When do you start antifreezing?

CCC

CCC

New member
Hit 37 degrees last night. Are you guys waiting 'til actual freezing is forecast? Is there any margin to either side of freezing where you should start pumping antifreeze, or just the 32 degree bench mark?
 
We are going down to 15 degrees tonight. First night I have put anti-freeze in this year. I keep my rig in an enclosed building so if it is not too far below freezing I just put a light over the pump. I do have jobs to do all year round so anti-freeze goes in when needed. As long as it stays above freezing here during the day I don't worry about it too much.
 
When it starts hitting 32 regular as a low. I hit my roof pump and hose with 2-gal RV antifreeze for the winter season. Takes another 2 gal for my combo pump with fleet degreaser and brightener for the winter. Then I hit the PW's float tank with 3 gals. Run both PW with a whip line and ball valve back to the tank. Let the unloaders kick in for each and kill them. I have snap connectors for air chuck for the pressure lines and one for the supply line. I will only use the PW's and heat until spring. Winterize every night after use. Pain in the butt. But life in the north.
 
I winterize below 32 degrees. I used to use the RV antifreeze but have been using windsheld washer fluid and it's been good to me for the past 2 years it's alot cheaper and does the same thing.
 
Russ Spence said:
It was 26 here last night in Alabama

I use coil blow out valves that go into the side of the head of the pump, with a small air tank or air compressor you can blow out all the water in your sysyem and hoses
Click to expand...

Are these blow-out valves something you have added or are you talking about the stock blow-off valve that lets water out if the burner/water gets too hot
 
We have dropped down to the 60's down here at night, should i be concerned?
 
I wrap up the back of my trailer in tarps and put a heater w/ a thermastat nder it. It keeps it warm enough not to freeze, sometimes my garden hose will freeze so I'll steam it in the morning and run the machine w/a little heat on to the first job to keep things moving.
 
Thanks Richard,

That makes me wonder if some concrete blankets would be insulated enough to work in my relatively mild winter.

Hope you had a good drive back to NC!
 
I said it before and I'll say it again, I'll never make that drive again. I've done it about 12 times and am sick of it. Thank though!!!!
Concrete blankets,Sure give them a try.
A little trick I use when the weather doesnt get above freezing or when I leave real early in the AM when the temps are low is hook my HP hose to my feed hose and turn on the heat to about 100. That way while I drive I have hot water running through all my lines into my tank and when I pull up to work everythings nice and toasty for my hands.
 
I was going to post a tread on this but I see someone beat me too it. Here is what I do and I'm sure it is just like what Russ does. I went down and Got a Ball Valve, Drilled a Hole in it and Tapped it out so an Air Valve fitting would screw down in it and then I just add a little air and no more messing with Anti Freeze, I hate that stuff LOL and this is real easy to do and works great, and clears my lines and guns too. heres a PIC of it.






 
We do not put antifreeze in our pumps.

We have 16000 Btu Lp heaters in the back of our trucks.

When in our shop we use electric heaters.

Dave Olson
 

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Well just a Air Valve that Screws in will do, it does not take much air pressure to clear the lines and coil and Pump out, I put my ball Valve in-line just as it comes out of the Water Tank, just turn the Ball Valve off so no more water comes through it and put a little air in the line and it clears it right out. The Total Cost about 10 or 15 bucks from Home Depot :D and it sure is better then messing with Anti Freeze, I hate messing with that stuff.
 
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