Winterizing with air

Have done this for the past 11 years.  The first year i did the standard "suck the antifreeze through the lines (using 2 gallons!).  The worst part was figuring out a concoction to get rid of the nasty taste of antifreeze in the lines the next spring.  We did so but I said 'never again'.

First drain your lines, HW tank  as well as FW tank and set your lines to "bypass" on the back side of your HW tank,  open your low point drains to drain any residual out of there as well and put caps back on.  Taking the pigtail that is upstream from the water pump I first open 1 line then attach an air nozzle to the pigtail and keep it held in place by snugging a 1/2" cable clamp over it.  I use 85 psi and run the line till it only blows air and then open the 2nd line, after 2nd line is opened the first line is closed.  When 2nd line is clear of water the 3rd line is open and so on until you have gone through all lines.  Don't forget the toilet and outside shower (if you have one) + always keep one line open at this pressure.  The entire process takes under 2 minutes going through all lines twice.  The first few years I would double check the low point drains and the bowl on the water pump but every time there might be 1 or 2 drops found so since then those areas are not checked after this process. 

After that don't forget to move the valve (downstream from the pigtail) to its original position or you will wonder next spring why your pump doesn't pump water, only air, ask me how I know!

Finally on our 177 I take a total of 16 oz. RV antifreeze and pour some in each of the 3 traps and what is left is put on top of the toilet lid to keep the seal moist throughout the winter.  Northern Michigan here: the results so far have been no issues, no leaks, no breaks, no problems.