[C320-list] Hot Water Bypass

[Tony Kalish]

Hi Rick:

After I blow out the hot water heater I leave the hot water faucets open
during winter storage.  I figure that if there is any water left in the hot
water heater and it freezes, by leaving a faucet open there is no pressure
build-up.  It's not so much that the water freezes and expands--it's when it
freezes and can't expand that the damage occurs.  We live in Maryland, near
Baltimore so we get some cold weather--nothing like Upstate New York--but
still some single digits temps.  (knock on wood) I haven't had any problems.

Tony
Getting Away 617

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Rick Sulewski
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 12:51 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Hot Water Bypass

Hi Tony,

How do you get that last half gallon or more out of the water heater?

Do you have severe freezes where you store your boat?

Thanks

Rick
My-Ria 277

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Tony Kalish
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 5:46 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Hot Water Bypass

I made up an air hose adapter that I screw into the water line at the water
pump outlet (after disconnecting from pump).  I then blow compressed air
through the system--blow out each cold and hot water faucet--galley, head,
stern shower.  I have a short piece of hose and connect to drain of hot
water heater and drain heater into a bucket (5+ gal of water-so be prepared
to shut off drain when bucket is full).  I should have mentioned that I
first run water pumps to drain both water tanks.  After everything is empty,
I add a cheap bottle of vodka to each water tank and know that it will mix
with any residual water and prevent freezing.  I leave all faucets partially
open for winter to allow for expansion, just in case there's a problem.  I
find the pressure blow of the hot water tank helps flush out any lime
deposits and general chemical crud that develops in all hot water heaters.
Never had a proble and the water system is always "sweet" when we relaunch
in spring.

Tony

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Irving Grunes
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 11:54 AM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Hot Water Bypass

Jeff
Would like the details of the process you follow.
I can understand that the vac will suck the water out of the pipes and pump.

Will the water tank vents allow enough air to enter the system to pull the
water out or do you have to remove the water tank inspection covers.

I'm trying to visualise exactly what you do and it isn't clear to me.

I assume that first you use the boat pressure pump to drain the tanks by
opening all the faucets both hot and cold.

Then how and where do you attach the shop vac to the system?

What faucets are open at the time?

How do you vac out the hot water heater?.
Where and how do you attach the vac?
Our hot water tank has never been drained as far as I know and the hot water
has an odd smell as though the antifreeze has been cooked by the tank heater

We always bring the boat to the yard and pay them to use antifreeze to
winterise the boat.

Looking forward to your reply.

Irv Grunes
2001 #851








n Fri, Jun 13, 2008 at 11:10 AM, Jeff Hare <catalina at thehares.com> wrote:

>
> I don't bother with antifreeze for the fresh water system.   I hook up a
> shop vac, open the faucets and drain the system.  I also empty out the hot
> water tank with shop vac.  Takes me 20 minutes start to finish.  No water
> taste issues out of either the hot or cold water anymore.
>
> We're pretty much on the NH/Maine border, so it gets pretty cold in the
> winter.
>
> -Jeff
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of
> BAdams3491 at aol.com
> Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 3:40 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Hot Water Bypass
>
> For winterization...if you don't bypass the hot water heater, when you
pump
>
> antifreeze through the system, it fills the water heater with anti  freeze
> before going through any other lines.
>
> Bert
> At Ease
> #442
>
>