Water PH and Condensing Boilers

Steve Rockwell_3

A few questions for you wallies.

What are the effects of water PH on condensing boilers? Do manufacturer warranties make exclusions in regards?

Are cast aluminum heat exchangers questionable due to this issue, as some claim? And are stainless steel heat exchangers really immune to PH problems?

I find it interesting that the WM Ultra warranty, with cast aluminum hx is 15 years, while the Vitodens with SS hx is only 8.

Please enlighten me with your opinions on the subject as I try to make a decision between condensing equipment options for a boiler replacement. By the way, I'm on city water.

Thanks.

Steve

hr

Yes, water quality

is very important with aluminum alloy boilers. And yes, even stainless has ph and chloride ranges.

Most manufactures will give you the spec for their product. I think it is VERY important to flush and use an all metal friendly cleaner and inhibitor.

Crown stainless indirect tanks have a label on them specing acceptable water quality. Failure to do so will void even an 8 year warranty you mentioned!

Slowly but surely the aliminum and stainless boiler manufactures will learn this lesson IMO.

Rhomar has developed cleaners and inhibitors specfically for the new multi metal boilers. find them at the manufactures heading at this site.

hot rod

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dconnors

Stainless

keep in mind that there is different grades of stainless also

jerry scharf_2

like the oil in cars

Steve,

As boilers work to squeeze more and more out of the heat sources, the demands on the metals increases. This also means that the maintenance of the system, including the system water, becomes more critical.

You can't run a modern automobile engine on the oil that was used 30 years ago, the demands are much higher. But the fuel efficiencies and HP/liter are way better.

There is no modern boiler that is immune to system water problems. The speed at which a boiler can die with aluminum is probably higher, but stainless will fail with bad water as well.

Warranties are more related to marketing than engineering or manufacturing. I believe Hyundai (sp?) has the best warranty in the auto industry right now. Does this mean that they are built better? No, it means that they are willing to accept some increase in covered repairs with the hope it will increase sales volume and profit.

Warranties are like lawsuits, it's better to win than to lose, but neither are better than not going there. I'm not questioning the expected lifetime of various boilers, just commenting that I would not use the warranty as a strong selector.

jerry

Unknown

Talk to George at Rhomar

@rhomarwater.com

A true education. We dhould all be so lucky to be educated bu this man.

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bob_25

PH

I think I would be more concerned about the effect of the condensate on the heat exchanger than what is going on in the water side. bob