Winterize a/c

I've read posts on winterizing here. Feel pretty confident to do this myself adding the RV antifreeze. Don't use the water tank, so I'll add to the supply line that by-passes the fresh water holding tank and open faucets, just using head pressure to get enough in there.
My question is how to add the antifreeze to the a/c water system. What is the best way? Add through the discharge port using a small hose and head pressure (elevated funnel)? The fill line in the hull will fully drain from the pump, I would think.
I have a 1997 Sea Ray 270 so I would think this too much.
Dealer cost me $200 to winterize the water system alone last year!

The way I winterize my AC is:

Close the seacock.
Open the strainer lid
Take out strainer
Have someone inside the boat turn on the A/C
Pour antifreeze in to strainer holder while A/C is running
When antifreeze comes out the discharge on side of boat, turn off A/C
Re-insert strainer, close lid, KEEP SEACOCK CLOSED until next season.
Done. Whole process takes 3 minutes if that. Very easy.

I do the same process for my generator as well.

Hope this helps.

John

WaterDoc said:

My question is how to add the antifreeze to the a/c water system. What is the best way? Add through the discharge port using a small hose and head pressure (elevated funnel)? The fill line in the hull will fully drain from the pump, I would think.
I have a 1997 Sea Ray 270 so I would think this too much.
Dealer cost me $200 to winterize the water system alone last year!

Click to expand...

I do mine while the boats in the water, just before I haul it out.

Turn off the A/C.

Shut off your sea cock, so no raw water gets in.

Open the strainer cap.

I made an adapter cap, for a hose, but you can do it with the cap off if your careful.

Use a container with about 3 gallons of antifreeze, with a hose running down to your sea strainer.

The hose should have a valve on it, to control the antifreeze.

While introducing antifreeze into the strainer, turn on your A/C, and adjust the temperature as required to get the compressor to turn on.

This will turn on the water pump, and pump the antifreeze though your system, both suction and discharge sides, as well as through the compressor and pump.

As soon as your antifreeze is gone, shut off the A/C immediately.

Now, poor a little antifreeze into your condensate pan, until you see the pink antifreeze in the shower sump, if that's where your condensate discharges to.

Then, use your wet and dry vac, and vac out all of the antifreeze from the pan, and shower sump.

This is also a good time to clean your A/C air filter.

Sounds like allot, but takes less than an hour.

I hook up a small compressor on low PSI and blow out my total water system. Even the A/C. I then put the RV stuff in the strainer.
George

I also use a small compressor and pressurize a plastic tank and with a hose hooked up and pressed into the discharge fitting push the anti freeze through until I see it come out the intake under the hull...of course the boat is out of the water with the sea cock open.
This is very easy to do once you have it set up and has worked great for me.
Mike