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XII - wATER TREATmEnT & fREEZE PROTECTIOn
freeze Protection
Aluminum Safe Antifreeze, Treatments and Additive
Guidelines:
Antifreeze, if required, must be one of the antifreeze manufac
-
turers listed in this manual. See the “Recommended Aluminum
Antifreeze & Inhibitor Suppliers” section of this manual for a list
of boiler manufacturer approved products.
Always clean system prior to using antifreeze, refer to the
•
Cleaning the Hydronic System section of this manual for
details.
Only use the antifreeze manufacturers’ products outlined in
•
this document.
Use of antifreeze must be in accordance with local plumb
-
•
ing codes.
Dispose of old antifreeze and boiler system water in accor
-
•
dance with local authorities.
Antifreeze will raise the ph of the hydronic solution
•
in a heating system above the recommended level
due to the corrosion inhibitors in the antifreeze.
The
solution must be treated to maintain a pH within the boiler
manufacturer’s recommended level to avoid damage to the
heat exchanger. Follow antifreeze manufacturer’s instruc
-
tions for details on how to adjust the pH.
If the system has leaked for some reason, the water and
•
antifreeze chemistry will need to be adjusted. To avoid
damage to the boiler, check the pH and chemistry of the
boiler solution and consult the antifreeze manufacturer for
recommendations.
It is recommended that a pH reading is taken annually, and
•
adjusted as necessary. Follow antifreeze / inhibitor manufac
-
turer’s instructions for details on how to adjust the pH.
Use of antifreeze in any boiler will reduce heating capacity
•
as much as 10-20%. This must be taken into consideration
when sizing the heating system, pumps and expansion
tank. Consult antifreeze manufacturer’s literature for spe
-
cific information on reduced capacity.
Using the antifreeze manufacturer’s instructions to determine
•
the freezing temperature needed and use the correct amount
of antifreeze. Never exceed 50% antifreeze by volume.
The boiler operating pressure must remain below 15 psi
•
for antifreeze solutions that specify a maximum of 250˚F
(121˚C).
Antifreeze solutions can breakdown over time. Failure to
check antifreeze chemistry, including inhibitors, annually
may result in accelerated corrosion of boiler and other sys
-
tem components. Consult with the antifreeze manufacturer
for recommendations.
NOTICE
