Pink antifreeze in water tanks

[Rich]

This question seems so basic I'm almost embarassed to ask it. I dutifully put antifreeze in my water tank last fall. Now how do I get it out? Is it toxic, should I worry about where it gets pumped to?



rpassmore42@hotmail.com

[Dave Olson]

On my bottle it's referred to as RV antifreeze. Polypropylene glycol SP? On the label it says that it is considered by the FDA as not harmful. I assume that means to humans or other animals. I pumped mine onto the grass (out of the engine) I would say that the main issue is taste. If you can taste it in your water then you should keep flushing. Baking soda or soap or bleach or vinegar or baking soda and vinegar or gallons and gallons of water. Since the FDA says that it is not harmful, then let your taster be the judge.
Dave

This question seems so basic I'm almost embarassed to ask it. I dutifully put antifreeze in my water tank last fall. Now how do I get it out? Is it toxic, should I worry about where it gets pumped to?

olsonAcre@compuserve.com

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

Rich,
I usually leave the water tanks on Hanalei almost empty, with maybe a gallon of water/antifreeze mix in each. In the spring, I take the shop vac. down to the boat and vaccum that little bit out. Advantage, when you vaccum it out, you will also remove any loose material that was floating around in the tanks the year before, it looks like black sand almost. Then, I fill each tank and completely empty it through the normal flow path through the sinks. One good flush like that, and wa-la! no more antifreeze! Once the tanks are flushed and refilled, I add one capfull of chlorine bleach to each tank - no critters grow, and water tastes fine! Hope this helps....

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30

[Neil Gordon]

>>This question seems so basic I'm almost embarassed to ask it.<<

If not for dumb questions, this board would be very quiet. <g>

>>I dutifully put antifreeze in my water tank last fall. Now how do I get it out?<<

I just pump it out through the faucets, then flush the tank with water.

>>Is it toxic, ...<<

Nope. I pump it onto the sink, down the drain and into the ocean.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com

[Ed Haley]

Some cruisers recommend placing about a pint of cheap vodka in each of the tanks for winterizing. Then when the tanks are filled the following spring, there is no taste in the tank and a little bit of alcohol to keep unwanted organisms at bay. Sounds good but I never seem to have any alcohol left in the ships locker at the end of the season to try it. Besides, I like Tennessee Tea.



eghaley@dreamscape.com

[Ryan Turner]

Flush the tank through the faucet/sink. Then refill and flush again. Then refill with a bleach solution (1 cup bleach per 10 gallons water). Then empty bleach solution through faucet/sink (it's a good idea to let some of this bleach solution sit in your water hoses for awhile (over night). It'll kill all those nasty little bugs that like damp places. Then run a solution of vinegar and water through the tanks and lines. After you've done this there's no way you'll taste any of that pink antifreeze. You'll also know for sure that your water system is clean and healthy.



rdtec@aol.com

[Frederic simon]

Rich

I found the best antifreeze for water tanks in my CD 28 is vodka. I get 2 half gallons and pour one bottle in each tank. There is no odor and running water will flush it clean (or you can drink it).
Fred





This question seems so basic I'm almost embarassed to ask it. I dutifully put antifreeze in my water tank last fall. Now how do I get it out? Is it toxic, should I worry about where it gets pumped to?



simon@oasisonline.com

[Larry DeMers]

Pink (Recreational Vehicle) is non-toxic by nature, and won't kill you if some gets in you, That said, let me add..don't drink it.
What we do is in the fall, we put in 1 gallon of pink antifreeze in each tank. Then we pump through about 3/4 of this (into the sink). There is still a bit of antifreeze int he tank and lines to protect against condensation accumulations getting into the hose without antifreeze. In the spring, we pump both tanks out dry, then go to it with a hose and nozzle, and clean the tanks well. We end up with maybe 1/3 tank full in both tanks. This is then pumped into the sink. Finally, we fill both tanks, and add a water purifier (water clear powder -it's really a hypochlorinated powder), and then install our charcoal filter element and then prime the system. In 9 years, we have had better water on the boat than at home (and our city won the national clear water contest a few years back). A note of caution..don't forget that stupid sink in the head (we have disconnected that darn thing, and are turning the area into shelves and stowage for clothes). That line tees into the galley foot pump, so some pressure is always being applied towards putting water into that hose to the head, while pumping water to the galley sink. That line is rarely used on most CD30's, so it has the chance to get nasty. We disconnected ours and capped off the copper fitting feeding that line.

Cheers,

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer

This question seems so basic I'm almost embarassed to ask it. I dutifully put antifreeze in my water tank last fall. Now how do I get it out? Is it toxic, should I worry about where it gets pumped to?

demers@sgi.com