Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze
[Re: Zim]
#6680435
12/01/19 11:47 AM
12/01/19 11:47 AM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,295 Northern MN
Osky
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Posts: 9,295
Northern MN
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Zim a lot of people do up here particularly if they are heating out buildings.
Osky
"A womans heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth, and I can find no sign on it" Jabless in Minnesota www.SureDockusa.com
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Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze
[Re: Zim]
#6680455
12/01/19 12:17 PM
12/01/19 12:17 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797 Wisconsin
The Beav
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Wisconsin
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So you don't have a back up furnace that runs on gas.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze
[Re: The Beav]
#6680501
12/01/19 01:02 PM
12/01/19 01:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,475 WI>>>MN >>>WI
T-Rex
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WI>>>MN >>>WI
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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.
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Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze
[Re: Zim]
#6680517
12/01/19 01:29 PM
12/01/19 01:29 PM
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,497 Southern NJ
maintenanceguy
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Southern NJ
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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
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Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze
[Re: Zim]
#6680524
12/01/19 01:42 PM
12/01/19 01:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797 Wisconsin
The Beav
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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.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze
[Re: Zim]
#6680566
12/01/19 02:45 PM
12/01/19 02:45 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797 Wisconsin
The Beav
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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
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze
[Re: Zim]
#6681492
12/02/19 04:59 PM
12/02/19 04:59 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797 Wisconsin
The Beav
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Wisconsin
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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
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Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze
[Re: Zim]
#6681541
12/02/19 06:18 PM
12/02/19 06:18 PM
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,497 Southern NJ
maintenanceguy
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Southern NJ
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I hate heat tape. I've had it fail too often to trust it.
-Ryan
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Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze
[Re: Zim]
#6681594
12/02/19 07:27 PM
12/02/19 07:27 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797 Wisconsin
The Beav
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Wisconsin
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Yes but It's better then NO heat tape.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze
[Re: Zim]
#6681633
12/02/19 08:20 PM
12/02/19 08:20 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,162 uniontown pa
gutthooked
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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?
Don't limit your challenges Challenge your limits
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Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze
[Re: Zim]
#6681826
12/02/19 11:46 PM
12/02/19 11:46 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 828 Hill City,Mn.
Rally
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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
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Re: Outdoor Boiler Antifreeze
[Re: gutthooked]
#6681847
12/03/19 12:30 AM
12/03/19 12:30 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,981 Rock Springs, WI
Zim
OP
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OP
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Rock Springs, WI
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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? 196 gallons. Zim
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