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Air Conditionning flush

Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 505/508
Forum Description: 505/508 Hints, Tips and News
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13052
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:40
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Air Conditionning flush
Posted By: Nelson01
Subject: Air Conditionning flush
Date Posted: 12 October 2021 at 06:57
We are storing the boat for winter.

How are you flushing your A/C system with fresh water?


Marc


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Marc

H508#11 UNEVIE



Replies:
Posted By: SVZara
Date Posted: 14 October 2021 at 02:06
We run barnacle buster through the system at the end of the season.  We close the through hull and then open up the strainer and pour it in while running all the AC units.  It will clean out the crap in the system.  Then we flush with fresh water using same method.  And lastly we run the antifreeze last and that keeps the system from freezing.

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Marc
S/V Zara
2016 Hanse 505, Hull #129


Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 19 October 2021 at 12:52
We do the same as Marc.   I rigged up some special hoses that allow drawing from a  bucket and returning to a bucket to help in the process.




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Rick
S/V Black Diamond
Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161
Newport, RI


Posted By: 415 Singapore
Date Posted: 20 October 2021 at 06:44
Hi, has anyone done this with the boat in water? If so how?
We have two units running off one central pump, with the outlet valves being in the stern and forward cabins.
I was thinking of closing the inlet and outlet valves and then pumping / sucking out as much water as i can from the strainer, then re-filling with barnacle buster, open the outlet valves a little and run the pump for a short while whilst topping up the strainer. Stop and repeat a few times.
Any advice would as always be much appreciated
Take care
Paul


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Paul - Night Train - 415 #136


Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 20 October 2021 at 23:54
I *ALWAYS* do it with the boat in the water.    That's what the hoses were for.   To disconnect the hose coming from the seacock (in and out) and have it come from/to a bucket.     Making the hoses makes the job easier every fall for winter layup.

FWIW




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Rick
S/V Black Diamond
Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161
Newport, RI


Posted By: 415 Singapore
Date Posted: 21 October 2021 at 07:10
Hi Rick, many thanks for the reply, I have figured out how to extend the outlet hose so that it comes back to near the strainer / filter. Our inlet is mounted directly to the bottom of the strainer / filter so not possible to disconnect there. So am not sure how to put the water back into the system? If I just take the the top off the strainer / filter and put the hose in there I think I will get water and barnacle buster everywhere?
I saw a Youtube video of a far larger boat and system where they had changed to a special cover for the top of the strainer which had a hose connector in it.
All the best
Paul


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Paul - Night Train - 415 #136


Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 21 October 2021 at 12:00
Ours is a 575, not a 505, so I cannot speak to the specifics of your boat.   On ours,   I disconnect and connect my hoses at the seacock, not the strainer.    

I'm sure there are many options, but my experience is that anything that makes the winterizing/commissioning process easier is worth investigating.




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Rick
S/V Black Diamond
Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161
Newport, RI


Posted By: Wild
Date Posted: 21 October 2021 at 19:53
hello
We also have the filter/strainer direct on top of the intake valve.
I have placed a T piece direct after the pump with a valve and a hose to vent the pump when needed.
I connect the hose direct to the fresh watersysteem to rinse the system without running the AC pump.
Till now(11 year) no problem with barnacle in the system.


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Wild and Wet
Belgium
545e#268


Posted By: 415 Singapore
Date Posted: 26 October 2021 at 13:26
Hi, thanks for the advice, we flushed both systems today. The only complication was getting the 30 mm short hose off between the strainer and the pump. In the end I cut it off and connected a new 1 metre long length to the pump. I had intended to cut this hose back down to the original length, but decided to leave the long hose in as it allows for relatively easy disconnection when the system next needs flushing.
All seems good now the pump seems to run quieter and I was amazed how much black gunge we collected!
All the best
Paul



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Paul - Night Train - 415 #136


Posted By: kipwrite
Date Posted: 27 October 2021 at 16:58
That AC manifold looks suspect. They are prone to pinhole leaks when they look like that. 

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Kipwrite


Posted By: 415 Singapore
Date Posted: 17 July 2023 at 11:32
Hi, an improvement on the AC flushing method! On Night Train the water pump only comes on when one of the AC units is turned on, which meant that the circulating water got very hot last time we flushed it. The water temp kept tripping the AC unit which then turned off the pump!
This time I wired in an alternative power supply to the pump so it could run without the AC unit being on. Much easier with an uninterrupted 1 hour of circulation on each unit.
All the best
Paul




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Paul - Night Train - 415 #136


Posted By: 32mike
Date Posted: 17 July 2023 at 12:58
I just recently did this on my boat after getting the “HPF” error code on the thermostat display. After a little Google research, I came up with my own flushing rig. Materials needed from hardware store - 5 gallon bucket, submersible fountain/pond pump, about 15’ of garden hose, a wide clamp to hold the hoses in place in the bucket and appropriately sized hose barbs, 5/8” in my case. The pump goes in the bucket. I disconnect the overboard discharge end of the cooling water line and connect it to a piece of hose which connects to the pump in the bucket. Disconnect the A/C pump line for one unit and connect that to a piece of hose going to the bucket. Fill the bucket with barnacle buster and plug the pump in. Run it for as long as you like while it back flushes the system. When I’m done, I flush it with fresh water from the dock hose and reconnect everything back up. This summer, the water temperature is off the charts and the growth is astronomical. Hard to keep up with it.

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Mike
S/V Dulces Sueños
458 #087
Tampa, FL


Posted By: 415 Singapore
Date Posted: 17 July 2023 at 14:00
Hi Mike, from what I understand your method misses out the built in pump and manifold? Having just spent more money than I wanted to replacing the impeller, motor bearings and manifold I would recommend including those bits in your flushing. 
All the best
Paul


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Paul - Night Train - 415 #136


Posted By: 32mike
Date Posted: 17 July 2023 at 18:41
Yes, that’s true. The water does get pretty hot with the big pump running with the units on. 

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Mike
S/V Dulces Sueños
458 #087
Tampa, FL



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