Water tank draining...

[QT1]

What's the best way to drain a 70 gallon water tank that is still full of "pink" from winterization?

 

[gerryb]

Starting with the obvious...Why not just run the water pump?

 

[yobub]

Hopefully someone didnt put 70 gallons if antifreeze in it.

More seriously, run the pink out, put a bunch more water in, run it out again. You will need to open every faucet to flush out the whole system.

If you search for threads about cleaning out your water tank, you will see lots of opinions ranging from bleach to vodka to commercial water treatments. You can review the options and decide for yourself, and I'm sure people will weigh in.

When it comes time for you to winterize, read the threads about using an air compressor to blow out the lines and you will save yourself this trouble in the spring next year.

 

[randmhall]

Different boat, but on ours, I can reach the fitting where the line connects to the tank. I just let it drain. If you can't reach the tank,, you could also disconnect the line at the inlet to the pump.

I don't ever use the pink, since my fitting is on the side of the tank, a gallon or so always remains in the tank. It takes several fill/drain cycles to flush the pink out. I just leave the line disconnected until spring and let it freeze. A 1/2 cup of bleach added to the tank in the spring freshens everything up nicely.

 

[QT1]

Starting with the obvious...Why not just run the water pump?

I did start with the obvious, but I didn't want to run the pump for that long of a period. Looking for other options. Thanks

 

[JimG]

Most water heaters have a drain spigot on the bottom... open that and release the pop=off valve to provide air. This will likely drain into your bilge and be pumped overboard.

 

[Doc O Rock]

I fill with clean water and run the freshwater pump to empty. That cleans and empties the whole system. Don't forget to open every faucet at the same time. Don't worry, this will not kill your pump, but if it did you did your self a favor by finding out now. Refill with fresh and a quart of bleach and empty again.

 

[Little Ducky]

..... you could also disconnect the line at the inlet to the pump.

I have good access to my pump so I do the above...... sometimes you have to create a little vacuum to get the water flowing.

This past year I just ran the pump cleaned out the tank really good and then to flush the rest of the system I just hooked up my city water connection and let the rest of the taps flow.

Because I'm not boating this year like I've done years prior I've also placed a bit of bleach in the tank to keep the water fresh and the tank clean.

 

[Creekwood]

I did start with the obvious, but I didn't want to run the pump for that long of a period. Looking for other options. Thanks

The pump can take it. But as others have said, you can open the waterheater drain and pressure relief vent and most will drain out. Pulling the cold water inlet to the hot water heater also works. I find you need to flush the tank several times afterwards though to get all the smell out. I use my pump AND the waterheater method at the same time. It goes much faster than pump alone.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Are you sure it is "full" of AF? I can't imagine why anyone would completely fill a tank - there is absolutely no need to do that. If you're just assuming that it's full - go back and drain it through the faucets/HWH. There's usually only a few gallons of AF used to winterize the system.

 

[QT1]

Are you sure it is "full" of AF? I can't imagine why anyone would completely fill a tank - there is absolutely no need to do that. If you're just assuming that it's full - go back and drain it through the faucets/HWH. There's usually only a few gallons of AF used to winterize the system.

I think about 5 gallons of pink, so it should be fairly diluted.

 

[JVM225]

Turn on a faucet and let it go until empty.
I’ve got a hundred gallon tank and usually empty whatever is still in there after week or so of use so I can refill with fresh water.
Never had a problem.