Winterizing Methods: blowout or pump-in?

[Hoo Dad]

Originally Posted by mgargiullo

We're in Jersey and I blow my lines out. I actually let a lot of air run through them to dry as much as possible, one fixture at a time. Then just enough AF to fIll the traps. No issues so far.

This is the first year we're using a cover so we'll see how that goes.

After blowing out your lines do you leave the spigots open and the drain plug caps off or do you close everything up? I don't have the nerve yet to just blow out the lines.

[mgargiullo]

I close everything up. If you feel better it can't hurt to leave your faucets open and your low point drain caps a little loose.

I run a lot of air to dry them as much as possible. I've got an 80 gallon compressor and I let he air flow at about 20 psi for about 20 minutes. A couple minutes per valve. Don't forget your shower head(s).

[Hoo Dad]

Originally Posted by mgargiullo

I run a lot of air to dry them as much as possible. I've got an 80 gallon compressor and I let he air flow at about 20 psi for about 20 minutes. A couple minutes per valve. Don't forget your shower head(s).

Do you have a dryer on your air line? That is where my real concern is as I do not have a dryer on mine.

[mgargiullo]

I don't use a typical drier for this, I have a condenser which does pull most of the moisture out of the air line. However, the minimal amount of water the compressor would introduce shouldn't be an issue.

When I paint, I add an air dryer, but for this... hasn't been an issue.

If it's a concern. ensure your air tank is empty, then do it on a colder dry day. That should minimize the amount of water the air compressor would introduce.

[mgargiullo]

I do also drain the water pump

[jimh]

i pumped antifreeze for the first time ever. in the past i drained and was ok. this past winter, i found out the trailer inside got colder than i thought. a small heater was put inside set at 45 deg and a light bulb was placed close to the pump. figured the antifreeze was cheaper than the electricity.

if u don't have a compressor, i would think u would be able to simply pump it thru. doubt that u would get that much mixing (petroleum products are pumped thousands of miles with minimal mixing). it may cost u an extra quart.

hook up the pump suction, do the other suggestions abt the hw heater and water filter then pump to one outlet at time. if u have a washer, without blowing it out first, i don't have a suggestion for displacing water with antifreeze.

i blew my system out first, drained the filter on the washer then put the washer on fill and pumped antifreeze thru each water connection until the girgle stopped. then i pumped the washing machine again to move antifreeze into and thru the pump.
finish up by pumping back to the drain line till u get antifreeze there.

i was really surprised that it took 1 gal to do the whole thing... a little over $3.
to hook to the pump, i bought 2' of flexible 1/2 tubing, disconnected the line from the tank and attached the tubing. not much to it.