Winterizing with antifreeze or windshield washer?

chad_dorr

New member
It still gets below freezing some night up here in the northeast and I was wondering on your guys take on using antifreeze to winterize your machine or the cheapest way with windshield washer fluid now that it does not get that cold. Does windshield washer affect your machine different that antifreeze? Would like to here your guys opinion. Thanks.
 
I would be a little leery about the alcohol and ammonia in window fluid. It may not be good for the seals. If it is not too cold you could mix 2:1 AF or even 3:1, gets it pretty cheap that way. Only takes a quart or so to fill a pump and intake line.
 
The master Bob Williamson told me not to use windshield washer fluid as it will swell the seals. Just use the pink rv type antifreeze. I set mine up to blow it all back out and let me reclaim the antifreeze. 1st I blow out all the water i can, then pump the antifreeze, and blow it back into my antifreeze container.
 
The master Bob Williamson told me not to use windshield washer fluid as it will swell the seals. Just use the pink rv type antifreeze. I set mine up to blow it all back out and let me reclaim the antifreeze. 1st I blow out all the water i can, then pump the antifreeze, and blow it back into my antifreeze container.

Howdo you have this setup? Is it pretty simple to do?
 
I use the RV stuff too. I first blow out all the hose reels with compressed air. Then add 4 gal in the float tank and run a whip line with a ball valve from the pump back to the tank. Start each washer then shut off the ball valve and run it through the bypass line of each of two washers then kill it. I use it on our roof unit too. 2 gals in the tank and you can see it run through the clear line to the tip. If its just getting down high 20's for a few hours like it did Sunday night I place a drop light under each pump and cover with a piece of insulated concrete blanket.

There are some good air valve setups guys use on here if you search. I'm gonna look into those in the fall to get away from all the RV antifreeze.
 
I?'ll try to get some pics of mine up tomorrow. I still use the antifreeze even with the air stem blowout just to be be dang sure there's no pocket of water in my pump or somewhere to burst or crack something. I sleep a lot better on those cold nights.
 
Appreciate the input. Def. would rather prevent a problem before it happens. I will be glad when the warmer weather is finally here.
 
The master Bob Williamson told me not to use windshield washer fluid as it will swell the seals. Just use the pink rv type antifreeze. I set mine up to blow it all back out and let me reclaim the antifreeze. 1st I blow out all the water i can, then pump the antifreeze, and blow it back into my antifreeze container.

Did not suspect it would affect the seals. Thanks.

Did it a couple times on my cold water units.
 
I'm using an air valve and blowing out the water...But it's tedious with a 12 volt compressor. Building a trailer right now and wanted to use a better compressor (gas?). Anyone else doing this? What size compressor are you using?
 
We use windshield washer antifreeze for 24 years without a freeze up or seal issues. I've got pumps with 8000 plus hrs on them. Pull the suction hose out of water tank.....start machine......squeeze trigger until the water comes out blue.....done. Reverse the process back into the antifreeze pail. We stop and release the gun to make sure the bypass gets done properly kinda mid way through the process.
 
We get free used car anti freeze from our local machanic. Works great! Oh did I say its free. They will be happy to give it to you because they pay to have it taken away.
 
I'm using a 3 way valve. Shut off water supply, and hook up air compressor to other inlet and blow water out of the system. Just used a bicycle pump tonight and it took me 30 seconds. I never thought that would work so well.
 
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