Winterizing Fresh Water System

[psjanker]

For the past few years I have put anti-freeze in all my lines as well as hot water heater. Anyone try just blowing out the lines and such with a compressor? I am finding that by using anti-freeze I have a taste to my water that precludes really using it for nothing but showing....by the time the water becomes somewhat tasty its time to re-winterize. I will also put a bypass in for my water heater but still looking for a better solution than antifreeze.

V/r

Pete

[Steve Laume]

Definitely put the by pass in for the water heater.

I use anti freeze and once it has been pumped through the system, I vacuum out the water tanks.
An under sink, sized, charcoal, water filter takes away any bad taste from the tanks and lines.

Blowing out the lines is an interesting concept, that I have yet to try, Steve.

[Northstar1014]

I have heard of (but have not tried myself) using very cheap vodka in the fresh water system -- think 3 liter plastic bottle. Its cheap, doesnt freeze, and will be diluted quickly in the spring.

[Paul D.]

My brother blows out some of his lines, but still needs antifreeze in the water heater.

I do what a previous post said and vacuum out any remaining anti freeze after running it through the lines at final layup. In spring fitting out, I fill the tanks and flush them each out through the faucets fully then fill them again. Since my head sink drains into the bilge I throw a bit of biodegradable dish soap and maybe a little bleach to clean the bilge out. This flushes all but the slightest scent of propylene glycol out of the fresh water system and that scent is only in the hot water line for the first tank of the season. The water tastes pretty good really, for polyethylene tanks, but I have thought of fitting an inline filter on the cold water line under the sink.

If trying the compressed air method I would watch the pressure to limit it to the fresh water pump pressure amount.

[psjanker]

All

Thanks for the suggestions and comments. I might just look at bypassing the pump and sucking out the lines with a shop vac....lower pressure and less chance of doing any harm. Will let you know how it goes.

Seems like such a pain....has to be a better way.

V/r

Pete

[mgphl52]

Vodka! Lots of vodka... when we use to cruise, I always added vodka to the tanks for "purification" - here NW FL, I don't winterize... we keep sailing.