Which Air Compressor???

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Sandy K.

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For those of you that use an air compressor to blow out your fresh water lines - what size compressor do you use? How much HP/CFM and tank size do you have? Will a 12volt unit work or do I need 120 volt?

How do you hook up say a 1/2" water hose to the nozzle so that you have a tight seal??

Any and all input appreciated.

Thanks,
 
A "cheapy" will do you nicely, although you will find many other uses for a compressor.

You do not need to "blast" the water out, just push it out.

A simple air nozzle pushed into the hose just after the pump will evacuate all the water you need to. Be quite sure that all faucets and water heater are wide open when you blow it out.

BTW: Just last week, Menards had a 1HP/125 cfm/1gal compressor on sale for $50; same with 3gal $70. Both Campbell-Hausfield (sp?)
 
I have an a/c powered compressor, you don't need a large unit, but I don't know if a d/c unit would be sufficient.

This is what I have done. I've taken the hose that comes with the compressor and gone to Lowes and adapted the standard end to be a female garden hose end, I also put a shut off valve at the end of the air hose so you control the flow or air at the end of the hose and not only at the compressor.

Go to www.marineeast.com and order the 'hose barb to garden hose' adapters in the sizes that you will need.

http://www.marineeast.com/a_sch/sch_det.asp?cid=01&pid=01_01

I bought just about every size adapter, 3/8", 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 1", 1 1/4", 1 1/2". I've helped some dockmates and it's nice to have all the tools without worrying or jimmy rigging.

I blow out my A/C units, my saltwater washdowns, bait livewells, my entire fresh water system, including the water heater.

I leave my boat in the water, so I also blow out all of the seacocks as well.

To do this you shut the seacock, take hose end that is not attached to the seacock, attach the barbed adapter to the hose and to the compressor, let the pressure build up, then open the seacock, when you hear air blowing out of the seacock, you shut the valve. Move on to the next system.

You might have to take both hose ends off some pumps to drain them and blow out each side of the line, as some pumps do not allow air to freely flow thru them.

I use pink non-tox in the holding tank, heads, bilge sumps, washing machine, genset and mains.

Hope this helps.
 
Jonathan, I don't see illustrations. The description says "Male Garden Hose x 1 in. Hose". I imagine it's not a hose but a hose barb? If that's correct, I'll be a happy camper. I'm tired of jury rigging my hoses with duct tape to run AF through (A/C hose, engine hose, genset hose, etc, they are all different sizes!).
 
Yes, that's the one. You can call them to confirm. They are in Jersey.
 
Great info here - thanks to all of you.

Jonathan - what do you do about your fresh water tank - just empty it out, blow it out somehow, or add pink??

Thanks,
 
Jonathan, you are the man! I was hoping to find a fitting with a hose bib on one side and a cone with staggered barbed fittings that will fit any hose from say 3/4" to 1.5".

Instead, like you, I just ordered one of every size. This will save me wasted time and antifreeze when winterizing...no more ductaping hoses together to get the right diameter!! Been doing that for YEARS!

There's nothing like having the right tool! It's the small things in life that get me excited!
 
Sandy, for the fresh water tank, I personally bypass and drain the HW heater. Drain system using the onboard pump (leave faucet open). Then fill with about three gallons of pink stuff. Run the furthest faucet on hot until I see pink. Do same for cold. Visit each faucet repeating process. Don't forget transom wash down. Don't foret the shower. I also pour about 1/2 gallon in the shower for its sump pump. Flush toilet (fresh water flush) quite a bit to get into tank. I also pour about 1/2 gallon into the bowl first (to mix into holding tank and hoses). I have a bar outside with a faucet near the ice maker. Make sure I see pink stuff there and turn on the ice maker for a day or so.
 
I pump as much water out of the tank as possible, and then break the seal on the check valve I have and whatever water is in the line flows back into the tank.

I don't add pink to the water tank. There is plenty of room in the tank for ice expansion.

I've haven't added pink to the water tanks on my last 3 boats.
 
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