Winterizing Aid

[Steve L.]

Latest mod on Castle Pretentious:

Originally, I poured a gallon or two of RV antifreeze into the freshwater tank and pumped it through the system, bypassing the hot water heater. However, in the spring, the multiple flushing of the tank was a bit of a hassle.

The last couple years I just blew air through the system from the city water connection. It’s worked but it doesn’t drain the hoses upstream of the one way valve on the water pump. I’ve worried about cracking the water filter or possibly damaging some part of the water pump.

I decided to plumb in a valve set up that allows me to pump RV antifreeze into the system, through the water filter and pump, and out into the faucets. The picture shows the set up in its normal configuration. The water filter is to the right of the valves.





To pump the antifreeze, close the lower valve, open the upper valve, fit one end of a plastic hose on the intake and the other into the RV antifreeze bottle and run the water pump opening a faucet at a time.

I cut a generous access hole, covered it with aluminum diamond plate and reinstalled the kick panel. I have threaded steel inserts imbedded into the particle board to screw the plate to.

The valve arrangement is plumbed in PEX tubing to get some stiffness to make turning the valves easier. I also expected PEX there but found 1/2 in. ID vinyl tubing instead.

The tubing to the left, back towards the water tank is still somewhat at risk but I can live with it.

All in all, not a critical modification. Just a minor refinement to make things easier in the fall.

[Bill K]

What I do on my boat, ( don't have trailer yet ) is unhook inlet line at the pump and put a hose on there and into the bottle of RV antifreeze.

Then I just blow the line back to the tank with compressed air.

Just make sure that there isn't a check valve in the line from the tank to the pump.

Bill K