magnetite build-up on water side?

Plumbob

Someone who knows more than me about hydronic systems told me that my Munchkin, which is connected to a converted gravity system of cast iron radiators and pipes, will see a buildup of magnetite on the water side of the stainless steel coils, and that this causes a low-mass boiler to fail after a few years if not cleaned.

Is this true, and if so, how does one clean the water side? (The cleaning with Marsolve or CLR described in the manual is on the burner side. I am not even sure how one would get any CLR to the water side.)

I have heard about some kind of treatment that changes pH and reduces scale on the inside of a cast iron heating system. How would I determine whether this is necessary? Will the SS coils be OK under such treatment?

Many thanks,

Mark Hunt

Did that person


happen to say how long this will take?

I have Munchkins over 5 years old out there that are purring right along connected to CI rads.

Magnetite

Is your friend a sales rep for a cast iron boiler company?

Mark H

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Plumbob

Well, 5 years isn't much. I want my boiler to last longer than that!

As for my informant, no, he works for a well-respected wall-mount condensing boiler company, but their boilers must have larger-diamter coils because I know they don't require P/S piping. Anyway, I don't know if he's right, which is why I'm checking it here.

Maybe he should not have said magnetite, but rather rust. Both are iron oxides. Is there rust and scale in a CI system? Of course there is. Does it collect in a stainless heat exchanger? I have no idea, so I'm asking.

Mark Hunt

The question is valid


motives may be questionable since he targets a specific product.

5 years is nothing in the life of a boiler, but is there the same concern for micro-bubble air eliminators? If so, I have never seen that mentioned.

Any low volume boiler requires extra attention. Rhomar water has excellent cleaners for hydronic systems. We need to keep our systems clean.

The GPM through a Munchkin would make it far less likely for the situation your friend describes to happen. Same for a Vitodens, or a Monitor, etc.........

This doesn't absolve us from being diligent in our service to these systems, but these systems are not prone to failure in the above mentioned application.

Be of good cheer, you have a good system. With proper attention it will last you a long, long time!

Best wishes!

Mark H

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Mark Eatherton1

The Munchkin Syndrome...

That's what it'll probably go down in history as if your friend is correct. Key word IF.

Seems to me that the HXer they're using is not proprietary to their product, and IF in fact it were an issue, the manufacturers would be aware of it a LONG time ago, and may have chosen another material for their HXer's.

That said, a search of the internet came up with nothing of significance that would cause me to lose sleep over the issue.

There are numerous boiler manufacturers who make use of close passage way stainless steel heat exchangers, one of which is Heat Transfer Products Co., Inc If this problem is going to affect ALL manufacturers of SS HXer type of boilers, there are a WHOLE lot of people who will be in serious doodoo, not just Munchkin owners.

Let me state this, I know the source of your information, and I respect his opinion as it pertains to condensing appliances. He was the first person to introduce me to the technology a LONG time ago. But I have to state, that he is NOT an expert on water side corrosion of stainless steel boilers, and with that said, I have to look at that statement with a particularly jaundiced eye, and wonder what degree of marketing hyperbole constitutes the statement.

Face it, HTP has pissed off many people with their inexpensive condensing technology. All their conmpetitors look at it and say "It's CHEAP", and I look at them and say "You're right, and it works just like the one you're selling for two to three times as much.."

As I said, I know your source personally, and in fact I've begun dealing in his product, but not because he told me I could expect water side issues with the other boilers I carry. I know how to discern the differenc between marketing and truth.

I'll sleep just fine tonight, and every night thereafter. And I sleep with a Munchkin, keeping me warm...and you should do the same.

Tell our friend I said hello.

ME

.

That's him

> Let me state this, I know the source

> of your information, and I respect his opinion as

> it pertains to condensing appliances. He was the

> first person to introduce me to the technology a

> LONG time ago.


That's him. There are several other posts here that praise him highly, so you can't blame me for taking him seriously.

Thanks for the reassurance!