Hot Water Winterization

[Legend]

Does anyone have tips on the winterizing the hot water system. I know it take a lot of water to flush the system clean in the spring do you need 5 or 6 gallons of non toxic antifreeze to get hot the water out of the hot water tank?

 

[Lainie J]

Hot water

I drain the tank with the valve on the side of the unit. That doesnt get all the water out but enough where if it freezes the ice would rise. I override the hot water by taking off the hose clamp on the unit and connected it to the cold so if loops and bypasses the hot water heater. I then just add anitfreeze to the holding tank and turn on the pump until red comes out of all faucets including the hot side that is now bypassed. I do not add anything to the hot water tank itself. I have done it this way on my 272 and on my current Marlin for years and no issues. Inthe spring I flush the tank out sevral times then reconnect the hot water hose to the tank and i am ready to go. My cuurent water heater is 12 years old and still works great.

 

[sluggoe]

have a 2002 sailfish:

there is another post going on currently discussing it under Baitwell and S/W Washdown;

anyway, dealer told me first get all the water out by running the pumps until dry; then put 6 gallons of pink into the 32 gallon tank, turn on cold water until pink; then turn on hot water until it comes out the faucets.

i assume that when u turn on the hot water at the faucets, the hot water tank will fill part way and then eventually come out the hot water side of the faucet;

seems that others bypass the hot water tank.

--slugg

 

[BobP]

The hot water heater will always be full if water comes out the HW faucet, so when the pump runs the FW tank dry, the heater is still 6 gals filled. When you add 6 gals of non-toxic safe antiifreeze in the FW tank and turn on the HW faucet, the antifreeze enters the heater behind the untreated water and mixes eventually you will see the water turn color at the faucet and get darker red the longer the pump runs with faucet open. The heater will always have 6 galls as long as water comes out the faucet.

Alternately, draining the heater out the drain valve on the bottom saves using all that antifreeze.

 

[BobP]

Speaking of safe antifreeze, ACE hardware is selling it for 2 bucks a gallon after 1 buck mail in rebate rebate.

 

[ElyseM]

as others have said, run the system down then drain the water heater. then go thru the process noted. i bought 15 gallons for the fresh water and head system. that should do me.

fyi, i specifically asked about installing a bypass on the water heater and gw (jeff) said they DO NOT recommend bypass. interesting.
ron

 

[sluggoe]

sorry, to make sure i understand:

so.... if i drain all the existing water from the 32 gal water tank and 6 gal water heater tank and then first pump the 6 gals of pink thru the cold systems (i.e. faucets, shower, deck wash, windshield washer) and then turn on the hot water at the faucet, the hot water tank will fill up with pink stuff with whatever pink remains in the 32 gal tank.....aprrox 4 gals or so, correct?

is 6 gals of pink enough or should it be more?

thanks.

 

[Hookup1]

Winterizing Hot Water Tank

It's not that complicated. The hot water tank fills from the bottom. Hot water floats and exit at the top.

The best way to winterize is to make a bypass hose. Remove connectors, let the tank drain, install the bypass. Pump the pink stuff out all faucets.

If you don't do it this way you need to put a lot of pink stuff in to fill the water heater and deal with the dilution.

 

[sluggoe]

ok will try the bypass hose way.

--slugg.