Forum Discussion

dieharder's avatar
dieharder
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013

First time blowing out lines - mist?

Hi all,

This is my first time blowing out lines. I usually use the pink stuff, but my water pump appears to be fried.

I know this probably sounds silly to those who are experienced blowing out instead of using antifreeze, but I spent an hour and a half doing this last evening. For the last while, I was still getting a fine mist coming out.

Do I still need to keep at this until there is no mist coming out at all? Is that indicative of more water in there somewhere, or just residue?

I was using 50lbs of pressure. Should I have been using more?

Thanks for any input.
  • Drain the water tank
    Drain the water heater, turn the valves to BYPASS
    Use 50psi,open one valve at a time
    When done leave the drain valves open
    Turn the water pump ON for just 2 seconds
    That should do it.
    Siggy
  • 50 PSI is fine, I just go until there's very little mist and leave it at that. As long as the line isn't full of water it's not going to hurt it if a few drops here and there freeze.
  • I set my regulator at 40-45psi.
    I will get a mist from the faucets, toilet, and low points. In my opinion it is just droplets.

    I start by opening the low points to get the majority of the water, then work my way uphill (toilet, sink faucets, then shower), then hit the low point for any water that might have worked its way down. This takes 15min max for me, the longest part is laying under the trailer and pulling the threaded caps on the low point.
  • dieharder wrote:
    I was using 50lbs of pressure. Should I have been using more?
    Probably not.
  • Thanks all. I wasn't sure if I had to make sure there was absolutely no moisture coming out of there at all. Sounds like I could have been done an awful lot sooner.
  • Mist is fine - just make sure that the toilet valve (prone to freezing) is clear of water.
  • I agree that the mist is ok. The only lines you can't blow out are the intake to the water pump and the line that connects the water pump to your plumbing. I would take the opportunity to replace the water pump now and run at least enough pink stuff to fill the pump and its lines.
  • The piping used today. Is less likely to freeze and rupture. Compared to the days of copper tubing that was used. Even than any moister inside the tubing would freeze and split the tubing.