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Aluminum HX corrosion signs on water side

Gordy
Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
in THE MAIN WALL
Primary side of system keeps clogging taco 3 way ivalve screens with black debris. Boiler has aluminum HX. Could the black debris be aluminum?

Comments

  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,122
    @Gordy
    It could be but Im not sure.
    Debris from rubber seats could have found its way in, Or it could be organic?
    Possibly.....
    Dirt from the water supply?
    Does it feel like rubber? Is it coffee grounds texture?
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,704
    Does it stick to a magnet?
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,122
    That looks like rubber from that picture. The disc you are holding? Is it leaving black stains on your hands? If so, Its most likely rubber braking down.
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
    Working on this remotely hands off. Owner is  going to check debris with a magnet. Little background. Last year the installer of this system filled the system with well water to commission the house had been inactive for quite sometime while doing a 2 year renovation😳. After that the owner hauled in clean fill water. The owner flushed and purged system. The owner has repeatedly cleaned these taco ivalve screens of debris. At first sand and grit last year. Now black this year.

    i don’t know as of now if this is iron from well water turning black from last year, or aluminum from HX. Bosch green star boiler. 

    He tested and put additive in system last year to treat PH etc. 

    He has a Caleffi hydro sep so should catch any iron in enough passes. 





  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,704
    Magnetite will stick to a magnet
    Iron bacteria also builds a black sludge, somewhat gritty. Smells like rotten eggs
    it can live in steel well casings

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    Zman
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
    edited January 22
    Update:

    Non magnetic. Non staining like a rubber residue. 



  • kcopp
    kcopp Member Posts: 4,462
    edited January 24
    May need a good power flush.... not just a purge. Was glycol added?
  • Zman
    Zman Member Posts: 7,609
    I have seen iron bacteria do that. What do the toilet tanks look like? If they are iron stained with biofilm, it’s probably iron bacteria. Any chance it is left over from previous boiler? Could always send it to Rhomar for tests.
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"
    Albert Einstein
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
    Zman this is /was a virgin system. Until ……..
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
    No glycol
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546

  • Zman
    Zman Member Posts: 7,609
    edited January 22
    That might be bacteria. Any info on the tap water? I think it is time for some tests.
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"
    Albert Einstein
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
    I think you are on to something zman. Agree in testing

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