To Glycol or not??

Mike C_3

strongly do you feel about this?

Mike C_3

What do you use?

I live in central Oregon and am curious what most people use to charge a radiant system. Most systems recently installed are GB's with an indirect.
Thanks in advance for your help!

[Deleted User]

Top 10 reasons to induce glycol into a hydronic heating system..

#10: Your brother in law has the local franchise on aluminum safe glycol and wants to cut you into some deals.

#9: Your wife is threatening to withold something even more valuable to you than the glycol is worth if you don't help to support her slime ball brother.

#8: Let's face it. 90% of your business is spent chasing fine thread leaks left by other people, and it's not a bad living...

#7: How else are you going to pay for that 2 HP glycol charging kit you bought from the local GSHP contractor that auctioned off all his equipment?

#6: You've grown to like the feeling your hands get when you're all gooped up to your elbows in the stuff. As Madge would say, "What do you think your hands are soaking in?"

#5: You have stock in the local natural gas supplier, and the inherent lack of glycol and waters ability to transfer heat could end up putting more nickels into your retirement fund...

#4: You have this dire need for empty five gallons buckets for the MONSTER gypsy moth killing device you saw on the internet. Moth Washer Dot Com or something like that...

#3: There's something to be said about the slighly sweet odor hot glycnoids produce. You can always tell a DowFrost man... (Formerly Aqua Velva man...)

#2: Hey, it's a common substitute for sugar in processed foods...and it is OH SO SWEET!!

(drum roll please.....)) And the number 1 reason to induce glycol into every system you've ever worked on is because "That's what we've ALWAYS done!! Don't ask me why, we just have, and so does every one else..."(Actually heard during deposition given by contractor in Vail Valley Colorado)

Now that you've snorted your evening beer through your nose and all over your key board (SORRY) there are only four reasons I would suggest anyone consider inducing glycol into a heating system. They are...

#1: Snowmelt systems (DUH!).

2: Possible long term fuel loss (steep hill, propane truck can not gain access to fill and maintain tank)

3. Possible long term electrical system loss (trees in forest falling down, taking out power lines and telephone lines, unoccupied house.)

4. Architect had head inserted into anal cavity and their design set up guaranteed tube freeeze conditions (AKA structural preclusion) at over hangs etc.

If I am forced by said homeowner to induce antifreeze into a system that does not meet this criteria, I make sure they understand that any subsequent leaks that may occur after induction are to be repaired at THEIR expense, because if it CAN leak, it WILL leak, even though it didn't with good ol water.

Sorry if I didn't answer the question. What was the question? I sure the heck hope these doctors get my thyroid medecine balanced soon:-)

ME

Weezbo

do you like wasting money is what you gotta ask yourself....

then , focusing on that answer , rephrase the question *~/:)

Put that way, we now have,

just how much money do i feel i like to waste ,strongly....usually,.....?

so you can see the point Mark is making....

Plumdog_2

Another good reason

because then it can't freeze when the power goes out. Au Contrare. I just came from a home severely damaged by frost. Boiler pumps screaming bloody murder and burst pex radiant; all the domestic pipes and valves swollen like a black eye. Sticky glycol mess all over the kitchen floor. And; to make matters worse, the HO says this is the second time! I will recharge it with glycol under two conditions; you pay me 8 thousand dollars in advance, and throw away my phone number when I'm done.

Troy_3

Glycol

That there is funnnny ****! How do ya know yer a redneck? Ya always use glycol. Cause it cost more.

rich pickering

One more reason to install.

The owner tends to forget to shut the garage door when it is -40. Frozen pex buried in concrete will split.

Drew_2

Antifreeze

Antifreeze is like a spare tire, if you need it you're glad you have it.
Those that have antifreeze systems that were designed, installed and serviced correctly don't have problems.
But what's amusing, is not being familiar with any of these systems.

[Deleted User]

Ya mean...

it's not real obvious;-)

In some cases it's a necessary evil.

But if not necessary, I avoid it at all costs.

ME

[Deleted User]

Spoken...

like a good antifreeze proponent :-)

ME

GaryDidier

I dont like it

but sometimes it is a necessary evil. I have seen it save systems and I have seen it ruin systems. Nuf said.

Gary from Granville

Christopher Haley

Avoid it if you can. I not only makes a system harder to service and more likely to need service but in my opinion it can take at least several years off the life of your entire system, especially pumps, etc. I've heard some old timers (not yet Dead Men but close) say it could take off a decade.

hr

It's directly related to

how the fluid is installed and maintained. If you flush and clean the system with a good hydronic cleaner, and test the fluid every two years or less then it should be fairly trouble free.

Special care to good threaded connections, same for solder joints.

I'd guess there are hundreds of thousands of glycoled systems out there between residential and commercial applications.

If the installation dictates glycol, maintain it as you would the crankcase oil in your new truck.

I'd stay away from the bargin priced glycols, trust me somethings missing if the price is half of the brand name products

Have some stickers printed to indicate to future service mechanics the type and % of fluid in the system. Also a spot for service check recording.

hot rod

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Unknown

I'm with you mark, but I'd add something to that list of times to use glycol; hydronically heated garages.

Because what are the chances, someday, someone is going to want to save a few bucks on gas or oil and turn that zone off without thinking? or leave it at low, low temp.. short power or fuel outage, high heat loss, equals rapid freeze.