Taco Air-Scoop replacement

jmoar

Hello,

We are looking to add an Caleffi (or similar) magnetic dirt separator to a cast iron boiler system. Is there any reason we cannot remove the Taco Air-Scoop and install the separator at that location? It would appear that we do not need both, but we're getting mixed messages now.

Thanks for the input!

EBEBRATT-Ed

Yes the Caleffi would take the place of the air scoop

HomerJSmith

I usually install a magnetic dirt separator at the return to the boiler and the air eliminator at the supply out of the boiler. Air scoops work ok but takes a little longer to work than a micro bubbler. You do need a air eliminator. Caleffi makes a combination dirt separator and air eliminator.

Dave H_2

@jmoar If you are not experiencing air issues in your system, why change? Air elimination on the supply helps with air removal and the water being the hottest there.

There are dedicated magnetic dirt separators available to be installed on the return side to protect the boiler. However if you are experiencing water quality issues, it may be best to treat chemically before mechanically first.

If you are looking to update your air removal components, maybe a hi efficient device is what you are looking for, something that has a collision media internally as well as enhanced venting will do the trick.
If you are not familiar with either component, here are some examples
Enhanced Air Sep
Mag Dirt Sep

Dave H.

jmoar

thank you. We just had to have the glycol on the entire system flushed as there was some small metallic particles visible. It is a cast iron boiler as well so the next step seemed to be a magnetic separator. The air scoop is on the supply side, but would be the easy spot in the system to install it. If it needs to be on the return we will have to make that happen. Thank you!

EdTheHeaterMan

The air separator is best on the supply the magnet separator os best on the return before the boiler and before the circulator if that happens to be on the return. You want to purchase a combination air separator/magnet separator all in one... then put it on the supply in the place of the Taco air scoop. During your repipe, you can also put the circulator pump on the supply just after the air separator.
And while you are at it, perhaps the expansion tank and fill piping can be located at the air separator with the circulator pumping away from the expansion tank. Here is an excerpt from a book I used when teaching one day seminars on Hydronics.

Piping a “Heating Module” to Increase
Your Business
Once you get away from the traditional method of pumping back from
the system you begin to open a whole new world of opportunity for
yourself. Consider this. With the circulators on the supply side along
with the air separator, expansion tank, pressure reducing or fill valve,
flow-control valves, etc., you can now isolate the entire “Heating
Module” between a couple of isolating valves.


Look how easy this makes servicing any component. You just close a
couple of valves. You get all the advantages of supply-side pumping
and you can even prefabricate and test the entire module in your shop
and then just connect it to a knocked down boiler. You already know
how much space you have to work with because you saw the boiler
room when you priced the job. Think about it. If they can prefabricate a
house, why can’t we prefabricate a boiler job? Besides, isn’t it easier to
work on a well-lit bench than in a boiler room?
Using the Heating Module also gives you a good story to tell the home
owner when you’re selling the job.

This book was written before the Micro-bubble air separators. So you can eliminate the 18" approach pipe and use the more efficient combination dirt mag/air separator in this location for more efficient service in the future. Here is the text booklet if you want to read the whole thing. It’s very informative.

Jamie Hall

Metal particles? Likke visible flakes of metal, or slivers? That's not from corrosion -- that has to be from something, mostly likely a pump, wearing. Might want to investigate...

hot_rod

Look for the Caleffi Gold Standard kit. It includes the Discal and DirtCal Plus mag sep at a great price with a gold Sticker!
I see them at Supplyhouse,com