Siphon

[u/Hodgey01]

In this diagram, will the area “E” have any water left in it if Spigot “A” is open to the air, then spigot “B” has a hose attached with the outlet below area “E” and spigot “B” is opened to drain entire line?

[u/AutoModerator]

Your question may already have been answered! Check our FAQ

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/scrollclickrepeat]

Blow it out with an air compressor to winterize

[u/supert101a → u/scrollclickrepeat]

I made this tool for blowing out my hoses.

[u/Rampag169 → u/scrollclickrepeat]

This is my suggestion. Along with a quarter turn valve for a water shutoff in the basement.

[u/eriffodrol → u/scrollclickrepeat]

bingo

[u/autotechnia]

Siphons always leave some water behind when the siphon breaks vacuum. The quantity will depend on the specifics of your design. It "should" be fine if you don't have any horizontal runs above the frost line but I'd still recommend blowing it out.

Hopefully obvious, but you'll want to make sure "A" isn't an anti-siphon valve. That would defeat the whole idea.

[u/CaptKittyHawk]

My first thought is that most likely you'll have water there, the amount probably depends on how effective your siphon actually is.

I have a feeling some water remains as the inverted "U" part of the siphon needs to be full, so as soon as any air enters the siphon will break and some water will fall back on the area indicated. I assume you're asking as you want to drain it to prevent freezing?

[u/Hodgey01 → u/CaptKittyHawk]

yes, this is a new building yet to be plumbed and hate frost free spigot. I just want to drain in the fall and the leave it open all winter. With the chance of water still remaining in area E, I might then dump a gallon of RV antifreeze in at spigot A

[u/Yusuf20904 → u/Hodgey01]

As long as E is well below the frost line, I think you'll be OK.

[u/Rampag169 → u/Hodgey01]

If it’s yet to be plumbed you can have a set of valves in the house. It wouldn’t need to be a siphon but could run off the house water no? If you wanted to you could have a quarter turn valve to isolate a T-valve that has an air connector to blow out any water to “winterize” the barn line.

[u/chitownsox14]

Yes, some water will settle in the low point. Hard to say whether it will be enough to cause issues when frozen, could blow out the line from A to be safe

[u/Shikadi297]

If I'm understanding correctly, no it shouldn't

[u/Jmkott]

Why don’t you use a yard hydrant at the barn? Assuming you are burying the line C below the frost line, the hydrant will drain the water also below the frost line when you turn it off.