winterize AC

[ftornabe]

Hello,

It's a 2021 25' Ranger Tug and my first winter with the boat. Want to winterize the AC I thought I could pour antifreeze into the strainer with the sea cock closed while the AC is on but it's not sucking. I guess it's cold enough not to require water to cool it.

Any ideas? Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks!

 

[marksandyham]

Likely you lost prime. I fought mine this year trying to pour into strainer. I finally took the hose to the pump inlet off of the strainer taped a large funnel to it, held it higher than the pump inlet and poured antifreeze into the funnel. Took less than 2 gallons.

Next year I am going to do it the way I did my previous boat and just use a hose and pump to back flush it thru the thru hull. Easier and you don't need shore power.

 

[Craigmconrad]

Will back flushing through the hull work? it would then come out at the strainer. Are there any internal valves within the AC unit that might be closed when not in operation? I will be winterizing mine next week.

Thanks

 

[S. Todd]

I have not tried the back flushing method others have used. Instead, I put a T-fitting into one of the lines from the multi-port strainer (I used the line to the cockpit wash down pump because it was the easiest to access) and pour antifreeze into that T- hose using a funnel. Cap it off when done and the t-fitting is there for the future winterizing needs. Super easy to do.

 

[marksandyham]

My Marina always back flushes the A/C units that's where I got the idea to do it on my previous boat. There is no check valve in the A/C on my boat.

I tried the Tee idea on my old boat and it works but still more work than back flushing. My R27OB has a strainer dedicated to the A/C so back flushing is easy. The second strainer on my R27OB feeds the generator, head and raw water so it is easier to just pour antifreeze in or use my 7 gallon bucket that I added a boiler drain with 1/4 turn valve to and let gravity do the job. Can't back flush the head or generator it would end poorly.

 

[knotflying]

I have always back flushed the AC via the water exit thru-hull. I used a handpump available on line from camper world. You will need to use a 1 inch plastic hose that should fit into the thru hull and then create a fitting to connect it to the pump. Open your sea cock and then pump until the antifreeze exits the pickup strainer. under the hull.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

I guess it's cold enough not to require water to cool it.

Any ideas? Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks!

Note that the water pump is ALWAYS running when the A/C is running. If you don’t have water coming out the through hole in a strong stream, you have a problem.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[ftornabe]

I put the heat on and that worked. I poured two gallons of antifreeze into the strainer. I was by myself so I couldn't see it come out but it drank two gallons worth so I should be good.

I'm surprised they don't put a "T" fitting to make the winterize easier.

 

[rpmerrill]

In order to get the pump to prime and suck the A/F from the strainer, I built a standpipe.
About 18 inches of ~1-1/2 inch pvc and a soft rubber coupling that fits the top of the strainer body. (with the help of a clamp.

Remove the strainer cover (clean the strainer while you're at it), attach the stand pipe, turn on the A/C and pour in the A/F.
With the tall standpipe, it is easier to pour without spilling a lot of A/F all over the place. But, even if you do.... remember the bilge pump needs to be winterized too.

 

[ftornabe]

Yeah,thats a good idea. I was thinking of doing something like that.

 

[Craigmconrad]

Just a note. I just back flushed through the exit thru hull for the AC unit. It took 15 minutes using a $20 hand pump connected to a gal bottle of antifreeze. Within 3/4 of a gal, antifreeze was exiting through the thru hull. I collected the antifreeze after running 3 gal through and used it to pump through the bilges. Very simple and was affective. The pump I used was manufactured by Camco.

 

[Rangas]

I liked the back flush idea but didn't have a pump so I poured antifreeze into the strainer and used a shop vac at the exit thru hull to suck it through the system. It worked great.
Randy