[C320-list] Winterizing the Air Conditioner

[Rick Sulewski]

I have to respond because the winterization process I was directed to use by
my AC installer takes all of about 10 minutes,  is completed while the boat
is on the hard and the only tools involved are a screw driver and a funnel:
1st step - simply disconnect the AC water flow exit hose from the above the
water  thru-hull and blow air into that exit hose to reverse the existing AC
water that will then exit from the AC water intake (being sure the seacock
is open).  No need to use anything other than bringing the hose to your
mouth, being careful naturally to NOT INHALE thru the hose and listen for
the water to clear the intake thru-hull, or when there is no longer
pressure; 2nd Step - remove the water from the AC filter/strainer; 3rd step:
pour antifreeze with a funnel into that same exit hose you just blew clear
until the top of the hose fills, and then proceed to blow air into that hose
to force antifreeze into the unit. Repeat until about a 1/3rd of a gallon of
antifreeze is used (in my case the AC/Heat unit is located in the port
locker). 4th step -reattach the exit hose and remove the antifreeze from the
filter/strainer.  I leave the AC seacock open when I launch and start up
the  AC/Heat immediately upon returning the dock and have never had an
issue, or even an airlock error message. 
Rick
My-Ria; 95 C320 Hull #277

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
Of Dean Vermeire
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2014 10:59 AM
To: Catalina 320 List
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Winterizing the Air Conditioner

I forgot to mention that I was winterizing with the boat in the water, in
case you are wondering why I didn't just open the thru-hull and blow out the
water.
Dean

On 11/10/2014 9:55 AM, Dean Vermeire wrote:
> If this information is already posted, I apologize for the repetitive 
> redundancy...
>
> I had some difficulty getting the MarineAir A/C to suck in antifreeze 
> from the seawater inlet hose.  I'm guessing that it needs the water 
> pressure it gets through the thru-hull.  None the less I found the 
> following steps to be very easy and effective. Keep in mind that I put 
> a new ball valve with a waste drain on the thru-hull.  I find it 
> difficult to remove the water inlet hose from the thru-hull or the 
> strainer without bloodying my hands. However, the hoses are very easy 
> to remove from the air conditioner unit, since the fittings are not 
> barbed.
>
> 1. Turn off the power to the air conditioner.
> 2. Close the thru-hull ball valve
> 3. Remove the drain plug from the strainer.  This will get quite a bit
>    of the water out of the system.
> 4. Disconnect the outlet (upper) hose from the air conditioner unit. 
>    This is under the starboard helm seat on our boat.
> 5. Blow out the water in the outlet (overboard) hose.  I use either a
>    shop vac or an inflator air pump.
> 6. Disconnect the inlet (lower) hose from the air conditioner unit.
> 7. Blow out the air conditioner from outlet (upper) fitting, or vacuum
>    out from the inlet (lower) fitting.  The water probably has already
>    drained out anyway.
> 8. Using the inlet hose at the air conditioner unit, blow any remaining
>    water through the hose, pump, and strainer.
> 9. Put the strainer drain plug back in.
> 10. Remove the waste drain cap from the water inlet ball valve on the
>    thru-hull.
> 11. Again using the inlet hose at the air conditioner unit, blow out any
>    remaining water.
> 12. Put the waste drain cap back on the ball valve.
> 13. Optionally, if you really want to use antifreeze, pour it in through
>    the inlet hose at the air conditioner unit.
> 14. Reconnect the hoses on the air conditioner unit.
>
> There you go.  Quick and easy.  No blood.
>
> Dean Vermeire
> Moonstruck II (#847)
>
>
>