Disassemble circ before reuse in new system ?

Dave Carpentier

Putting a new Alpha 15-58 on the slab, but reusing the (10 yr?) old Alpha 15-55 for the boiler loop. Mounting both circs on flanges.

Install is in a couple of days. Would it be a bad idea to open up the 15-55 to check/clean ? What if it doesnt reseal ?

It was quiet last heating season.

Also.. I'm going to hang on to my old 15-42 as a backup circ. What do people do to store a circ (take apart and clean ?, run a lubricant thru it ?)

mattmia2

use isolation flanges or but isolation valves on both sides of the circulator

i'd probably oil it with wd40 or something similar to keep it from rusting while stored then maybe wash it out with some detergent before using it.

if you open up the circulator and it doesn't reseal then you might need a new o-ring or to clean up the surface for the o-ring. probably could permatex or loctite it if it doesn't seal too since it doesn't really move in a way that needs an o-ring.

Dave Carpentier

Yes, I have 4 isolation flanges. (2 pairs gets you into a coupla c-notes here nowadays.. crazy)

Oil choice might depend on what the oil is touching.. rubber, silicone ?

Good idea on the seals, a controlled application of rtv or such might work fine.

mattmia2

i'd only use rtv if it doesn't seal on its own. there shouldn't be any synthetic rubber in contact with the water, the o-ring deep in between the 2 parts of the body is the only synthetic rubber, the bearings are water lubricated and the rest is iron or steel.