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PodDude View Drop Down
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Joined: 13 Apr 2016
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Posts: 51 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Winterization Question - No antifreeze flow
    Posted: 25 Sep 2016 at 11:24am
Hello, winterizing for the first time.

I drained everything - fresh water, low point drains, hot water tank.
Sprayed out hot water tank for sediment.
Replaced all drain plugs.
Blew out entire system at 30 psi.

Now, I'm going to run antifreeze through system - 
Closed hot water tank in and out, opened siphon line and inserted into 1 gallon of antifreeze.
Turned on pump, it sucked up about half of it.
Now when I open the valves on the kitchen sink, it is just a really tiny trickle of antifreeze, I was expecting it to flow like typical water and shut it off real quick.  The shower faucets and toilets flow well like I would expect.  Did I do something wrong?
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Tars Tarkas View Drop Down
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Posts: 1447 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Sep 2016 at 12:30pm
You should have the valves open while sucking in the antifreeze and let it suck until the pink stuff comes out all of the valves.  Then turn off the pump and leave the valves open all winter.  Be sure pink stuff comes out of the toilet too, and leave some in the bowl.  Pour some in the sink and shower traps too.

TT
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Posts: 51 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Sep 2016 at 12:40pm
Originally posted by Tars Tarkas

You should have the valves open while sucking in the antifreeze and let it suck until the pink stuff comes out all of the valves.  Then turn off the pump and leave the valves open all winter.  Be sure pink stuff comes out of the toilet too, and leave some in the bowl.  Pour some in the sink and shower traps too.

TT

Thanks, I'm doing this but it is barely coming out - it is just a trickle, not a flow of antifreeze.
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Posts: 51 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Sep 2016 at 12:46pm
So I decided to try the shower sink and toilet, and these flowed well like I expected.  So it's just the kitchen sink that does not have good flow of antifreeze.  I have sucked in the entire gallon at this point, so I will need to get more tomorrow.
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Tars Tarkas View Drop Down
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Posts: 1447 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Sep 2016 at 12:48pm
Is the winterization valve open all the way and the tube still in the antifreeze?  You're sure the valves are right at the water heater?  And the low point caps are on?  Try opening valves one at a time,

TT
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Posts: 51 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Sep 2016 at 1:03pm
Originally posted by Tars Tarkas

Is the winterization valve open all the way and the tube still in the antifreeze?  You're sure the valves are right at the water heater?  And the low point caps are on?  Try opening valves one at a time,

TT

If by winterization valve, you mean the siphon tube on the inlet of the pump, this open tube is in the antifreeze bottle, and in the open position (parallel with line).

The bypass line is open (parallel), the in and out to the hot water heater are closed (perpendicular to lines).

The low point caps are on.  The anode is out of the hot water heater so I think I'd see antifreeze if the bypass was not set right.   

I did do one valve at a time.

The bathroom faucets flowed well, the kitchen sink trickled.

I'm out of antifreeze in the bottle at this point (I don't know where it went...)  so I'll get another bottle and try again and report back. 
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Tars Tarkas View Drop Down
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Posts: 1447 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Sep 2016 at 2:39pm
If everything but the kitchen sink is flowing as it should you almost certainly have some crud in the faucet screen.  Take that off the end of the tap, leave it off, try again.  If that restores the flow, clean the screen and put it back on.

TT
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Sep 2016 at 2:39pm
The screen in the sink faucet often clogs.  Unscrew it and wash it off.

See the link in my signature for a full winterization list.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 51 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Sep 2016 at 4:20pm
I will check the screen but had no issues with flow with water from freshwater tank
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