What water tretment for hydronic systems?

hot_rod

A cleaned system is the most important step, as he noted. And I use to think clean and regular tap fill water was fine. For years it was! Old cast boiler copper fin tube boilers ran for years without any water quality issues.

Then along comes plastic piping. For some reason, even with barrier pipe, water issues have changed. It must have to do with O2 ingress, regardless of how small.

The other change is the wide range of mix and match materials used these days. Steel, iron, copper, brass, bronze, stainless, aluminum, various alloys, rubber and or PE can often be seen mixed into one system. Each has a different "diserable" fluid friendly range. Ph becomes critical, especially in aluminum component, oxygen scavangers become more critical than in days gone by. Ingrediants to lock up hardness and other "junk" becomes more critical with small passageways found in new boilers, as even a tiny film layer hurtsd heat transfer ability. Very critical in the new condensing boilers!

For me, a good power flush to remove large particles as solder, copper shavings, dirt, wood chips, etc. Then a hydronic cleaner built to work with all the various metals and plastics, and finally a hydronic treatment to protect your investment.

Again big ugh is wise to suggest you consult with a treatment expert. Using any of these cleaners or treatments with "bad" water is just wasting your money.

hot rod

George_10

Curious what is being used to treat water

I am curious what is being used to treat both heating and snowmelt hydronic system water? Also whether it is being done in both new and existing systems? I wonder what this group suggest?

bigugh_4

water treatment

Wide range of ideas here. #1. have the system clean! fill with TSP treated water and wash the system out. Rinse this out. #2. know what the water you intend to use has in it. It may be ok right up front. If not, fill it with distilled water. #3. The use of water treatment in most hydronic systems is not that neccessary, if the system is clean to start with. #4. Water treatment should be handled by a company that does it for a proffession. It is not a hit or miss or guess method. Look in the yellow pages , water treatment. #5. Snow melt needs antifreeze of some kind. If I were to install and prescribe a snow melt fluid, I'd make sure it is compatible with the water dilution I'd use. Again start out CLEAN, and then proceed with the blessings of the anitfreeze & equipment manufactures!