Low point drain 178 - Event Date: 10 Nov 2013 - 30 Nov 2013

Being neurotic about freezing up the Pod I blow the system out then pump the pink stuff.  I want to be sure that no water is standing anywhere to freeze.  I know folks that blow out the system and don't use the pink stuff and have no problems, and those who pump the pink stuff through and don't blow out the water first and have no problems.

I have never opened the low point drains other than the one on the water tank.  The air and the pink stuff takes care of the low points in the lines for me.

I am with Keith N Dar, I use a blow out plug to clean the pressure water inlet but then I go under the sink, switch the valve on the water pump and pump the pink r.v. antifreeze through the system. this is after you take out the anode rod on the water heater, replace or retape it and switch the bypass valves on the water heater. It only takes about 30 to 50 minutes to winterize the system and it sure beats making expensive plumbing repairs. sleep tight little pod. spring is around the corner.

Originally posted by Tars Tarkas Originally posted by Keith-N-Dar I have never opened the low point drains other than the one on the water tank.  The air and the pink stuff takes care of the low points in the lines for me. Undiluted RV antifreeze is supposed to protect pipes to minus 50.  I don't know how well it mixes in the bottom of a still pipe.  Probably well enough.  But due to their location and purpose, the low point drains are probably the most susceptible to freeze damage of any thing on the pod. If the drains do burst they'd be cheap to fix.  Maybe a little trouble, dealing with insulation.  How do you flush the antifreeze without opening the low point drains though?TT

When I am done with the air there is no water in the system, so the pink stuff is pure in the lines. In spring I fill up the tank and start the pump, then run the water in each location until they run clear. Pink stuff gone.

I'm going with the Wisconsin folks! That's like close to the arctic circle. They know cold!

Originally posted by Keith-N-Dar When I am done with the air there is no water in the system, so the pink stuff is pure in the lines. In spring I fill up the tank and start the pump, then run the water in each location until they run clear. Pink stuff gone.

You might be surprised if you were to open the low point drains after you blow out the lines and before you put any antifreeze in.  Not saying your method doesn't work.  Obviously it does.  Probably mostly due to diluted antifreeze and the Pex tubing, or whatever it is the pipes are made of, that tolerates at least some freezing without bursting.  The drains are like appendixes though; water doesn't circulate in them and you can't blow them out without opening them. 

For what it's worth, the caps on my drains are only hand-tight.  No tools needed to open or close them.

TT