ANTI-FREEZE

MODERN TECH

Hey thanks alot for your responses.
I know it's toxic but I do not know anyone that has ever drank water from a heating system. Anyway my customer asked me that question because it is cheaper than the hydronic stuff.

MODERN TECH

ANTI FREEZE

CAN WE USE AUTOMOBILE ANTI FREEZE IN A HOT WATER HEATING SYSTEM? AND WHY.

Brad White_184

If you want to destroy your system go ahead

and use automotive anti-freeze. Automotive A/F has silicates which are highly abrasive plus other chemicals designed for the harsher automobile environment.

Automotive A/F is also ethylene glycol which is toxic. Ask your dog. Propylene glycol has a low oral toxicity (it is used in mouthwash and some food products, best not to think about that nor gargle with your hydronic fluid, let's be clear here....

Use Noble No-Burst, Dowtherm SR-1 or any quality propylene glycol made especially for hydronic systems. If you have aluminum components in the system, there are anti-freeze solutions made especially for that.

hot_rod

Not really

as Brad mentioned, the silicates will sludge up your circs and other components. I have seen it happen in a years time.

FYI they do however make non toxic PG automotive antifreeze nowadays. Prestone Sierra, and a few other brands are now standard in many new autos. About time.

hot rod

Brad White

It is not that you would drink the boiler water

but that a spill of something toxic versus something with a low oral toxicity gets less press coverage shall we say...

Yes, automotive A/F does cost less but that alone is not sufficient reason to do or not to do something in my opinion. Straight grain alcohol won't freeze either and it costs even less- again, no one is suggesting you should use it.

hot_rod

the potential for backflow is always present

If you do use a toxic product in a system be sure it is not connected to a potable water supply or an approved RPZ backflow device is used and tested every year by a certified back flow company.

i have seen bright green fluid flow out of kitchen faucets! happened to a neighbor once when his radiant backflowed into his water system when a fire hydrant down the street was activated.

Use hydronic glycol with the PG and proper addetives to protect us all

hot rod
hot rod

Leo

Disposal Issues

When it goes bad you now have disposal issues. Just because something is cheaper doesn't make it better or right.

Leo

hot_rod

typical heating systems

don't hold that much fluid. At 35- 40% mix you may only need a 5 gallon bucket or so. The price difference, between the correct, safe fluid and a mis-applied fluid seems like a mute point.

hot rod