I have an own and have a plate exchanger for heating my domestic hot water. I use this as a tankless hot water heater and it works great. The problem I am having is my wood boiler gains water. This is the second time this has happened. The last time the plate exchanger was bad. It lasted 3 years. Now it started doing the same thing. This time it only lasted 2 years. 3 years ago I had to put a pressure regulator on our supply water coming into the house. I am thinking that has something to do with it. I'm thinking I need to add an expansion tank. Anyone have any suggestions?
Heat exchanger problems
- Thread starter duramaxman05
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maple1
Minister of Fire
Not really, without more info. I am not sure how normal household water pressures would blow through a plate exchanger. If it is being used as an on demand heater like it sounds from what you said, I don't think the lack of an expansion tank would cause issues. But have no idea what your entire system consists of.
I think something in your water is eating out the copper brazing in the plate exchanger, which allows water to push into the wood boiler and overfill it. Have you ever tested the domestic water? I've seen several that do this, sometimes in a year's time.
I havent had my water tested. I am on county water so I would think it would be fine. I dont have any other water related problems. I may check into getting it tested.
Medic21
Minister of Fire
Unless you have a check valve between the pressure tank and the plate exchanger your pressure tank is acting as an expansion tank.
where are you getting the plate exchanger from.
A simple pH test is where I would start. Low pH is common in domestic water supplies, especially those drawn from surface waters. pH low enough that it dissolves copper and the sewage then becomes so coppery that we exceed limits at the dicharge point.
I've adjusted the pH of more than once city water supply (raised it to neutral) to prevent the copper corrosion.
I've adjusted the pH of more than once city water supply (raised it to neutral) to prevent the copper corrosion.
We have county water. I guess I need to get it tested. I got the heat exchanger for freeheat4you.com. they said they have a lifetime warranty. I am going to try to make it through may. That's when I shut my stove down.
maple1
Minister of Fire
Ah the famous lifetime warranty.
Be curious if they replace it. And i would try to get them to.
I send a water sample to portage and main every year. It came that the nitrates were a little low so I added a gallon of corrosion inhibitor
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