PB pipe ??????

Bigheadtodd

I bet this question has been asked before, but I don't know the correct direction to go, so I'm asking for help.

I have 2 jobs, both radiant. First job is a stapel up, supply temp is set high, ( above 140 ) the other is and in floor, supply temp high as well. Both jobs have PB.

The stapel up has had a couple of failures, Expansion tank, and a steel nippel both failed, started to leak.

The in floor, has had no problems, 9 years old, but when I took a sample of the water in system, it looks real bad. Dark, etc.

My questions. What should I do to keep both systems on line.

What should I look for when I take a water sample.

Were can I go to get the best info on how to keep the PB going.

I'm In Colorado, western slope, and ther is miles of this pipe in older homes. Every job I have looked at, the pipe is in good shape, just seems like a big o2 problem.

Could use some help, thanks Todd

DH

PB Radiant problems

The best thing you can do is to isolate the Poly-B radiant system from the primary heating system. This would require a heat exchanger and another pressure and circulation system.

Danfoss Inc. produce just the product that could help you. They manufacture Hydronic Radiant Panels of all shapes and sizes. One of the units that might work for you would be their 4WE00G11HI model. It is manufactured with a stainless steelplate heat exchanger, radiant circulator, air elimination device, 30 psi relief valve, mixing control with outdoor reset, pump relays, expansion tank connection. fill connection, thermostat input contacts and zone power contacts, auxiliary contacts to fire the boiler and a whole lot of other good stuff. It has been used in countless application for the retrofit market and was specifically made for this purpose.

The expansion tank should be changed to a bladder type and the system can now be treated differantly than the boiler fluid if needed.

There was a project installed in Calgary approx. 12 years ago that had 3600' of Poly-B installed in Slab and in joist. The owner had the same kind of problems of early and on going failure to expansion tanks and water quality. Eventually the 400 MBH boiler failed as well and needed to be replaced. Last November, Danfoss pre-manufactured panels were installed and replaced the system piping and controls and the homeowner is completely happy now. The project was completed in 12 hours from ripping out the old stuff, mounting the Danfoss panels and finishing the piping feeds. Enough time to complete the job without freezing the place up!


Call the great team at Danfoss Calgary @ 1-403-236-9560 and they would more than happy to provide you an option to cleaning up this mess as it will never get better and you might still have the chance to save the boiler.

DH