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/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.
Checking ECM Circs For Iron Particle Buildup
D107
Member Posts: 1,906
Had new Peerless cast iron boiler installed almost four years ago. We have a an Adey Magnaclean Professional 2XP filter on it. Last tuneup was done June 2020. Waterways thoroughly cleaned, de-mineralized, additive put, pro water analysis tested good considering old gravity conversion. A quick-test device even now shows no appreciable build-up or iron particles. (there is some collection of particles in bottom of the reverse indirect, lowest part of the system.)
In June 2020 I had the tech check the volute of the reverse indirect circ, and there was a slight iron film buildup on it, which was cleaned off. Magnaclean after a year showed minor black buildup, which was also cleaned up. Never had the heating circ volute checked.
My question is, knowing that ECM circulators are known to be sensitive to iron particles, what kind of a buildup would constitute a potential problem for their running smoothly? How often should volutes be checked and cleaned?
In June 2020 I had the tech check the volute of the reverse indirect circ, and there was a slight iron film buildup on it, which was cleaned off. Magnaclean after a year showed minor black buildup, which was also cleaned up. Never had the heating circ volute checked.
My question is, knowing that ECM circulators are known to be sensitive to iron particles, what kind of a buildup would constitute a potential problem for their running smoothly? How often should volutes be checked and cleaned?
0
Comments
-
The issue is IF the magnetite gets into the space between the rotor and rotor can. It’s a bit more complicated to split the circulator apart at that assembly. It’s the powerful magnet in the rotor that attracts the magnetite l, and can slow down or lock up the rotation.
The volute really doesn’t tell much. The mag separator crud would be a better indicator.
With that separator I would not expect to have magnetite issues, and with the precautions you have taken it should be a moot point
if nothing showed up on the clean out, the less you open the system the better, as O2 gets in when exposed to atmosphereBob "hot rod" Rohr
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream1 -
I think the magnetic separation product development was directly related to the introduction of permanent magnet wet rotor circs. Without a dedicated mag separator, the ECM can take on that function😗
Prior to that, oil drain plugs were the other common application of magnetic partical removal.
Bob "hot rod" Rohr
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream1
Categories
- All Categories
- 86.3K THE MAIN WALL
- 3.1K A-C, Heat Pumps & Refrigeration
- 53 Biomass
- 422 Carbon Monoxide Awareness
- 90 Chimneys & Flues
- 2K Domestic Hot Water
- 5.4K Gas Heating
- 100 Geothermal
- 156 Indoor-Air Quality
- 3.4K Oil Heating
- 63 Pipe Deterioration
- 917 Plumbing
- 6.1K Radiant Heating
- 381 Solar
- 14.9K Strictly Steam
- 3.3K Thermostats and Controls
- 54 Water Quality
- 41 Industry Classes
- 47 Job Opportunities
- 17 Recall Announcements