Filling a glycol system

JYoung

> I have a hot water heating system that is filled with ethylene glycol.
> During the summer a fitting cracked and some of the antifreeze leaked out.
>
> My questions are:
>
> 1. How can I figure out how much antifreeze was supposed to be in the
> system before the leak?
>
> 2. During the refilling how will I know when the system is filled?
>
> 3. Do I vent the system before, during or after refilling? Should the
> pump be on or off during venting?
>
> 4. After we repaired the fitting we put in about 8 gallons (this we did
> catch in buckets). The system heated up OK, however, some of the cast
iron
> base board radiator vented only air no antifreeze. This concerned me
because
> whenever I vented before there was always antifreeze coming out after a
very
> short blast of air if any at most radiators.
>
> Thank you for your time.
>

hr

A few things

Generally I'll pump the glycol in with a small transfer pump. Make sure you don't exceed the pop off rating on the pressure relief valve, usually 30 psi.

If the system is filled already check the freeze protection level. Strips from the glycol manufactures will get you in the ball park. A refractometer (sp) is more accurate. If you bleed at the radiators you should see, smell, feel glycol. If not you may be air locked.

Make sure you have a working, code approved, backflow preventor on the fill system when using glycol.

Check the ph of the glycol also, it may need boosters.

Find a contractor that has all the "stuff" (tools and knowledge)to help you do this correctly and safely, would be the best advice I could offer.

hot rod

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Big Ed

To Purge a loop......

......use a transfer pump . Pump it past the systems air scoop to remove the air and so you don't dilute the mix..........