mod-con condensate waste treatment in Massachusetts

Big Ed_4

Not sure of the Mass code. But if you have iron waste lines run it though lime chips to nutralize it's acid content or it will eat away at your pipes.

narcaparbebra

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS IN MASSACHUSETTS REGUARDING CONDENSATE WASTE FROM A CONDENSENING BOILER AND WHERE IT IS TREATED BEFORE ENTERING THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM?

Jim P

I just did a modcon in MA and the plumbing inspector passed the job with no problems with the boiler condensate dumping into the laundry p-trap (PVC).



Jim

Brad White_198

There are some issues

with septic systems I was told, (fortunately most are installed with sewer connections though).

One school we did SW of Boston had a well plus septic and was considered a waterworks. The condensate, even neutralized, was considered a low-level toxic waste which had to be trucked away at 30 cents a gallon. (With at least one 2MMBH condensing boiler in a hybrid system, that was 20 gallons per hour to be contained, not drained.. can you imagine.)

Condensing was eliminated as an option and we went with conventional cast iron sectional boilers.

Dan Sedens

It Depends!

If you are in Cambridge, condensate needs to pass through a neutralizer before discharging into drainage system. In Revere you need to dischatge heating side of Furnasty into drainage system and AC needs to drain outside. When in doubt install a condensate neutralizer and go into a properly vented fixture.

scott markle_2

it's my understanding that the toxicity comes from heavy metals. Fortunately low levels of metals don't generally travel very well in soil from the point of contamination. I don't worry too much about my well, but I burn about 400 gallons a year, if I was dumping 20 gallons an hour I'd have some reservations too.

However, I don't understand your numbers - 2,000,000/139,000 = 14.8 gal. How can you get more condensate per hour than fuel burned?

Brad, I'd appreciate if you have anything to add to the glycol and solar post. Not looking to start a drain-back Vs. closed loop squabble. I'm just not clear on the glycol lowers efficiency argument, I always appreciate your ability to break down the variables.

Derheatmeister

For the Environment!

Regardless if mandated or not i always install a Neutralizer on Condensing boilers!

It is just the proper thing to do ,not only for the piping(cast iron) ,But also for the environment just imagine every one starts dumping acid down the Drain.

That will change the PH on the water treatment Plants. which will have a thought time trying to keep the Nitrobacters alive which are needed to break down r crap.It is time that we stop saying: "The solution to pollution is dilution"

As far as i understand it is against the code in Europe to allow Condensate into the sewer system without neutralizing it first!

And yes Condensate kills septic systems and leach fields
I've seen on here in Colorado and it cost the owners $40000 to redo the entire system

Scott,sorry but i am with Brad on the "Glycol lowers efficiency"

Thanks Heatmeister

Derheatmeister

Scott,i just realized that you were asking Brad and he did not even answer yet Sorry ,Richard

scott markle_2

Richard, sorry to hijack this post but what is YOUR take on the solar question?

Seems to me that if we have a place to put the heat glycol is not the bottleneck some are suggesting. Is it fair to equate glycol efficiency with system efficiency, Does a drain-back system really collect 13% more energy than closed loop glycol under identical conditions?

Derheatmeister

13% ?? I do not know ! But want to !I got to run to do a service call now and will be at the Octoberfest later. But i will do some research tomorrow and check in on the other post.