Armstrong pumps keep leaking

Jake Timmerman_3

A few weeks back I installed a radiant system in an 8000 sq/ft shop. The system has three armstrong pumps in it, an E11, an E7, and an Astro 50. Last week the E11 and E7 both started leaking around the pump housing were the motor mates with the pump body. I changed both the rubber gasket and the mechanical seal on both circulators but they leaked a day later. Then I changed out both circulators and three days later and they started to leak. The astro 50 has not leaked yet. I have glycol in the system and I did not see in there paperwork if thats o.k. or not. The salesman at the supply house said glycol should not be a problem, but I think otherwise. He is getting me some grundfoss replacements, I hope this will solve the problem. Has anyone had a problem like this?

Mark Walnicki_2

Interesting

I took a quick peek at Armstrong's website.

For the Astro circulator, it is prominently mentioned that it is compatible with glycol.

For the 'E' series, they don't mention it at all.

They do say that the 'E' series can be used for a wide variety of hydronic applications, including snowmelt.

One would think that if they say it's okay for snowmelt, they would take into account that snowmelt applications involve the use of glycol. Yet, they never mention that the 'E' series is glycol friendly.

Interesting.

Jake Timmerman_3

The sales rep told me to write down all the parameters of this system and they are going to copy this system in the Armstrong lab to see what the problem is.