Caleffi Discal Dirt Mag vs. Spirovent & Adey Magnaclean

Bcos17

Planning a new hydronic install off a Williamson cast iron boiler. Debating between the all in one dirt and air separator from Caleffi vs separate units from Spirovent for air and Adey Magnaclean XP2 for dirt/metal. Does anyone have any preference or see a benefit to one vs the other?

EdTheHeaterMan

I believe all three companies hav all three product choices. The company does not matter, the features do. But @hot_rod can tell you why Caleffi is better LOL

How the systems operate should be considered. You want to stop junk from entering the boiler, so the magnet/filtering/strainer device should be on the return to stop the junk before it enters the boiler. The air separator does the best job if it is placed on the supply side of the boiler with the circulator pump placed directly after the air vent, and the expansion tank placed on the opening at the bottom of the vent.

If $$$$ is not a concern, I would choose separate units. But I do not see the reason for a DirtMag on a cast iron boiler unless the system is really clogged with lots of metal laden sludge. Most systems are not. But each system is unique.

dko

Bar none the Caleffi XF is the best choice to make.
https://landing.caleffi.com/en/xf/
Depending on when you're going to pull the trigger, it should be readily stocked.

As for the air eliminators
I only recommend these
Caleffi Discal
Resideo (Honeywell) Supervent
Webstone H-7x00

I stopped selling Spirovents a while back in lieu of the above options
Spirovent's thin copper wire mesh just doesn't hold up except for the cleanest, chemically treated, and well maintained systems. The mesh deteriorates quicker than the rest and doesn't hold it's design/shape very long which is what gives it it's effectiveness. It's also the hardest to access and you have to split the body while the rest has an easy access cap.

Spirovents are simply replaced when they start leaking, even if it just needed some float cleaning, the mesh would be so far gone. Haven't seen one opened that maintained it's original shape.

The rest can be opened easily and cleaned.

Resideo/Webstone use a stainless steel mesh
Caleffi uses a glass-filed nylon mesh which is similar to the material used for impellers in your circulators.

I'd give the Caleffi a higher score due to parts being more accessible and available.

clammy

i use adey comes w isolation valves and i like the fact that i can add cleaners and or inhibitors easily without a hand pump and see the iron oxides and the element . As much as some may not be concerned about magnetic metals in your fluids if using ecm pumps it can shorten there life expediency over time and in comparisons to a ecm pump replacement i feel the adey is good insurance as is any dirt mag separator . i have used the califfee also and use plenty of there other products but i just feel the adey is a better fit for myself and what i do .

peace and good luck clammy

SuperTech

I like to see a DirtMag on any boiler using a ECM circulator. It's good to protect the circulator.

hot_rod

It's super easy to service the Caleffi, no need to disassemble to clean, just remove the external magnet and purge dirt and magnetite out.

The top end is serviceable and the cap is replaceable.

Options include check valve cap, hydroscopic cap and adapter to take vent to a drain with 3/8" copper tubing.

The XF extra filtration is a dirt separator and Y strainer combined. So it grabs very small particles on the first pass.

Rotate the collar and brushes wipe the screen clean.

Dirt separators can take 30- 50 passes to get all the fine particles out.

Screenshot 2024-11-28 at 9.01.39 PM.png

Bcos17

I tried to source a Caleffi XF but was unable to find it for sale. It wasn't available on Supplyhouse (and still isn't 6 months later) and my local supply houses didn't have it. I ended up going with a Caleffi DISCAL air separator on the supply side and an Adey Magnaclean Pro XP on the return. Results have been good so far.

offdutytech

I like the separate units unless i'm doing a mod con. Then it's a hydraulic separator that's all in one. Sometimes i'll use a Adey filter and the hydraulic sep it the system needs cleaning up. A lot just depends on the system. Do you have coarse particles or more fine/ mud in the system. The Adey has worked well in fine particles/ mud systems for me. I also like the fact it's easy to isolate it and spin the lid off for chemical treatment.

Bcos17

No course particles, only very fine black silt/mud that has been attaching itself to the Adey. I've cleaned it 3-4 times since April when I did the install but it probably didn't need that much attention. There has not been a lot of material, so I think overall the water is pretty clean.