iron levels in water

Ken Wilson

I installed a geothermal closed loop system approx. 2 years ago. The system uses taco circulators and is anti freeze protected as I have done many times before. This job has two independent systems and my problem is that I am going through circulators in about a year. I installed fine mesh screens to try to catch possible debris in water but not much. There will be a fine film on top of the water in my pumpak when it sits still for awhile and the plastic on the impeller is dyed red. Like from iropn in water. A respectable commercial hvac outfit said that the fine iron in the water will destroy any of the common circulators by eating up the seal surfaces and he had that proble once until he installed a iron filter system to clean up his water and no problems since. I have never has this problems on any radiant floor applications and pumps. This was filled with well water and at the time the water was clear looking to the eye but was never tested. Looking for your input on the validity of iron in water and pump life for the small circulators Thanks.

hot_rod

A couple thoughts

You are right to question the water you filled the system with. Any water treatment company should be able to test that for you. Are you using iron bodied pumps? They could be the cause of your "red water"

Antifreeze with inhibitors or methanol? Meth is common in many ground loop systems as an antifreeze, I don't believe it has and inhibitors for O2, ph buffering, etc.

If it is antifreeze, be sure it is hydronic antifreeze, not automotive or RV. Inhibitors can be tested and boosted in most hydronic fluids. Any inhibited fluid will need maintenance and checkups. The inhibitors get "used up" that's why they are in there.

Barrier pipe?

Remember systems with small amounts of ferrous materials will really see corrosion attacks concentrated on the small ferrous components. It's called the "Relative Area Effect" In your case the pump, being the only ferrous component, may be the "fall guy"

Treat the problem, not the symptom! Find out the cause and the solution will be obvious You may have put the culprit in the system, or the system is creating the problem. Or BOTH

hot rod