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Old 10-28-2017, 11:40 AM   #1
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Help needed with air/antifreeze winterization

Trying to make a long story short. Blew out my water lines with 40# of air then aligned valving to suck antifreeze through dedicated hose attachment. Water filter has been removed and clear bowl was replaced. Watched antifreeze enter the bowl as water pump was turned on. Seemed rather foamy as antifreeze entered the bowl. I get nothing but a mixture of air and antifreeze out of all my faucets and showerheads and pump runs continuously even though all faucets are turned off. All my valving appears to be correct, Sureflo pump bowl is free of debris, water connections at pump checked to be tight, vented off my city water check valve, and now I'm stumped. Any thoughts? Thanks
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Old 10-28-2017, 11:49 AM   #2
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Just sounds like you don’t have enough fluid (antifreeze) in the system for the pump to build enough pressure to shut off. If you’re happy with and convinced that you’re sufficiently covered with antifreeze in all your lines, just shut the pump off.

Don’t forget to put some in each drain and the toilet to keep the seal wet.
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Old 10-28-2017, 11:56 AM   #3
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I've used 3 gallons and the drain traps, toilet and o/s shower are all taken care of but i'm concerned that this pump is running constantly even though there is plenty of antifreeze in the jug that the hose is in and I should be getting a full stream at the faucets and I'm getting air and foamy antifreeze.
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Old 10-28-2017, 12:00 PM   #4
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Is it still sucking in from a jug? Are all faucets closed?
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Old 10-28-2017, 12:20 PM   #5
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Doesn't appear as there is any fluid being pulled from the jug but pump is running and faucets are closed. If I open a faucet, I get air and antifreeze.
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Old 10-28-2017, 12:26 PM   #6
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Too much air for the pump to pull liquid.

Shut it down, let the bubbles and foaming die down, and try it again in a bit.
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Old 10-28-2017, 12:52 PM   #7
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bypassed hot water tank?
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Old 10-28-2017, 12:53 PM   #8
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Too much air for the pump to pull liquid.

Shut it down, let the bubbles and foaming die down, and try it again in a bit.
That's what it sounds like to me. I always bleed the faucets, shower and toilet off like a brake system. Start from the furthest point away and work back towards the pump.
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Old 10-28-2017, 01:17 PM   #9
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then aligned valving to suck antifreeze through dedicated hose attachment.
I've seen your symptoms when this valve of which you speak was not turned 100% of the way and/or it had failed. This allowed some amount of air to be sucked from the empty fresh water tank. Try opening/closing/opening/closing this valve to see if it's completely closed to the water tank side.
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Old 10-28-2017, 01:23 PM   #10
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Too much air for the pump to pull liquid.

