I start by removing the water heater drain plug (be sure to have opened a faucet to reduce the line pressure). I then place the hot water supply lines into the bypass mode. This is to prevent the final step from filling the heater with anti-freeze. I leave out the drain plug until it's time to de-winterize. I do this to allow anything in the heater to drain.
I then connect an air compressor to the water inlet connection port that has the regulator turned down to 40-50PSI. I blow out all the water from each and every outlet. Remembering the icemaker, the clothes washer and dishwasher, if equipped. I do this to reduce the dilution of the anti-freeze from the last step.
The last step is to get the anti-freeze. (which by-the-way does freeze, it just doesn't expand when frozen) I pump this through the supplied uptake tubing that circulates the anti-freeze by way of the pump. I go to each and every outlet that I blew water out of and open the faucet until I get the colored fluid coming out. Close and move to the next one. Hot AND cold faucets. I do this as a belt and suspenders approach. At first I only did the blow, but over the winter months I got to worrying, so now it's cheap insurance to use anti-freeze that has not been diluted by the water in the system.
