Winterizing and low point drains

hcs1947 wrote:
How exactly do you blow out the system with air? Do you use a compressor, shop vac, or what? And what kind of connection do you use, and where? This will be our first year to winterize and more specific info is appreciated.

go to wal mart and get a fitting for $3.27. that has the male hose thread on one end and a valve stem on the other end. use low pressure air compressor.
bumpy

How exactly do you blow out the system with air? Do you use a compressor, shop vac, or what? And what kind of connection do you use, and where? This will be our first year to winterize and more specific info is appreciated.

thanks everyone.

BB_TX wrote:
I also open my low point drains until I see pink stuff.

yep, me too.
bumpy

I don't use antifreeze - just air. First I open the low point drains and the water heater drain (and the pressure relief valve) and open every faucet (including the toilet valve) and let everything drain. Then I turn on the water pump for a bit to empty it of water - leaving everything open. Then I shut everything off including the low point drains and blow the lines out with air opening one faucet/valve at a time starting with the furthest away and finally doing the low point drains one at a time.

Then I must not forget to take the gauge off the built in water regulator or it will not work next year and I'll have to get a new one.

Then I put the antifreeze in the drains and toilet.

Don't think I've forgotten anything. This has worked for me for many a year.

Opening low point drains may not drain your HWH unless you release the pressure relief valve. Probably best to pull the drain plug then you get the water out and much of the sludge and can check your anode rod if you have one.

They are a low point drain if your unit is level and they were installed correctly.I merely think they will drain until the level of liquid is too low to drain out off them.I open them up last and catch the pink,after I open and leave open all the taps hoping to prevent an air block.Must work as I have never had a freeze up----yet.

I also open my low point drains until I see pink stuff.

Once my lines are filled with antifreeze, THEN I open the LP drains until pink comes out.

I open the low points and let them drain, then put the caps back on, then I go ahead and "load" the pink stuff and do each faucet, hot and cold. While the pump still has pressure, and usually last, I crack the low point drains until they start leaking and spewing the pink stuff. If there is any water and usually there is very little water anyway, it will get spewed out. I then tighten the end caps and ... done!