Ultra for snowmelt

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a very easy piping installation. A basis primary loop with takeoffs for the driveway loops.

The Curvo helped a lot in running along the curved sloped drive way. About 6 bends and offsets in each of these runs. Much easier than oval shaped soft copper in 1-1/4" diameter :)

Be aware with an aluminum block boiler, a special anti freeze is needed!

Two things... It is about 5 bucks a gallon MORE than normal PG hydronic glycol. And the brand I chose only comes diluted at 65% so the mix requires a lot more than the normal straight strength DowFrost I'm used to.

It may pencil out better to use a HXer between the boiler and melt side if you have a large capacity system. You would take a small hit on efficiency loss thru the HX, BUT the boiler would see straight water giving better transfer than glycol. May be a tradeoff??

Do the math if you go the aluminum/ glycol route!

hot rod

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hydronicsmike

Hot Rod

I was just recently told by Weil McLain that as long as it flows, it doesn't matter what the glycol temperature is that you can send back to the Ultra's. With the special mix of glycol, how low do you think the temperature can drop before it becomes a problem? Do you have any experience with that?

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As I recall

somewhere around 0°F a 50-50% mix of PG is no longer pump-able with a centrifugal pump. EG can go a bit colder. This may vary from brand to brand, but the stuff gets very thick at low temperatures. At some temperature the glycol will turn to slush, and not be pump-able. But you still have burst protection. Even at room temperature my small 1/2 hp transfer pump struggles to inject straight glycol.

Need to check with the boiler manufactures also. They will have a recommended max glycol blend listed in their installation info.

Be very leary of some of the less expensive PG hydronic glycol claims! If it pours like water at freezing temperatures, somethings fishy! Take a cup and put it in your freezer overnight!

I try to stay at 60/40% with my systems. In my area this provides adequate freeze/ slush protection. Generally we don't melt snow in the 0° degree range, BUT we still need to protect the tube from freeze ups.

hot rod

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marc

a couple of questions

do you insulate your underground piping, is the manifold and pump for the mat underground or in another room, i only saw 1 pump at the boiler with primary secondary piping. thanks, marc.