Automatic water feeders. Why so polarizing?

Hap_Hazzard

Dan reported a case of flooding where the water feeder had been piped from the water heater. He thought the calcite crystals that precipitate when water is heated fouled the valve seat and prevented it from closing. This is the only case I've heard of where the LWCO wasn't at fault, and most people know better than to use the hot water supply. In my limited experience, diaphragm valves fail to open when they go bad. They never fail to close.

DanHolohan

@Hap_Hazzard, that was from my McDonnell Miller training. They didn't want to supply hot water to their 47-2 feeder/cutoff because the feed valve wouldn't seat after awhile. Contractors used hot water out of fear that cold water would shock the boiler, but that water is going into a warm (or hot) return line before it reaches the boiler, so it was not a problem.

Hap_Hazzard

Some water feeders might not be compatible with certain LWCOs and vice-versa. The installation manual for the CycleGard LWCOs contains the following warning"

Note: Use of a solenoid valve or McDonnell & Miller Model 101A water feeder may cause flooding and is not recommended for use with this low water cut-off.