OWB finally shut down

[ktm250rider]

Finally let the fire burn out on my 5500. Ive read about draining, refilling, treating the water, getting up to temp and then shutting down for the summer.
Do you really need to get it up to temp after refilling? If so, would it do any harm to leave it filled and covered until the fall then change the water and treat.

 

[Butch(OH)]

I do mine in the spring as suggested for no reason other than I figure they know more about maintaining the unit than I do. The cost of the additive is small, water is close to free, well mine is anyway. When I fire mine after the flush and change I use paper and cardboard and it burns out most of the crap making final cleaning of the firebox much easier. I then add a step that WM doesnt suggest (for obvious reason) I spray some used oil in the firebox with a garden sprayer. Mine is two years old and looks new inside, I hope the water treatments are keeping the jackets is as good of condition.