. I didn't do this, and ended up with clear water at the bottom of the housing, from what was still in the waterline before the pump. Had to open back up, dump, and refill.
This trick, and shutting off the faucets quickly when the pink showed up, left me with plenty to pour into all the traps. I also realized that after all of the lines are winterized, if you end up needing some more for the traps, you can always run the pump for a little bit. Just don't run the pump too long dry, as it will overheat.
It's a small victory. $3 I don't have to spend, and a partial jug I don't have to store.
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thebrakeman ('70), DW ('71), DD ('99), DD ('01), DD ('05)
2004 Surveyor SV261T (UltraLite Bunkhouse Hybrid)
2006 Mercury Mountaineer V8 AWD Premier
Equal-i-zer WDH (10k), Prodigy Brake Controller
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