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Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze #6680374
12/01/19 10:34 AM
12/01/19 10:34 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
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Rock Springs, WI
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Zim Offline OP
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Rock Springs, WI
Do any of you guys run antifreeze in your outdoor boiler? It seems like a pretty big initial investment and I understand it may use a little more wood to get the water / antifreeze mixture up to temp.
It would be nice to be away for a week or two in the winter and not have to pester a neighbor to tend the stove for me.
I had heard that you can let the fire go out for a period of time and the pump circulating the water into the basement and through the indoor furnace will not allow it to freeze.
I am a little skeptical on that when it could be -20 outside. If we have a bad winter storm and the power is out for a few days is a concern also.
Just looking at not being completely dependent on wood heat from November to April.

Thanks, Zim

Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: Zim] #6680435
12/01/19 11:47 AM
12/01/19 11:47 AM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,294
Northern MN
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Osky Offline
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Zim a lot of people do up here particularly if they are heating out buildings.

Osky


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Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: Zim] #6680455
12/01/19 12:17 PM
12/01/19 12:17 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
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The Beav Offline
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Wisconsin
So you don't have a back up furnace that runs on gas.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: The Beav] #6680501
12/01/19 01:02 PM
12/01/19 01:02 PM
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WI>>>MN >>>WI
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Originally Posted by The Beav
So you don't have a back up furnace that runs on gas.

That!

With a backup furnace an unattended boiler's water will pick up enough heat from the heat exchanger(s) in the house to be safe. Mine maintains 80°F even though it also serves an otherwise unheated solarium and three car garage.


Man who mistake shillelagh for fairy wand; see pixie dust, also.
Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: T-Rex] #6680513
12/01/19 01:22 PM
12/01/19 01:22 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,981
Rock Springs, WI
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Zim Offline OP
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Rock Springs, WI
Beav and T-Rex, either I need to improve on my writing skills or you fellers .. ah never mind.
T-Rex how does that work when your electricity is out?

Zim

Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: Zim] #6680517
12/01/19 01:29 PM
12/01/19 01:29 PM
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,497
Southern NJ
maintenanceguy Offline
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We use propylene glycol in lots of cooling towers that are exposed to the weather over the winter. These often share water with boilers so it's perfectly normal to run glycol through a boiler.

T-rex is correct, if your circulating pump is running, you are pumping water warmed by the house out to your heater. Whether that is enough heat depends on your pump and exchanger. We lost a $40,000 tube bundle heat exchanger in a cooling tower last year when a pump failed overnight. That system now has glycol.

I don't know if glycol takes longer to heat than water or not. But, if glycol does require more heat input to come up to temperature, it won't be much and it doesn't matter anyway because it would then have more heat available in the glycol to heat the house.

The one issue you do have with glycol is it makes the water more viscous. Pumps can push less fluid as the percentage of glycol increases. It seems that everything works pretty good until your glycol gets close to 20% - your setup might be different.

And, we use propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol. Propylene is "food safe" according to the FDA. Ethylene is poisonous. We also have the water treatment company add dye to the system when we add glycol. Heating water - red. cooling water - blue. This way, we know right away if a leaking pipe is heating water, cooling water, or just regular water.


-Ryan
Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: maintenanceguy] #6680520
12/01/19 01:35 PM
12/01/19 01:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,981
Rock Springs, WI
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Zim Offline OP
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Thank you, That is the kind of stuff I was hoping to hear.

Zim

Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: Zim] #6680524
12/01/19 01:42 PM
12/01/19 01:42 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
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Wisconsin
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The Beav Offline
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So with no gas back up when you leave your going to have to drain your potable water systems and add antifreeze to your drains and toilet.


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Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: The Beav] #6680531
12/01/19 01:58 PM
12/01/19 01:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,981
Rock Springs, WI
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Zim Offline OP
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Rock Springs, WI
No Beav, as my original post says I was questioning if the pump would allow the water circulation to the basement furnace to keep from freezing when it is really cold.
T-Rex says he thinks so. Mighty expensive deal if it doesn't. The outdoor boiler system has a temperature switch connected to the propane furnace in the basement.
If the water temp. coming from the outdoor boiler for any reason falls below 140 degrees the LP furnace kicks in.
Happy Holidays to ya.

Zim

Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: Zim] #6680566
12/01/19 02:45 PM
12/01/19 02:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
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The Beav Offline
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Well here's what I would do If you plan on leaving for a week or so. Install a holding tank In your basement then when you leave just circulate the water through the tank and by pass the out side boiler.l


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Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: The Beav] #6680577
12/01/19 02:57 PM
12/01/19 02:57 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
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Rock Springs, WI
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Zim Offline OP
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Hey, that makes good sense.

Thanks, Zim

Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: Zim] #6681423
12/02/19 02:56 PM
12/02/19 02:56 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,252
mi. u.p
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I turn my boiler temp down when i leave and stack it full of wood. Turn the house temp down to 55.
I get at least 3 days that way.
Then i turn my forced air furnace to 50. This keeps my outdoor boiler good as long as the breaker doesn't pop or power goes out.
Safest way is with antifreeze in lines. I have not gone that way yet.
One big freeze up and antifreeze would pay for itself easy.

Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: Zim] #6681489
12/02/19 04:51 PM
12/02/19 04:51 PM
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minnesota
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gman Offline
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I bought used antifreeze from the local junkyard and it has worked fine for years. They have to drain it from the vehicles before they can scrap them. Has to be properly disposed of so they sell it dirt cheap-here at least.

Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: Zim] #6681492
12/02/19 04:59 PM
12/02/19 04:59 PM
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Wisconsin
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The Beav Offline
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If those that have Outside wood boilers would build the pipe chase correctly they wouldn't have to worry about antifreeze and there water freezing up. A well Insulated chase and some heat tape wrapped around the pipe Is good insurance.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: Zim] #6681541
12/02/19 06:18 PM
12/02/19 06:18 PM
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,497
Southern NJ
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I hate heat tape. I've had it fail too often to trust it.


-Ryan
Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: Zim] #6681594
12/02/19 07:27 PM
12/02/19 07:27 PM
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Wisconsin
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Yes but It's better then NO heat tape.


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Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: Zim] #6681633
12/02/19 08:20 PM
12/02/19 08:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
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uniontown pa
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I thought that boiler antifreeze was really concentrated and you didn't use as much. How many gallon is your system?


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Challenge your limits
Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: Zim] #6681826
12/02/19 11:46 PM
12/02/19 11:46 PM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 828
Hill City,Mn.
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Zim,
I've had anti freeze in my boiler for over ten years, the lines are inside an insulated pipe, and buried 5 feet underground. Replacing broken lines in December sucks. If my power drops from a major snow storm or a leak has to be fixed in the system I don't worry anymore. Cheap insurance in my mind.


Keep your boots dry
Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: Rally] #6681839
12/03/19 12:15 AM
12/03/19 12:15 AM
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Rock Springs, WI
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Zim Offline OP
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Thank you Rally for your input. My lines run from the outdoor boiler thru an insulated pex line also.
Do you recall if you bought a specific brand of antifreeze?I
I was hoping to get by with a 55 gallon barrel of the stuff.

Thanks again, Zim

Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze [Re: gutthooked] #6681847
12/03/19 12:30 AM
12/03/19 12:30 AM
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Rock Springs, WI
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Originally Posted by gutthooked
I thought that boiler antifreeze was really concentrated and you didn't use as much. How many gallon is your system?

196 gallons.

Zim

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