Glycol question

Brad White_9

of whatever was in it is the most critical aspect. Now, you may never know what it was over time, but if the pH is OK now, chances are it always was. (It tends not to improve with age and usage, shall we say.)

Others with a stronger chemistry background will of course know far more on the subject than I.

Mark Hunt

Does anyone know


of a test that can determine what type of glycol was used in a system??

Here's the deal....

I was contacted by a homeowner that had two Buderus GB142's installed on a project. One of them was installed in a detatched garage and glycol was added to it. The installing contractor(now the former installing contractor) had no prior experience with the GB and can not/will not say exactly what type of glycol he used. At first a tech said, "Regular anti-freeze" but then the company called back and said, "We used whatever F.W. Webb told us to use"...

You all know that the GB is aluminum and needs a special anti-freeze.

Is there a way to test this on site or do I need to send a sample off somewhere?

I told the HO that we should assume that they used "regular anti-freeze" and purge the system immediately.

Mark H PE

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Brad White_9

I am with you, Mark

If the exact type and concentration cannot be determined, you need to flush it and start from scratch. To not do so can lead to permanent damage.

As for testing the type, that is a crap shoot without a chemical analysis. It could be a mix. A refractometer will tell you concentration but I cannot imagine it will for another type or a blend.

hr

I know of only two AL glycols

So far Nobel No-BursrAL and a Hercules product are the only aluminum friendly PG glycols. I'm not sure there is a tes t to determine AL friendly or not. I would imagine a lab at the company that manufactures the AL specfic product would be the ticket.

Flush and save it for another job and start over with a Rhomar multi metal flush and the correct glycol. Why risk it?

hot rod

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Mark Hunt

Agreed


That brings up another issue........warranty.

I would imagine that the boiler warranty is gone now IF the glyc used was not AL friendly?

Mark H



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hr

I doubt one seasons use

of non AL glycol would destroy that HXer. Check the ph of the fluid as it stands today. If it is in the acceptable range it should not have compromised the boiler.

I'd worry they used regular automotive EG. this can sludge a boiler in a few seasons time. Contractors and owners are often tempted to use automotive EG as it is a fraction the cost of the good hydronic specfic PG. Especially if you have priced the AL friendly fluids lately

hot rod

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Mark Hunt

Will do


Thanks guys!

Mark H

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Drew_2

Test Sample

Mark
If you would like it tested, send me a 4 oz. sample and I'll see what I can find.
Include your information so I can contact you with the results.
Noble Company
7300 Enterprise Drive
Spring Lake, MI 49456
Attn: Drew
800-678-6625

George_10

A test you could do as well as sending the sample to Drew is pH

If the pH is high 8 or 9 then it is probably the old type of glycol. the older glycols had a tendency to push the pH up to a high number. That is not true of the new AL rated glycols... they have a more neutral pH (closer to 7). If it is a lower number like close to 7, it is likely to be one of the aluminum rated glycols. I am assuming that this was a recent install.

Drew's test could be much more decisive in knowing what you have.

Another suggestion would be to contact the other contractor and alert him to the fact that he may be on the hook for a new boiler if they used the incorrect glycol. Maybe that will get them to go back and find out exactly what they did use. If the boiler and the glycol were purchased at the same time, it should be easy to find out.

George_10

Another piece of info on this topic

Rhomar has been doing several show and tell meetings with some of the major boiler companies. We were told by one, that the wrong glycol under their test conditions was allowing visible harm to the aluminum heat exchanger.

I do not know the length of the test or what temp it was being run at, but there was absolutely a problem if the wrong glycol rated freeze protection was in the system.

Weezbo

Mark.

related to the issue of antifreeze is the water quality. i may be incorrect about that buh check that aspect also...just for G.P's.