Posted by Loretta Donnelly on January 17, 2000 at 15:17:17:
In Reply to: antifreeze in hydronic systems posted by dean bednar on November 17, 2000 at 15:38:32:
My husband and I have researched this as well. It's great to have antifreeze in the pipes in case there is a prolonged power outage.
Here's what contractors have told us:
-Make sure you have a backflow prevention valve installed so that your drinking water will not be contaminated by the antifreeze.
-Cryotech makes a good antifreeze for hydronic systems. (You cannot use the automobile stuff!)
-It is recommended to have the antifreeze pumped in.
-Only do this if you really know what you are doing. All air must be bled out of system, and proper antifreeze must be used to prevent pipe corrosion.
-It is recommended to drain out and replace the antifreeze after 3-5 years, because its antifreezing properties degrade over time.
We are going to hire avprofessional for this and really watch and ask questions so we can do it ourselves next time. We do a LOT of work on the house ourselves, but every heating system is different and one little mistake can really be costly!
Just a few thoughts.