Air Conditioner Flush

Frank, I could not find Prep n Etch at HD this weekend. Did they change it to something else? I did not want to buy the wrong stuff.
 
OK, interesting responses, but none that directly address my question. As I am located in Daytona Beach, winterizing my system is of very little concern. There is a flexible hose running from the raw water outlet of the A/C unit to the discharge through hull. My question is, how do you guys clean that section of hose when you do a Barnacle Buster treatment? In a perfect world, I'd take the hose off the through hull and stick it into the Barnacle Buster bucket thus completing the loop. My boat however, doesn't live in a perfect world. It lives in a world where only a rubberized midget can get to that particular through hull. So...my options seem to be: 1. Ignore that section of hose and hope it isn't too gunked up, or 2. find a way to connect a hose to the outside of the through hull and direct that new temporarily connected hose back into the BB bucket to complete the loop, cleaning everything from the intake to the discharge, including all parts in between. The missing information for the part 2. option is how to make a water tight connection to the outside of the through hull. Any ideas, suggestions, proven methods?

It may take a bit of de-construction to get the hose off the through hull, but if at all possible, you should try to get to it.
I had to remove a multi drawer cabinet from inside a closet to get to the discharge hose connection at the through hull for my forward AC. A minor PIA for sure, but not impossible. Once I disassembled and removed it I had clear access to that connection and was able to get a thorough flush done.
 
I think they may have changed their labeling from "Prep N Etch" to "Concrete and Metal Prep".....looks like the same product and both contain phosphoric acid.
 
What Frank Said. I learned my lesson on the Bromine tablets after I dissolved the plastic bottom of the strainer basket. After replacing the basket, I did use bromine tablets once after that, but let the pump run constantly until the tablets were dissolved.
 
See my (and a few other's) response above.
OK, just reread your post, and I apologize. I was reading it as a winterizing idea, and didn't focus on what was being said. If I understand, the 1/2" hose, with tape added to increase diameter as needed, is shoved from the outside of the hull into the A/C discharge and then is looped back into the boat as part of the flushing circuit. Is that the idea, if so, thanks, and I'll give it a try. Thought of the hose, but never though to bulk it up with tape for a tight fit.
 
Check out this video about using Sea Flush for AC systems. Very simple.

 
Check out this video about using Sea Flush for AC systems. Very simple.


+1 that's how I did mine. Based on access it's still a little tricky.

Although I think I am going to try the recirculation method next time.

-Kevin
 
OK, just reread your post, and I apologize. I was reading it as a winterizing idea, and didn't focus on what was being said. If I understand, the 1/2" hose, with tape added to increase diameter as needed, is shoved from the outside of the hull into the A/C discharge and then is looped back into the boat as part of the flushing circuit. Is that the idea, if so, thanks, and I'll give it a try. Thought of the hose, but never though to bulk it up with tape for a tight fit.
Yes, that is all there really is to it. If you think about it, the existing A/C system is basically just a single line - from the seacock to the thru-hull exit. All you're doing is simply connecting the two ends together. The tape is the "fancy" trick ;)
 
If you’re 44 Sedan has multiple AC units they may be running off of one pump.
If that’s the case, you’ll need to either identify which hose coming off of the manifold supplies each unit and either isolate the unit you want to flush, or create a loop to include multiple units in the flush.
 
If you’re 44 Sedan has multiple AC units they may be running off of one pump.
If that’s the case, you’ll need to either identify which hose coming off of the manifold supplies each unit and either isolate the unit you want to flush, or create a loop to include multiple units in the flush.

Good catch.

MM
 
If you’re 44 Sedan has multiple AC units they may be running off of one pump.
If that’s the case, you’ll need to either identify which hose coming off of the manifold supplies each unit and either isolate the unit you want to flush, or create a loop to include multiple units in the flush.
I do have three units running off one pump. I'll probably try to do each one individually just so I can see the results of each and not leave something behind.
 
I just stick a clear hose of correct size (snugly) in the through hull, adapt it to a regular water hose and loop it back to the bucket with a circulating pump. Get to see the solution change from clear to yucky while cleaning.
 
I just stick a clear hose of correct size (snugly) in the through hull, adapt it to a regular water hose and loop it back to the bucket with a circulating pump. Get to see the solution change from clear to yucky while cleaning.

That way you know it is working. Cool...

MM
 
I run bromine tablets in the strainer and have good luck with that.
 
Maybe take the tube off the exhaust side of the AC itself.

The last time I did mine I used a 50/50 phosphoric acid (from Homedepot) to water mix and filled the system and just let it sit.

To fill I closed the seacock and fed in through a seaflush into the strainer. After sitting I just opened the seacock and started up the system.

Others (I believe @fwebster ) posted about hooking up city Water at the strainer to flush out under pressure.

-Kevin
+1 on the 50/50. you'll find the full strength gallon in the paint department. It's a stripper. Name escapes me now and I'm 1000 miles from the boat. Blue. 18-20 bucks. Mix 50/50 with water. I use the 5 gallon square jug for winterizing (not used in Tampa Bay), and feed to a tee fitting in the strainer output line. See Frank Webster's great post about this. Run the pump until it starts coming out the outlets, and let her sit. 30 minutes for me.
Twice a year, and even in my super salty, no current flow canal, pump runs just fine. My A/C or (heat?) is on year round.
 

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