Winterization.

[Brian John]

I am looking for a better way to winterize the fresh water on my R31. In the past, I have used RV/Marine antifreeze, and it is a PIA in the fall and a bigger PIA in the spring. I was wondering if anyone has a better way?

 

[4umfreak]

I am looking for a better way to winterize the fresh water on my R31. In the past, I have used RV/Marine antifreeze, and it is a PIA in the fall and a bigger PIA in the spring. I was wondering if anyone has a better way?

I've heard you can use cheap booze but not tried it myself. 😎

 

[Jesperjo]

I haven’t done this myself but I’ve heard of people installing a drain tee on the water heater. Then you’d empty the fresh water tank by running the faucets as well as using that drain tee to drain the hot water heater. At that point there isn’t really any water left to freeze and you don’t need to use antifreeze.

I haven’t tried it and perhaps others have more details but the general idea is to just remove all the water.

 

[serendipity]

Take a look at the winterization video on the Ranger Tugs website. As the video shows, we use compressed air (~ 15 psi) to blow out our system on our R27 OB. We only put “pink” through the A/C, deck wash, and in the holding tank.

The video was very helpful and the process only takes a couple of hours to complete. I use a standard pancake compressor with adjustable pressure.

 

[Midwest Jeff]

Compressed air is my suggestion as well. I also by-pass the hot water tank. Disconnect the hot and cold lines, drain the tank, and make a by-pass with an appliance hose. Then pump water out of fresh water tank. Leave cap off water fill. Disconnect both lines from the water pump, blow air through the system both ways, and pump. Leave hoses off. Use 40 to 45 lbs of air pressure to get all the water out of the lines. RV antifreeze for the rest of it.