Best way to take a WC system apart

[Kanzy]

I have see alot of WC set up ideas here but haven't see any take apart advices.
What would be the best way to take a WC system apart to do liquid change or hardware change without a mess? How u smart people do it and what would be the order of the steps?
Really wanna learn cause every time I make a mess

[NaeKuh]

pictures or we cant really help

[shazza]

Here's a thread from a while ago with discussions on adding a drain. It has some links to a few other threads as well.

[SoulsCollective]

Sledgehammer.

Seriously though, I usually just get a bucket, lay the case on its side on some boxes so the mobo is horizontal at the top, get underneath it, find a likely-looking hose, and pull. Of course, you could muck about with fancy-shmancy drains and quick-disconnect fittings

[Conumdrum]

You drain it was well as possible, pull the CPU block away from the mobo and THEN take off the hoses. Have towels inside the case to catch any water etc.

It's just kinda common sense, drain/tilt etc till as much as the water is out, then take it apart.

[millertime359]

Think you forgot the link Shazza.

[eponymous]

If you have a drain it makes it much easier. If you stand a bucket lower than the case and then connect a pipe to your drain (which doesn't have to be at the bottom of your loop) you can easily siphon the water out.

[NaeKuh]

we need to see pictures b4 we shout out answers.

You guys are giving him the generic way.. i think he knows how to do it the generic way.

He's asking if theres a trick, or some method the vets here use.

The only way we can answer that question is we need to see his rig.

[BlueAqua]

I find a tube on the high side of the system, usually a video card for me. I have towels, paper towels and a bucket already in place. If you pop the tube off very little water usually comes out, just what's in the video card block. I place the tube in the bucket or bottle and use my air compressor into the video card block. I can blow out the system pretty quick and it's pretty clean. I've been doing this for years and it's yielded the best results.

I have drained my system all over the place before and made quite the mess. What's the fun if you don't make a mess from time to time.

[fuzelogic]

I put together my system in this past spring and used Feser One Fluid?

How often does the fluid need to be changed?

[Kanzy]

Originally Posted by NaeKuh

we need to see pictures b4 we shout out answers.

You guys are giving him the generic way.. i think he knows how to do it the generic way.

He's asking if theres a trick, or some method the vets here use.

The only way we can answer that question is we need to see his rig.

Acturally this is a general question, my rig is still under construction until I get my mice res from Frozen.Q, in that case, any answer is gonna help.

[millertime359]

Originally Posted by Kanzy

Acturally this is a general question, my rig is still under construction until I get my mice res from Frozen.Q, in that case, any answer is gonna help.

Photos would still help as there really isn't a "general layout" in watercooling. Post some photos and we can help you a bit better.

[rmorse27]

I empty out my res first then take out put tube off res and blow some air threw it to get rest of water out.They way I empty my res is that a take a plastic bottle with 3/8 hose attached and squeeze bottle before inserting tube then let go and it will siphon water out pretty well.This method works for me,but always keep a good supply of paper towels handy.

[Conumdrum]

Originally Posted by fuzelogic

I put together my system in this past spring and used Feser One Fluid?

How often does the fluid need to be changed?

It depends on your budget. F1 liquid is expensive to replace. Lots of us use distilled water and a biocide as our liquid. Probably (counting two fills, run for 30 min redrain) it costs us upwards of $2 every 6 months using distilled and a biocide like Petras PHN nuke or a piece of silver in our loop that lasts forever.

So it can get very expensive at $4 a year.

maybe this is what your looking for:
Just general info what you should do once a year to keep your WC at 100%:
Cleaning a loop, not a new loop: I do this once a year, I drain and refill at 6 months, the next time I do this……
Wash hands very well, getting rid of hand oils.
For pumps and blocks, fittings, clamps, acrylic res/block parts.... not hose, tear it to smallest pieces, put in a bowl, heat water up not to boiling add 10% vinegar, when hot, pour over parts. Let sit for 10 minutes or so, then rinse well, put on a towel to dry.
The blocks will probably have some black oxidation. Take the copper parts out of the pile of parts you took out of the water. Dry well and pour ketchup on them, and set aside. Only the copper parts need this.
Rad cleaning: fill with very almost boiling hot water. Let sit 10 minutes, drain half out and shake for 5 min. Repeat till liquid is clean. You can pour it in a clean bowl and inspect the water if you like.
All the pump, block, fittings, and clamps, inspect, get in the tiniest corners with a tooth brush. Kind of meditative, time consuming, you learn a lot about o-ring size, how it all feels. It’s very relaxing with some mellow jazz in the background. Run a rag using a coat hanger and dish soap through the tubing, rinse well. I always consider replacing my hose every year. Plasticizers leach out, the tubing isn’t as flexible. Consider it a ‘Hobby Cost’.
Rinse all the parts and hose with distilled, dry then really dry with an air compressor (nice extra step to get rid of water spots). Don’t need to dry the inside of the hose.
Now on to the copper parts, they should have been soaking an hour or two. A toothbrush and ketchup should clean much of the oxidation. It probably won’t be like new, but pretty darn good. Rinse, dry, and blow the parts.

[r4st4m4n]

I have a large shower so I just found something to elevate the case and drained the loop in the shower