Don't let water pump run dry?

[handn]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

Which brand pump? I'm unaware of any of the newer ones which will be harmed by some dry running. That being said, I wouldn't want to run it dry for hours, but while doing your winterizing, it is fine if it pulls some air.

X2. The pump will make a different noise when it speeds up. It will run faster and not quite as loud.
I winterize by blowing out the lines. The last step in that process is disconnecting the inlet and outlet lines from the pump and running it briefly to push the water out of the pump. Put a rag or paper towel under the pump to catch the water.

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by gheuer

Do we Virginians *have* to fill the lines with pink AS?

Nope. All I do is blow out the lines well and put pink in the traps. Even if a bit of water remains, there will be plenty of room for it to expand and not break anything. I've been doing it that way for years and it gets below zero here in the winter.

[Silver Otter]

Wayne&Sam - Yay! I *love* simple. THANKS!

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

Nope. All I do is blow out the lines well and put pink in the traps. Even if a bit of water remains, there will be plenty of room for it to expand and not break anything. I've been doing it that way for years and it gets below zero here in the winter.

Yeah, that's what I thought and did. Then I had to replace some water lines from where the mostly drained water expanded and broke the pipes.

[aftermath]

In my SOB, the water pump was under the bathroom sink and plumbed to draw pink from the gallon jug. I blew the lines, filled everything with pink and was good to go.

Purchased my used Airstream and found the pump hidden under the center closet, in very tight quarters and NOT plumbed with the valve to draw in the pink stuff. I went to our local dealer, who I have great faith in, and asked how I was supposed to winterize. He told me that all they do is blow the lines. Of course there is much more to it than just that, but they do not put pink in the lines. Part of the process is to run the pump dry for several minutes. I do it twice, waiting a good amount of time between. I live in a very cold climate and have never had trouble yet.

That said, I think putting in the pink is a good bit of insurance. Certainly nothing wrong doing that but there is nothing wrong with running your pump dry either. Perhaps Airstream has changed to a different pump?

[JamuJoe]

Agree with Wayne & Sam. Drain the system, inc. water heater, disconnect water pump and run dry (30 sec) then blow out thoroughly with 60 psi air. Pour a cup or two of pink antifreeze in all of the drains. Done. No residual chemical in your potable water next season.

[pmclemore]

The Airstream guys at their Alumapalooza seminar recommended using the water pump to winterize the system. They were not concerned about running the water pump "dry".

Neither am I.

Pat

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by aftermath

Purchased my used Airstream and found the pump hidden under the center closet, in very tight quarters and NOT plumbed with the valve to draw in the pink stuff.

I'm lobbying for that to change, at least to put the fitting there for winterization.I installed one in a brand new trailer Friday, it took me almost an hour to relocate the pump 4" and put the fitting on it. Winterization was about 10 minutes from that point to done with the pink stuff.

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

Nope. All I do is blow out the lines well and put pink in the traps. Even if a bit of water remains, there will be plenty of room for it to expand and not break anything. I've been doing it that way for years and it gets below zero here in the winter.

ha! not so, with my pump. (and it may be just "mine"...others might be differently designed, etc).
I've had to replace the pressure switch on my pump TWICE.
and no, I'm apparently NOT smart enough to learn from the first experience.
The first time, I just did as the manual said, which was just to open the drains, and raise and lower the tongue jack to make sure everything drains.
Thats fine for the pipes, but...not the pump. (maybe the original pumps weren't so sensitive).
Second time...well, I just didn't get around to it, and we had an early cold-snap.
Anyway, both times, a tiny amount of water from behind the pressure switch swelled up when frozen, and pushed the switch housing away from the body of the pump. The weak spot that gave way was around one of the screw holes. screw held in place, but the plastic housing cracked around it.

There's no way that running the pump "dry" is ever going to get every bit of water out; the only way to do that is to replace it with something that won't freeze.

This year, I totally have the problem licked. I removed all the pipes.
(actually, as I type this...I realize that the pump is still out there, and I can't pump antifreeze through it, because it has no place to go, so I'd better just remove it from the trailer and bring it in the house).