Floor Heat Flush n Refill

[DiamondWash]

Complete floor heat flush n refill has anybody had this done recently and how did you do it? Our wash is going on 7 years and the floor heat system has worked flawlessly since then but now I am concerned about the strength of the glycol I tested it today and had 2 balls floating which indicates -10 protection on the chart and on the tester is says 2 balls floating indicates -40 protection. I am considering adding a ph booster.

 

[galen]

Complete floor heat flush n refill has anybody had this done recently and how did you do it? Our wash is going on 7 years and the floor heat system has worked flawlessly since then but now I am concerned about the strength of the glycol I tested it today and had 2 balls floating which indicates -10 protection on the chart and on the tester is says 2 balls floating indicates -40 protection. I am considering adding a ph booster.

Have you ever heard that saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"? One of my washes just turned 24 years old this last Oct. I have never touched the floor heat.

 

[MEP001]

Have you ever heard that saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"?

Have you ever heard "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?"

 

[DiamondWash]

Have you ever heard that saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"? One of my washes just turned 24 years old this last Oct. I have never touched the floor heat.

Have you tested your glycol Galen? Winter is around the corner and I want to be sure I'm not running into any more added expenses this year that doesn't need to be and I'm sure that's the same for everybody here as well.

 

[Earl Weiss]

If you are comparing this to an automobile radiator, there are differeences. In both situations the glycol doesn't break down. Auto radiators get contamination from the internal combustion engine and the anti corrosion agents do break down and need replacing. The Floor heat uses mostly plastic tubing nad copper so corrosion and contamination is not really an issue,. If the glycol tesss good, then you only need to worry about corrosion. You may be able to find a "Booster product for this at an auto parts store.

 

[Waxman]

I went to the plumbing supply and got a test kit for $14 with the strips. You take out a cup of antifreeze, let it sit a day, then dunk the strip.

My wash is 3 years old and it tested at only 50% strength. Plumber friend says it loses strength over time. I will add a couple gallons before Winter.

Cheap no-freeze insurance!

 

[galen]

I went to the plumbing supply and got a test kit for $14 with the strips. You take out a cup of antifreeze, let it sit a day, then dunk the strip.

My wash is 3 years old and it tested at only 50% strength. Plumber friend says it loses strength over time. I will add a couple gallons before Winter.

Cheap no-freeze insurance!

Don't take me wrong. There is nothing wrong with testing. If there are no leaks, or infiltration of water, your anti-freeze should last for years and years, for reasons just stated. But! if! the liquid does test low then you have problems that do need attention pronto! But with my closed loop system that is almost all plastic, and copper, the anti-freeze will last and last.

 

[mmurra]

We haven't touched our floor heat system in 21 years (knock on wood). Mark

 

[Earl Weiss]

I went to the plumbing supply and got a test kit for $14 with the strips. You take out a cup of antifreeze, let it sit a day, then dunk the strip.

My wash is 3 years old and it tested at only 50% strength. Plumber friend says it loses strength over time. I will add a couple gallons before Winter.

Cheap no-freeze insurance!

Sorry if I am picky, but 50% may or may not be the correct amount. The correct test is the freeze protection temp. In the old days auto antifreeze was always diluted to a 50% water and 50% direct from the bottle for the correct freeze protection. The reason is because the 50% solution is more effective for heat transfer than the 100% solution which would give "Better freeze protection" which wasn't really neccessary once you are protected to 35 degrees below zero in most places.
So, stronger is not neccessarily better for floor heat efficiency.
Now, since auto antifreeze got more expensive most products tell you not to diluted since it is pre diluted and can sell for less $. The capacities of modern radiators for smaller engines are also smaller so you still often are buying the same # of gallons, but it is half as strong.

 

[galen]

The bottom line here is that the two elements in question (water&glycol) don't break down over time. This was the bases of my statement. If your anit-freeze solution is getting weaker as time goes marching by, then you have other problems.