AC Winterize Direction

Just winterized my AC yesterday as it was my last thing to do before the freeze coming. I opened the seacock, emptied the strainer with a shop vac, blew air through the system with the same shop vac from the through hull fitting on the side of the boat, then i took 2 gallons in a bucket, and used a drill powered pump to push through the discharge fitting backwards through the system and out the bottom until it was flowing plenty of pink. Closed the seacock. Done
 
Sicktght311 said:
Just winterized my AC yesterday as it was my last thing to do before the freeze coming. I opened the seacock, emptied the strainer with a shop vac, blew air through the system with the same shop vac from the through hull fitting on the side of the boat, then i took 2 gallons in a bucket, and used a drill powered pump to push through the discharge fitting backwards through the system and out the bottom until it was flowing plenty of pink. Closed the seacock. Done
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Same. I only have a single AC and even with the strainer empty, it only takes a half gallon before pink comes out the stern but I ran the full gallon.

Not sure about other boats but the inside diameter of my thru hull at the bow is 3/8" tops so I had to use the small tube on the drill pump, and seal around it (paper towel works) in order for it to push through.
 
Phil S said:
Same. I only have a single AC and even with the strainer empty, it only takes a half gallon before pink comes out the stern but I ran the full gallon.

Not sure about other boats but the inside diameter of my thru hull at the bow is 3/8" tops so I had to use the small tube on the drill pump, and seal around it (paper towel works) in order for it to push through.
Click to expand...

I purchased a small rubber reducer i found in the plumbing section, put one end over the outside of a standard garden hose, hose clamp, and then the other side fits flush against the hole for the AC outlet, so i just jammed it against the hull and created a seal as best i could. After a second i was able to get it flowing no problem with my drill on low speed. high speed and there was entirely too much pressure
 
Great thread. Thanks everyone.

I used an air compressor this year for the first time to blow out the fresh water lines. Was feeling really good until I read here about still bypassing the HW tank which I did not do. Will this be a problem?
I drained the tank and not worried about a little water at the bottom. Read that freezing water will not cause a problem as long as it has plenty of room vertically to expand.
Thoughts and suggestions?
 
I have 3 AC units but cooling water only flows out through 2 through hulls. It runs out of both no matter what unit I am running. I think the aft and salon units flow out the port side. Forward unit out the starboard bow side. Have always filled A/F through the strainer but its a pain as the pump has trouble staying primed. Pushing in reverse seems a better option.

If I force pink (or air) from the output fittings, how can I be sure it runs through both aft and salon units since the pressure might just flow through one and not the other on its way back to the strainer?
 
I have one pump feeding 2 units out of 2 through hulls.

I used an expansion outside plug to divert the AF through one unit at a time.
 
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