pump question

H

hydro-clean

Member
I was just wondering how bad it is if the tank runs out of water and stops going thru the pump? -- will this work?: if i take the hose off right after the pump where the downstream injector connects and turn the water supply off and then turn the machine on and off real quick to get all the water out of the pump so it dont freeze will this hurt the pump?
 
ron p

why risk it when it's so easy to put a 50/50 mix of anti freeze/water in the tank and run it threw your system and just leave it?
You should never run your pump dry.
Also anti-freeze has lubracation qualities that will keep your seals from getting dry.
 
what about using a short length of garden hose hooked to the maching and in a anti-freeze container. with the unit in the off position, pull the start cord a few times, not very fast, until the anti freeze come out at the HP hose connection, there the antifreeze is in there with no problems.
 
Before I had an enclosed trailer I would use an inline pump to push the antifreeze through the water inlet of the pump. I didn't even need to start the machine. Also don't forget to run it through your downstream injectir if it is instaled on the machine.
 
I hate screwing around with antifreeze. Tends to make things messy. However, I reluctantly protect my pumps as follows:
1. Connect a several foot section of old water hose to the inlet of my pump.
2. Connect a two foot section of hose to the discharge side of pump. On the "machine" end of the hose I clamped on a male plug fitting, which I couple to the pump discharge.
3. Pour roughly 24 ounces of antifreeze into a plastic cup. 'Funnel' this into the feed hose, which I hold up above the pump.
4. Place the 2 foot hose into the antifreeze jug and crank machine over a few times to fill up the pump.
Learned on this or another board that if you start the beginning of the cold season with pure antifreeze, you can get through the winter on one jug, before diluting it too much.
Actually I like Steven's pump idea, but I don't carry my PD pump with me often.
 
ron p/bill

be carefull pure anti-freeze can freeze, you have to add water.
All this because he has no power source.
If he had power he could just put a electric blanket over his whole unit,then a reg blanket on top to hold the heat in.
safe and cheap.
Use a plastic tarp on top of that if on a open trailer.
 
Alkota has a cool idea called a pump saver. They have a fitting on the pump that is a tire valve. You just pull up to the nearest gas station and use the air to evacuate your coils.
 
Alkota has a cool idea called a pump saver. They have a fitting on the pump that is a tire valve. You just pull up to the nearest gas station and use the air to evacuate your coils.
 
I made a similar fitting for my supply hose. I used a Schrader valve, an 1/8 inch pipe x garden hose fitting to blow out my hose. I use a 5 gallon bucket full of antifreeze/water, hose from bucket to pump inlet hose, a valve. put a valve in the hose from the water supply. Close the inlet hose, open the antifreeze valve and operate the pump. the antifreeze/water solution goes throught the pump, coil, pressure hose and I hold the gun in the opening to the bucket. This protects the whole system. Or I just leave the propane heater on.

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc
 
all great ideas. I think though that since I have other things in the garage that I don't want to freeze like chems. and such that I am just going to insulate the garage and either use a propane heater or and electric heater.
 
37 degrees in the trailer? Here in Eastern Oregon there are times I cannot keep the front of my van that warm. The temp has only gone down to 4 above zero so far this fall. Even w/the propane heater in back, and the heater in front going full blast, I used my customers hot water for the first fill of my water tank this morning. And it is not even winter yet! So far the coldest I've cleaned an exhaust system was 4 above zero, on a metal roof yet.

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc
 
Where we live I cannot afford to count on electric.. too many outage's

I have not used anti-freeze for 3 years ..... and I live in the Northeren country .............

I use a wall mount propane heater it's bolted to the inside of my "box-trk" and then the trk. is inside an un-heated garage ......
when Im done for the day I just use a quick connect which is connected to the wall unit and the other end is connected to 2 100lb tanks ....... I set the heater on the lowest setting and it still stay's @ least 50 - 60 . yeah I know a lil warm . but I only use those 2 tanks a winter ......

no-hassel
and when I get low in propane a flag pops up and I order more ...

Oh and . I also have a 20 lb tank mounted underneath with a q-coupler so if I have a break down and it has to sit outside for some unknown reason ... things never freeze.....

the heck with the anti-freeze it's a pain in the butt.......
 
We have tried several different methods. Now we simply disconnect hose, exit water by coiling, and use windshield washer fluid in machine which takes it down to -30. Much simpler than blowing out or auto antifreeze in that it doesn't need to be mixed (pure antifreeze will freeze). We don't bother to capture for re-use since it takes a gallon or so and costs fifty cents per gallon (K-mart special).

Douglas - only done hoods down to 4 degrees? Whatta wimp. We know what it's like in your area - lived not too far away for many years (Coeur d'Alene). Much colder in Colorado - it might STAY below zero for many days at a time. You just have to learn to cope if you like to eat. Cold doesn't bother us much until it gets in single digits. This has one huge advantage, i.e. - it virtually eliminates the competition!
Richard
 
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