Hey group, as a new cruiser owner (2008, 2565) not sure what I should do to winterize the vacuflush head and other components? Also any other suggestions on the internal workings before winter. It looks like she will be stored in a dry climate controlled building (Maybe)...
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
VacuFlush Winterzation
- Thread starter borst
- Start date
I have a 2660/2765 with vacuflush. For winterizing the freshwater and waste system I do the following:
- End of season waste pump-out. Make sure they rinse and re-pump out a few times to get the waste tank as clean as possible.
- Drain freshwater tank as mush as possible.
- Bypass hot water heater and drain that seperately with the tap on the side of the heater. The water connections are push fit so they can be disconnected and bypassed relatively easily once you know how to push/pull the connections in the right way. West Marine sells the 15mm pipe used on my Regal. I bought a small length for the temporary bypass.
- I have a city water hookup too. I have an adaptor to connect my air compressor to the city water hookup (no higher than 40psi). I blow out all the freshwater lines including the toilet by opening each tap and flushing the toilet while the compressor pumps air in the city water hookup. This minimises dilution of the non-toxic pink antifreeze used in the next steps and is yet another re-assurance that all of the water will be gone from the system for the winter.
- I then disconnect the freshwater pump from the tank and use a short hose connected to the tank side of the freshwater pump and drop that into a gallon of pink non-toxic antifreeze.
- I turn on the freshwater pump breaker and use each tap including the vacuflush until I see undiluted pink antifreeze coming out. I switch out the bottle of antifreeze feeding the pump if needed. I let all of the taps and the vacuflush run for a bit to ensure the sump and vacuflush are thoroughly flushed of fresh water. Look for a strong pink color being pumped through the overboard through-hull from the freshwater sump pump.
- It's impossible to empty both the waste and fresh water tanks completely. I've never had a problem with the small amount that's left.
- When you're done, leave a small amount of pink antifreeze in the bowl of the vacuflush. This will prevent the seal from drying out. I leave the vacuflush with no vacuum for the winter so there is no stress on the vacuum seals.
- End of season waste pump-out. Make sure they rinse and re-pump out a few times to get the waste tank as clean as possible.
- Drain freshwater tank as mush as possible.
- Bypass hot water heater and drain that seperately with the tap on the side of the heater. The water connections are push fit so they can be disconnected and bypassed relatively easily once you know how to push/pull the connections in the right way. West Marine sells the 15mm pipe used on my Regal. I bought a small length for the temporary bypass.
- I have a city water hookup too. I have an adaptor to connect my air compressor to the city water hookup (no higher than 40psi). I blow out all the freshwater lines including the toilet by opening each tap and flushing the toilet while the compressor pumps air in the city water hookup. This minimises dilution of the non-toxic pink antifreeze used in the next steps and is yet another re-assurance that all of the water will be gone from the system for the winter.
- I then disconnect the freshwater pump from the tank and use a short hose connected to the tank side of the freshwater pump and drop that into a gallon of pink non-toxic antifreeze.
- I turn on the freshwater pump breaker and use each tap including the vacuflush until I see undiluted pink antifreeze coming out. I switch out the bottle of antifreeze feeding the pump if needed. I let all of the taps and the vacuflush run for a bit to ensure the sump and vacuflush are thoroughly flushed of fresh water. Look for a strong pink color being pumped through the overboard through-hull from the freshwater sump pump.
- It's impossible to empty both the waste and fresh water tanks completely. I've never had a problem with the small amount that's left.
- When you're done, leave a small amount of pink antifreeze in the bowl of the vacuflush. This will prevent the seal from drying out. I leave the vacuflush with no vacuum for the winter so there is no stress on the vacuum seals.
Jskes, thanks, I am going to let the dealer do most of the winterzation. I will however leave some pink in the vacuflush head to keep the seals from drying. Also what are your thoughts on the center bilge pump? It is very hard if impossible to get all of the water out of this area? When I leave the boat during the week I will make sure to get all of the vacum out of the toilet.
quote:
Originally posted by borst
When I leave the boat during the week I will make sure to get all of the vacum out of the toilet.
I've never heard of a need for this. Never done it on our boat either.
rommer,
It's not something I've read anywhere, but being an engineer it just seems like a good idea to me that if the boat is going to sit for 6 months unused it would be best if the valves, seals etc were not stressed under a vacuum. The vacuum might bleed away naturally over 6 months, but I know my system holds a vacuum for a long time (never heard the vac pump turn on other than when I flush).
I simply have the vacuum pump breaker off for the last flush of pink antifreeze.
It's not something I've read anywhere, but being an engineer it just seems like a good idea to me that if the boat is going to sit for 6 months unused it would be best if the valves, seals etc were not stressed under a vacuum. The vacuum might bleed away naturally over 6 months, but I know my system holds a vacuum for a long time (never heard the vac pump turn on other than when I flush).
I simply have the vacuum pump breaker off for the last flush of pink antifreeze.
borst,
The only time I've had water around my center bilge pump was when my shower/sink sump float switch failed and water overflowed out of the sump box.
When that happened I sucked the water out with a small shop-vac.
Otherwise this area is dry on my boat.
If you mean the shower/kitchen sink sump/pump, that sump/pump is effectively winterized as I run the taps, shower with the non-tox antifreeze. I run them not only until they run a deep pink but also until my overboard sump/pump through-hull output runs deep pink. I collect this in a bucket by the way. Even though it's "non-toxic" I don't let it dump into the lake.
The only time I've had water around my center bilge pump was when my shower/sink sump float switch failed and water overflowed out of the sump box.
When that happened I sucked the water out with a small shop-vac.
Otherwise this area is dry on my boat.
If you mean the shower/kitchen sink sump/pump, that sump/pump is effectively winterized as I run the taps, shower with the non-tox antifreeze. I run them not only until they run a deep pink but also until my overboard sump/pump through-hull output runs deep pink. I collect this in a bucket by the way. Even though it's "non-toxic" I don't let it dump into the lake.
quote:
Originally posted by jsykes
rommer,
It's not something I've read anywhere, but being an engineer it just seems like a good idea to me that if the boat is going to sit for 6 months unused it would be best if the valves, seals etc were not stressed under a vacuum. The vacuum might bleed away naturally over 6 months, but I know my system holds a vacuum for a long time (never heard the vac pump turn on other than when I flush).
I simply have the vacuum pump breaker off for the last flush of pink antifreeze.
He/she is talking about doing it during the week. I think that would be an unneeded extra bit of work with no real benefit. I'm not saying not to do it, just seems unnecessary to me.
Thanks all for the info and help. Looks like I will discharge the vacum out of my system for the winter. I will not worry about this step during the week. Also thanks for the help on the center kitchen and bath bilge. The pink stuff will also be placed in here for winteraztion. Looks like I may have a heated storage spot this winter (-::::::