Shut it down, let the bubbles and foaming die down, and try it again in a bit.
No change, same symptoms. Filter bowl is full of antifreeze and no air but I still get a mix of air and antifreeze at the faucets. I am about to hook up to city water and try this all over again.
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Old 10-28-2017, 01:28 PM   #11
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Hot water tank is bypassed and I've cycled the valves a few times. All my water faucets, toilet and shower are in the rear of the trailer along with the pump so there is no long run of hose.
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Old 10-28-2017, 02:20 PM   #12
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Everything works OK on city water. If I turn the pump on while on city water it will not run as it shouldn't. I have the same problem if I use the freshwater tank or pull from the winterizer fitting. I'm thinking it is either the pump or the valve for choosing between the freshwater tank or the winterizing fitting. There is evidence of air entering the filter bowl when the pump is running. I need to find out where it is coming from I guess?
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Old 10-28-2017, 04:03 PM   #13
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Everything works OK on city water. If I turn the pump on while on city water it will not run as it shouldn't. I have the same problem if I use the freshwater tank or pull from the winterizer fitting. I'm thinking it is either the pump or the valve for choosing between the freshwater tank or the winterizing fitting. There is evidence of air entering the filter bowl when the pump is running. I need to find out where it is coming from I guess?
Sounds like a fitting is leaking air on the suction side of the pump.
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Old 10-28-2017, 04:11 PM   #14
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Everything works OK on city water. If I turn the pump on while on city water it will not run as it shouldn't. I have the same problem if I use the freshwater tank or pull from the winterizer fitting. I'm thinking it is either the pump or the valve for choosing between the freshwater tank or the winterizing fitting. There is evidence of air entering the filter bowl when the pump is running. I need to find out where it is coming from I guess?
Maybe there's a crack in the filter bowl... or more likely, a bad/loose filter bowl seal.
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Old 10-28-2017, 04:36 PM   #15
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Maybe there's a crack in the filter bowl... or more likely, a bad/loose filter bowl seal.
All fittings appear tight but will recheck them again and apply some shaving cream to the fittings to see if there are any vacuum leaks that show up. There are no water leaks to be found but you don't usually see them on the suction side.
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Old 10-29-2017, 12:51 PM   #16
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Trying to make a long story short. Blew out my water lines with 40# of air then aligned valving to suck antifreeze through dedicated hose attachment. Water filter has been removed and clear bowl was replaced. Watched antifreeze enter the bowl as water pump was turned on. Seemed rather foamy as antifreeze entered the bowl. I get nothing but a mixture of air and antifreeze out of all my faucets and showerheads and pump runs continuously even though all faucets are turned off. All my valving appears to be correct, Sureflo pump bowl is free of debris, water connections at pump checked to be tight, vented off my city water check valve, and now I'm stumped. Any thoughts? Thanks
This same thing has happened to me. Seems to happen once you draw some air into the line. What I found works is to open up a cold water line full open while making sure you have a constant supply of anti freeze on the input side of the pump. It should pick up the anti freeze in short order. Goes without saying, make sure the connections for the winterization connections are tight. Hope this helps
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Old 10-29-2017, 07:00 PM   #17
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No need to put water in again!
Your probably in good shape right now.

I think you have a suction line leak before the pump, but foamy antifreeze Cumming our faucets is good.
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Old 10-30-2017, 07:14 AM   #18
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I've seen your symptoms when this valve of which you speak was not turned 100% of the way and/or it had failed. This allowed some amount of air to be sucked from the empty fresh water tank. Try opening/closing/opening/closing this valve to see if it's completely closed to the water tank side.
X 2. make sure all your valves are shut off 100%. I left one partially cracked and had nothing but trouble.
on our 09 BH the check valve for the city water connection was bad and it blew antifreeze all over the water compartment and DW standing outside it. I couldn't hear her hollering stop the pump so she hammered on the side of the trailer to get my attention.

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Old 10-30-2017, 07:33 AM   #19
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No change, same symptoms. Filter bowl is full of antifreeze and no air but I still get a mix of air and antifreeze at the faucets. I am about to hook up to city water and try this all over again.
I wouldn't start over, in fact, I wouldn't do anything if you have antifreeze coming out every faucet.

Often, antifreeze will create air bubbles when ingesting. I've seen it several times throughout the years. I don't know if it's a different lubricity or just the process in certain rigs.

If you want to do anything, buy another gallon or two of antifreeze and let the pump suck it in. Open a faucet or toilet and let it run 1/2 or 3/4 of a gallon out and I bet your foam/air bubbles are gone and the pump will then build pressure and shut off.
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Old 10-30-2017, 07:48 AM   #20
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I wouldn't start over, in fact, I wouldn't do anything if you have antifreeze coming out every faucet.

Often, antifreeze will create air bubbles when ingesting. I've seen it several times throughout the years. I don't know if it's a different lubricity or just the process in certain rigs.

If you want to do anything, buy another gallon or two of antifreeze and let the pump suck it in. Open a faucet or toilet and let it run 1/2 or 3/4 of a gallon out and I bet your foam/air bubbles are gone and the pump will then build pressure and shut off.
X2 no need to start over especially if you had no types of leakage before either internal or external

It does seem to make a difference whether you try to pull the AF up from the ground or say the 3rd step up on a ladder. Less suction head. Primes faster

My pump continues to run as well. It could have sucked air between changing the bottles while I was inside playing with the faucets. Yes, I get the air/ foaming too. As long as I have a good pink stream coming out each and going down the drain filling the traps, I think I'm good enough to go until spring. The stuff wont freeze and there's room for expansion if there is any
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