Filling Your Outdoor Boiler
1.) Check that your valves to your underground lines are closed.
(you do not want to get cold unmixed concentrated glycol in your underground lines as the potential air lock that could be created will make it hard to get the fluid to move!)
2.) We recommend you install a boiler drain valve if one has not been provided by the manufacturer prior to filling your system!
3.) The quality of water mixed with glycol concentrate can have an enormous impact on system performance. Marginal quality water can lead to the development of scale, sediment deposits,
or the creation of a sludge in the heat exchanger which will reduce heat transfer efficiency.
Poor quality water can damage the system by depleting the corrosion inhibitor and promoting a number of corrosions including general and acidic attack corrosion.
We recommend you test the quality of your water source before filling your system, as it is vital to use high quality water for glycol dilution in order to maintain system efficiency and prolong fluid life. One possible source of good clean soft water is rain water collected from downspouts.
Good quality water contains:
- Less than 50 ppm of calcium
- Less than 50 ppm of magnesium
- Less than 100 ppm (5 grains) of total hardness
- Less than 25 ppm of chloride
- Less than 25 ppm of sulfate
Check with your local water department to determine the chemical properties of the local water.
If your mixing water will be drawn from a well, which typically has extremely hard water, or the local water authority cannot provide an accurate profile, we recommend either testing the water yourself or hiring a commercial water treatment specialist to analyze the water.
A simple test used by Dow Chemical Company to ensure that water contains less than
100 ppm of hardness, is to fill a small sample bottle with 50% glycol and 50% water.
Let the solution stand for 8-12 hours, shaking it occasionally. If any whitish sediment forms,
the water is too hard and should not be used to dilute the glycol.
4.) Add your concentrated propylene glycol and water to your boiler (recommended
mixture of 30% to 50%), do not over fill the boiler as when the fluid heats up it will expand
and possibly over flow - usually filling to the bottom of the fluid level indicator if adequate
until the system lines are filled and the fluid is up to temperature.
CHECK FOR LEAKS AS THE SYSTEM IS FILLING!
(consider pre-mixing your glycol and water if out door temperatures are below 0 degrees Celsius)
5.) Fire the boiler bringing the fluid up to temperature. CHECK FOR LEAKS!
6.) Open you valves on the line(s) to the building(s) and top up your fluid levels.
7.) After the boiler has been in operation for a couple of days, check the PH level of the fluid.
8.) Now add the corrosion inhibitor as recommended by the boiler manufacturer
- even if the PH level of the fluid tests good!
9.) The anti-freeze solution must be checked at least once a year (or more)
in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
READ YOUR MANUAL!
1.) Check that your valves to your underground lines are closed.
(you do not want to get cold unmixed concentrated glycol in your underground lines as the potential air lock that could be created will make it hard to get the fluid to move!)
2.) We recommend you install a boiler drain valve if one has not been provided by the manufacturer prior to filling your system!
3.) The quality of water mixed with glycol concentrate can have an enormous impact on system performance. Marginal quality water can lead to the development of scale, sediment deposits,
or the creation of a sludge in the heat exchanger which will reduce heat transfer efficiency.
Poor quality water can damage the system by depleting the corrosion inhibitor and promoting a number of corrosions including general and acidic attack corrosion.
We recommend you test the quality of your water source before filling your system, as it is vital to use high quality water for glycol dilution in order to maintain system efficiency and prolong fluid life. One possible source of good clean soft water is rain water collected from downspouts.
Good quality water contains:
- Less than 50 ppm of calcium
- Less than 50 ppm of magnesium
- Less than 100 ppm (5 grains) of total hardness
- Less than 25 ppm of chloride
- Less than 25 ppm of sulfate
Check with your local water department to determine the chemical properties of the local water.
If your mixing water will be drawn from a well, which typically has extremely hard water, or the local water authority cannot provide an accurate profile, we recommend either testing the water yourself or hiring a commercial water treatment specialist to analyze the water.
A simple test used by Dow Chemical Company to ensure that water contains less than
100 ppm of hardness, is to fill a small sample bottle with 50% glycol and 50% water.
Let the solution stand for 8-12 hours, shaking it occasionally. If any whitish sediment forms,
the water is too hard and should not be used to dilute the glycol.
4.) Add your concentrated propylene glycol and water to your boiler (recommended
mixture of 30% to 50%), do not over fill the boiler as when the fluid heats up it will expand
and possibly over flow - usually filling to the bottom of the fluid level indicator if adequate
until the system lines are filled and the fluid is up to temperature.
CHECK FOR LEAKS AS THE SYSTEM IS FILLING!
(consider pre-mixing your glycol and water if out door temperatures are below 0 degrees Celsius)
5.) Fire the boiler bringing the fluid up to temperature. CHECK FOR LEAKS!
6.) Open you valves on the line(s) to the building(s) and top up your fluid levels.
7.) After the boiler has been in operation for a couple of days, check the PH level of the fluid.
8.) Now add the corrosion inhibitor as recommended by the boiler manufacturer
- even if the PH level of the fluid tests good!
9.) The anti-freeze solution must be checked at least once a year (or more)
in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
READ YOUR MANUAL!
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Last modified: 10/19/24