I have a three or four gallon a/c on a tank, and now wonder about blowing air out of the lines.
Should I connect to the antifreeze line that sucks up antifreeze if used that way, then run the pump dry and open all the various lines to see if water comes out?
We are very borderline here, and can have many days above freezing, then a few well below, so putting the pink in, then getting it out might be less of a hazzle if I can do it properly.
Those that do it this way, anything to really watch out for. How do you route in the compressed air? Do you reduce the air pressure on the input tank? any thing else?
thanks, Mike
Mike and Carole
2006 Triple E Regency 27 foot SXL
2005 16.6 Double Eagle
2000 F350 7.3 SC 4X4
previously 8'10" Snowbird Camper
I see Campbell River is your home. I will be there next weekend, over Halloween. There is a homeshow in your town. Come see me and say hi to a fellow RV.Net member!
2007 GMC 3500 dually ext. cab 4X4 LBZ
Duramax / Allison Fire Red
Use your water inlet to blow your lines. Keep pressure down to 35-40 lbs. Be sure you have a least one faucet open when you turn on the air. I would not go through the anti freeze suction hose, it may damage the water pump. Be sure you get most of the water out of the system if you are not going to use the Pink stuff.
don't know if i would use compressed air myself. would just buy a little 12 volt air pump and buy the appropriate fitting for $1.22 to blow into the fresh water fill.
bumpy
Given that theres so much variation in systems, don't take any one answer from here.
I turn my air pressure down to 40 PSI to match what the water regulators do.
Also, I have found that my favorite place to attach the air is the hot-water low point drain. Becuase hot water lines exit the TOP of the water heater, this will very thoroughly drain the hot water heater.
When I ran the air via the normal water inlet, there was never ending gurgling which concerned me that I had some big slugs of water left.
(Yes, I did pull the drain plug on the heater- and still do- but it seems like I am getting the lines more thoroughly emptied by this route. Also, I still give a quick blow on the normal water inlet. My trailer's water tank & pump is inaccessable so the winterize kids, pink uptake line, etc do not apply. They sound slick though)
After opening water heater drain, low point drains, shutting off the water valve to the water heater, I use about 40 PSI thru the water intake from my air compressor. Start with kitchen sick spigot open and keep working back towards the input. Been working for me past 3 years
Lee
2004.5 Dodge 3500 DRW QC, 4x4 LB, CTD 600 ,auto,4.10 , Prodigy, 05 Cedar Creek 36 RLTS w/ lots of bells & whistles .Honda 3000 genset. Mrs Greentow & Missy, Shih Tzu with an attitude. USA(R). 30+ years in the Fire/EMS service. CCRVC #29, GS Life member
Thanks for the many replies... I have a compressor that I can vary the output regulator, so the PSI in won't be a concern..
Bumpyroad... what is the fitting... that sounds interesting. Is it something that will adapt the 1 1/4 inch water pipe cap down to something I can put the air nozzle from my compressor into?
Do I run the water pump while I am doing this? Or will the air pressure just push the water in the pump out?
I think I would start with the hot water line to the outside shower. That would take air from the inlet, all the way forward to the other side, then back on the hot water side...with the tank drained and in bypass.
I think this winter I will put in the antifreeze, then I will use my air compressor to blow it out and see how well of a job it does before I flush it with water.
Don't run the water pump while using the air compressor.
Make up a fitting from an old garden hose and male air compressor fitting. Use a hose clamp to seal it.
Open the farthest tap from the water inlet first.
When all the lines appear to be clear, then open the drain on the hot water heater, and let it drain.
After all the lines are clear, turn off the compressor, then turn the valves for the hot water by pass.
Get a hose to fit the supply side of the water pump. Connect it and pump pink anti freeze into the lines.
Use ordinary windshield washer anti freeze in the various traps.
Artum Snowbird wrote: Thanks for the many replies... I have a compressor that I can vary the output regulator, so the PSI in won't be a concern..
Bumpyroad... what is the fitting... that sounds interesting. Is it something that will adapt the 1 1/4 inch water pipe cap down to something I can put the air nozzle from my compressor into?
Do I run the water pump while I am doing this? Or will the air pressure just push the water in the pump out?
I think I would start with the hot water line to the outside shower. That would take air from the inlet, all the way forward to the other side, then back on the hot water side...with the tank drained and in bypass.
I think this winter I will put in the antifreeze, then I will use my air compressor to blow it out and see how well of a job it does before I flush it with water.
regards, Mike
Regards, Don
Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts solar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries 5000 watt inverter.
Go to a camping store or even walmart and purchase an adapter that has an end to screw on to your city water outlet and the other is just like your tire valve. You hook your compressor to it and follow the step by step described above by Greentow. I did that for the first time this year. It worked great. I was surprised how much water pushed through. Then when I used the pink stuff I used about half of what had been normal and still probably used a bit more than needed. I also put the drain plug in when doing the pink and blowing just to see in the basin how much water from air and then to be sure it was pink as I was doing it alone. I will always use compressed air from now on as it was easy and made the rest easy. My first step is always to drain the hot water tank, flip bypass, low point drains and then compressed air and finally anti-freeze. Don't forget the toilet. I come close to forgetting every year and then remember at last minute as I add some anti freeze to stool to act as a water filter.
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