Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.
Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Weird corrision leaks on a 2 year old system?

I'm having some minor corrosion leaks on my 2 year old closed loop hydronic radiant system. Some of you may remember me from this thread:
http://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/150929/poor-radiant-floor-hydronic-installation
The good news is that the poor installation was fixed, but now I have some weird leaking brass valves, pump isolation flanges and dielectric unions (see pictures).
I' wondering if it's dielectric corrosion or something else, i.e. acidic water in the system. Checking the closed loop water showed concerning low pH Levels. I also found a corroded circulator bolt/nut (maybe a zinc nut!!) which is concerning.
After I removed the pump with the corroded bold the system suddenly stopped leaking. I'm completely puzzled.
Any tips or comments what could be going on?
Thanks,
Sam




http://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/150929/poor-radiant-floor-hydronic-installation
The good news is that the poor installation was fixed, but now I have some weird leaking brass valves, pump isolation flanges and dielectric unions (see pictures).
I' wondering if it's dielectric corrosion or something else, i.e. acidic water in the system. Checking the closed loop water showed concerning low pH Levels. I also found a corroded circulator bolt/nut (maybe a zinc nut!!) which is concerning.
After I removed the pump with the corroded bold the system suddenly stopped leaking. I'm completely puzzled.
Any tips or comments what could be going on?
Thanks,
Sam




0
Leave a Comment
Categories
- 80.9K THE MAIN WALL
- 2.5K A-C, Heat Pumps & Refrigeration
- 36 Biomass
- 394 Carbon Monoxide Awareness
- 2.6K Controls
- 1.4K Domestic Hot Water
- 3.7K Gas Heating
- 101 Geothermal
- 130 Indoor-Air Quality
- 2.3K Oil Heating
- 30 Pipe Deterioration
- 564 Plumbing
- 4.2K Radiant Heating
- 333 Solar
- 12.1K Strictly Steam
- 36 Water Quality
- 7 Industry Classes
- 52 Job Opportunities
- 7 Recall Announcements
Comments
The other drips are more mysterious. I would start w a water test. Is there any non barrier tubing in the system?
trainer for Caleffi NA
The magic is in hydronics, and hydronics is in me
The leaks in the iso flange and the purge valve, I could almost guarantee are the result of overheating while soldering. Those valves are threaded together at the leak point. It is fine thread sealed with locktite. If you get it to hot you compromise the seal and it leaks. Only way to fix it is to disassemble it and reseal the threads.
ramermechanical.com
To learn more about this professional, click here to visit their ad in Find A Contractor.
I ordered a Fernox express boiler commissioning kit with cleaner and inhibitor. I wanted to add corrosion inhibitor anyway...
With the kit I also got some pH test strips. My current water in the closed loop is acidic with a pH of 4. Any idea why this happened?
What is your tap water ph?
Sounds like an acid based cleaner may have been used and not flushed out completely.
A good cleaning then fill with water with low TDS, you may need to haul water or run yours through a DI unit.
trainer for Caleffi NA
The magic is in hydronics, and hydronics is in me