winterising fresh water system

[wbridge]

as arcic weather rolls in again , i'm concerned to protect my fresh water system from freezing up and doing itself damage - particularly when the boat is ashore. I've tried running all the water out of everywhere , but last season still had a showerhead crack . I know not to use engine antifreeze (!) , and that non toxic antifreeze is available from caravan etc shops . But you need to introduce into an emptied tank quite a large volume of treated water if the pump is to prime and all the taps are to be run off - so you'd need a lot of the stuff! Any better/cheaper alternatives ? would a strongish salt solution work? Would saline damage any part of the system.....the pump or metal taps perhaps ? Or is there some other (cheap/highish volume)additive ?? with (chilly) thanks in anticipation! Will Bridge

 

[Searush]

Saline would damage any metallic parts - especially if there is a mix of metals anywhere.

It won't freeze & crack if drained. I suspect you forgot about the shower head last time - it will only drain if it is lowered or the tap is turned on.

I usually disconnect the main tank at the pump, but leave the tank & plastic feeder pipe with water in them. The feeder pipe is poly & will expand, the tank is so big it is unlikely to freeze solid. But this last week or three has been exceptional & I haven't even been able to get out to disconnect the pump - so I'm expecting some damage this year, even tho she has stayed in the (warmer) water.

 

[wilkinsonsails]

We had quite a lot of freeze damage last winter, with the boat in North Carolina.Locals told us it wouldnt freeze.
As a result of this we drained the tanks and all of the pumps,blasting thru with an air hose,also emptied the filters>The loos I did buy a couple of gallons of pink anti freeze stuff and flush that thru.The boats out of the water, so we may not get the problem this winter, I hope the preparations work.
Cindy

 

[PeterGibbs]

as arcic weather rolls in again , i'm concerned to protect my fresh water system from freezing up and doing itself damage - particularly when the boat is ashore. I've tried running all the water out of everywhere , but last season still had a showerhead crack . I know not to use engine antifreeze (!) , and that non toxic antifreeze is available from caravan etc shops . But you need to introduce into an emptied tank quite a large volume of treated water if the pump is to prime and all the taps are to be run off - so you'd need a lot of the stuff! Any better/cheaper alternatives ? would a strongish salt solution work? Would saline damage any part of the system.....the pump or metal taps perhaps ? Or is there some other (cheap/highish volume)additive ?? with (chilly) thanks in anticipation! Will Bridge

Assuming your pump system is capable of purging itself, when all the taps are left open,
and the leads into/out of the calorifier (usually the lowest part of the system) are loosened to drain out, the shower head disconnected to drain down etc etc you should have no need of any action. After all, if your system was professionally installed at build time, it should be designed to self-protect when emptied at winter time. A few drips of water along a plastic pipe will not expand so much as to damage your system, so absolute purging is not necessary.

On the other hand, putting any fluid in your system that could corrode or degrade connections / pump parts will certainly cause you hassle come spring.

PWG