Never Freeze System

[Dirt Boy]

Has anyone ever used this system:
www.neverfreezesystem.com

What think ye?

[Mike Leary]

Think b.s.

[DanaMac]

a local company had developed something to this effect, but it was quite a bit more than the $60 in cost that this one claims. I saw it work at a trade show, but the idea never took off, and they sold the idea to someone else I believe. I thought it would work well for commercial, and maybe park and municipality systems. Even park restrooms that are not heated but have fulltime plumbing.

I liked the concept. And they still have a couple of the systems in place on systems I maintain now. But I know some others had problems and had freeze damage. but it probably just needed some more changes. real good idea I thought.

[Dirt Boy]

What's the general workings DanaMac?
Have to agree with ML.... sounds :hammerhead:

[DanaMac]

Not sure I should be giving out their secrets. i'll think about it. Probably not an issue, but I don't want to get in trouble.

[Mike Leary]

Not sure I should be giving out their secrets. i'll think about it. Probably not an issue, but I don't want to get in trouble.

Into trouble with who? ;)

[DanaMac]

Into trouble with who? ;)

The folks who created it. Not sure what rights they have. It could possibly be this link posted above from the new owners. probably not an issue, but just being safe.

[BSME]

I can tell you something about it.

It does actually work.... but it wastes a LOT of water. I dont find it very practical

[DanaMac]

http://www.freeze-guard.com/FS2100RP.shtm

Here's a link to the Freeze Sentry system. it works on this - an exterior temp gauge turns off an electric gate valve (or some other type of valve or actuator, not a master though), then it opens the modified testcocks that have solenoids on them, then the controller runs each zone briefly to relieve pressure, and the manifold/mainline has auto drains.

[Wet_Boots]

Like that money wouldn't buy a craptastic air compressor from Blowes, and the system gets winterized in the usual way.

[DanaMac]

Like that money wouldn't buy a craptastic air compressor from Blowes, and the system gets winterized in the usual way.

here's the issue Bootsie, most of our on/off handles are inside the home. A lot of clients forget to call, or don't remember what to close off. and it would keep service techs from running around like crazy trying to get systems shut down. Blowing down can be done afterwards. i've seen things freeze up here in may, and early October. It' could also be used on second homes, cabins in the mtns, park restrooms, etc. I have a handful of owners that have me turn the system on in early/mid April. but they don't get here until May. I have to scurry over to their house and get the guard house to let me in before the backflow freezes.

[AI Inc]

here's the issue Bootsie, most of our on/off handles are inside the home. A lot of clients forget to call, or don't remember what to close off. and it would keep service techs from running around like crazy trying to get systems shut down. Blowing down can be done afterwards. i've seen things freeze up here in may, and early October. It' could also be used on second homes, cabins in the mtns, park restrooms, etc. I have a handful of owners that have me turn the system on in early/mid April. but they don't get here until May. I have to scurry over to their house and get the guard house to let me in before the backflow freezes.

Dont you mail them a letter telling them to have the water turned off by a certain date?

[DanaMac]

Dont you mail them a letter telling them to have the water turned off by a certain date?

I send out 2000notices, not everyone calls us to winterize. I don't give them a date on the postcard. they have to call up to set a date. I tell them to have it shut down, but some either don't know WTF to do, or some forget. they may call end of Sept., schedule for late Oct., but we get an overnight hard freeze in mid-Oct. In 1997 we had a massive blizzard on Oct 15 or 17 I believe. Shut down the city, literally.

[BSME]

that's a different system the the neverfreezesystem originally posted. and it looks better then the nfs.

[Wet_Boots]

Through-the-wall shutoffs take care of customer indifference. I'm going to emphasize them more, especially for vacation homes.

[AI Inc]

I put a date on mine with an increasing price example , call before 10/12 its $75 between 10/12 and 10/30 its $85 after 11/1 its $100 Works as an incentive to get them to call early and if they dont I get compensated for having to go back to the same neighborhood twice.

[DanaMac]

Through-the-wall shutoffs take care of customer indifference. I'm going to emphasize them more, especially for vacation homes.

But that still takes a physical element of driving over and doing the shutoff. This takes no human touch. I do have 6 homes with the through-the-wall shutoff and love them though.

[Wet_Boots]

The whole concept of eliminating my winterizing income is a non-starter. :) File it away with the V-Block carburetor, and other stifled ideas.

[Kiril]

The whole concept of eliminating my winterizing income is a non-starter. :) File it away with the V-Block carburetor, and other stifled ideas.

Bootsies failed external shutoff idea.

[Dirty Water]

I've always thought that a small electric air compressor permanently plumbed into the system with the appropriate solenoid valves to shut off the water supply etc.... would work pretty well....At least on residential's.

The compressor could be on a seasonal timer and kick on at a certain time. At the same time, the water would be shutoff. The compressor would run until its pressure switch killed it, and then the when the timer started a zone for its daily run, the compressor could blow it out...repeat x however long it takes.

[DanaMac]

The whole concept of eliminating my winterizing income is a non-starter. :) File it away with the V-Block carburetor, and other stifled ideas.

Hey I'm in no way saying no to winterizing. This is what gets me through the winter and gives my company a huge profit. BUT, there is no way we can scramble the afternoon before a hard freeze and get all systems shut down that are needed. This just shuts the water supply off and drains the exposed areas. The system still needs blowing out.

[Wet_Boots]

It's a little easier to plan the winterizings in the East, since there aren't the wide swings in temperature. I can close everything down in October, and no stressed turf results. Then the stragglers and newcomers get November and a bit of December.