Magnetic separators

I put in a Caleffi strainer/magnet combo. Haven't opened it up yet.
Would you really snag a lot of magnetic stuff by hanging magnets?

You probably want some kind of dirt separator in the line as well though. This is what I got:
http://www.supplyhouse.com/Caleffi-...463-Series-DIRTMAG-Dirt-Separator-with-Magnet

What about getting an actual magnetic drain plug of a fairly large size, then adapting it to thread into a threaded T. You could put the T inline just upstream of a pump, with valves on each side. Close the valves, unscrew the plug & check/clean, screw back in & unvalve.

Or thread a magnetic drain plug into a Y strainer in the same fashion as maple1 said.

TS

I have two vertical 500 gal propane tanks for storage.The return pipe is right in the bottom of the tank.The bottom now slopes towards the return.I have a valve right at the lowest point on a t which the return plumbs into.
When i flushed my system at startup i found a lot of sediments at the valves.I flushed the system till no more stuff came out of the valves.95% of the plumbing in my system was reused pipe and fittings all copper except for fittings on the tanks and boiler.
One thing i do every fall before i start any of the pumps is to check the bottom valves for accumulated stuff both from use because the valves are the lowest point,and from settling out of the tanks when it's not in use.So far i have never found anymore stuff in the valves.I also have a y strainer right before my plate heat ex-changer,it has also remained clean.
I don't worry about stuff in the system as much anymore.

velvetfoot said:

You probably want some kind of dirt separator in the line as well though. This is what I got:
http://www.supplyhouse.com/Caleffi-...463-Series-DIRTMAG-Dirt-Separator-with-Magnet

Click to expand...

I have two of these in my system. One to protect the HX of my ModCon boilers and the other to filter the supply to my Radiant Heat Floors. They seem to work well.

cpeltier said:

They seem to work well.

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How do you know? But seriously, have to drained it or whatever, and looked at it, and after how long a period of time? (I haven't yet.)

velvetfoot said:

How do you know? But seriously, have to drained it or whatever, and looked at it, and after how long a period of time? (I haven't yet.)

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I had a bunch of Heat Way rubber radiant tubing in my system from back in 1992 when the house was built. Subject to a class action suit - another story. It allowed oxygen to enter the system. I've been replacing this with PEX as I remodel. Still have about 50' in the system (bathroom floor). The Caleffi Dirtmags would show a puff of black iron oxide particulate when I hit the drain (into a bucket) after a month or so. Now that the oxygen is mostly gone from my system I see little captured iron. Faulty make-up water systems can also add oxygen creating the problem.

I have copper distribution and a steel tank and boiler. Perhaps I will check it soon; it doesn't sound like a big deal. As an aside, I got the insulating jacket for the Dirtmag, which looks real good, and should have a payback of 1,000 years.

velvetfoot said:

I have copper distribution and a steel tank and boiler. Perhaps I will check it soon; it doesn't sound like a big deal. As an aside, I got the insulating jacket for the Dirtmag, which looks real good, and should have a payback of 1,000 years.

Click to expand...

We are starting to get some good feedback and pictures from magnetic separators at work. This was installed on a large mechanical system north of Chicago. the installer has flushed the sep 3 times now.

The magnets work best if they are in the fluid stream. The separators have a media inside and also provide a low velocity zone to slow the fluid as it passes thru.