What to do with chiller in winter months

BrklynArch · 10/30/2012, 10:25 AM

As the title says, I'm not sure what the best practice is? Do I flush it some how and just store it away until its needed again or do the lines need to be kept full of water for some reason?
I'd wou ld rather shut it down since its not going to be needed for a few months, one less pump running and all.
I have an arctic 1/4hp chiller running off an eheim pump plumbed independently from the main return.

jerpa · 10/30/2012, 10:53 AM

You can disconnect and drain it if you'd like. Alternatively you can set the pump on a timer so it comes on for a minute or two a few times a day.

bnumair · 10/30/2012, 04:56 PM

my small chillers jbj 1/10th for my QT and jbj 1/5th for my saltwater bin come off line in winter and i drain them and push air with a air pump so all the water is drained out and them bring them in and leave them in a closet, (my setup is in garage) they will freeze any water inside and break the lines if frozen.
my main 1.5hp commercial chiller remains connected and runs water through it but i cut the power off to it.
here is a pic of my setup.

johnike · 10/30/2012, 05:15 PM

I leave mine on, between the lights and pumps there is enough heat generated to kick it on once or twice during the winter months.

merritt32 · 10/30/2012, 09:58 PM

i would just unhook it and flush with rodi water then drain and store it just make sure to rinse it out again before you hook it back up dust and bugs could make it a home over the winter

BrklynArch · 10/31/2012, 10:14 AM

Yeah I'll prob clean it w a mix of water and vinegar then flush with clean water.....just unsure how to completely drain it out. I don't have access to an air pump/compressor and I doubt I would need to turn it upside down......so I guess that's my next question lol

bolling · 10/31/2012, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrklynArch

As the title says, I'm not sure what the best practice is? Do I flush it some how and just store it away until its needed again or do the lines need to be kept full of water for some reason?
I'd wou ld rather shut it down since its not going to be needed for a few months, one less pump running and all.
I have an arctic 1/4hp chiller running off an eheim pump plumbed independently from the main return.

I haven't hooked mine up yet but I planned on just letting the water cycle through it winter and summer. What is the real downside to this? I am only using a small accella 270 gph powerhead to cycle water through it.

merritt32 · 10/31/2012, 04:45 PM

use a shop vac to pull it out or use it in reverse order and blow it out

10/30/2012, 10:25 AM	#1
BrklynArch Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: brooklyn NY Posts: 529	What to do with chiller in winter months As the title says, I'm not sure what the best practice is? Do I flush it some how and just store it away until its needed again or do the lines need to be kept full of water for some reason? I'd wou ld rather shut it down since its not going to be needed for a few months, one less pump running and all. I have an arctic 1/4hp chiller running off an eheim pump plumbed independently from the main return.

10/30/2012, 10:53 AM	#2
jerpa Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 2,174	You can disconnect and drain it if you'd like. Alternatively you can set the pump on a timer so it comes on for a minute or two a few times a day. __________________ Jer Current Tank Info: 40b basement sump, 40b refugium, 30g frag

10/30/2012, 04:56 PM	#3
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	my small chillers jbj 1/10th for my QT and jbj 1/5th for my saltwater bin come off line in winter and i drain them and push air with a air pump so all the water is drained out and them bring them in and leave them in a closet, (my setup is in garage) they will freeze any water inside and break the lines if frozen. my main 1.5hp commercial chiller remains connected and runs water through it but i cut the power off to it. here is a pic of my setup. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

10/30/2012, 05:15 PM	#4
johnike Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bureau County Illinois Posts: 5,406	I leave mine on, between the lights and pumps there is enough heat generated to kick it on once or twice during the winter months.

10/30/2012, 09:58 PM	#5
merritt32 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: yakima wa Posts: 70	i would just unhook it and flush with rodi water then drain and store it just make sure to rinse it out again before you hook it back up dust and bugs could make it a home over the winter

10/31/2012, 10:14 AM	#6
BrklynArch Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: brooklyn NY Posts: 529	Yeah I'll prob clean it w a mix of water and vinegar then flush with clean water.....just unsure how to completely drain it out. I don't have access to an air pump/compressor and I doubt I would need to turn it upside down......so I guess that's my next question lol

10/31/2012, 04:45 PM	#8
merritt32 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: yakima wa Posts: 70	use a shop vac to pull it out or use it in reverse order and blow it out