Happy Thanksgiving! Just a thought. Could you use RV antifreeze in a outdoor boiler. You can buy it cheaper than regular boiler antifreeze. Even if you had to add some sort of additive. I should get my boiler hooked up again this year. But not real excited with the price of LP , hardly seems worth all the effort except that I do like to cut wood when I have the time.
Boiler anti freeze
- Thread starter muleman51
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As long as you keep the water above 32 degrees and keep it circulating it won't freeze. unless you go away for extended periods of time where it could get cold I wouldn't worry about it. my boiler will hold over 100 degrees for days with no fire. If you do go away for long enough for it to freeze it's recommended you use straight glycol for antifreeze.
maple1
Minister of Fire
There are reasons not to use it, or not to use auto antifreeze - but I forget the reasons now. Someone will likely be along with them.
stee6043
Minister of Fire
I seem to remember the reason not to use it being related to the heat exchange capability post-treatment. An anti-freeze treated boiler will not move heat as efficiently as one with just water in it if I recall correctly.
If you're looking to protect it during periods of non-use I'd see no downside. But you'd want to get it back out of there when you kick it back on (pain in the ass)...
If you're looking to protect it during periods of non-use I'd see no downside. But you'd want to get it back out of there when you kick it back on (pain in the ass)...
velvetfoot
Minister of Fire
Then why not drain it if it's for long term storage over the winter? Might be tricky to make sure every little section and valve is cleared. Use an air compressor?
woodsmaster
Minister of Fire
rowerwet
Minister of Fire
I was buying anitfreeze, but then figured out that I could get a nice generator for the same money.
Antifreeze will need to be topped up every so often, and from what I've read, will need to be replaced every so many years.
In my system that was 45 gallons of antifreeze at $11/gallon.
I took the chance that I might have an extended power failure on the one week a winter I wouldn't be home.
My system had the OPB heating the oil boiler through a brazed plate HX, and the house calling for heat at the circulator like normal.
When the OPB ran out or jammed, the oil boiler heated the OPB through the same HX and thermopex loop.
Antifreeze will need to be topped up every so often, and from what I've read, will need to be replaced every so many years.
In my system that was 45 gallons of antifreeze at $11/gallon.
I took the chance that I might have an extended power failure on the one week a winter I wouldn't be home.
My system had the OPB heating the oil boiler through a brazed plate HX, and the house calling for heat at the circulator like normal.
When the OPB ran out or jammed, the oil boiler heated the OPB through the same HX and thermopex loop.
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