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[caper]

Hello everyone, im a new member, second question of the day,how much glycol should i add to my heatmaster 5000, i know it holds approx 150 gallons plus the loop into the home, im thinking approx 20 gallons maybe, just enough so that if i ever had to leave in an emergeny in the dead of winter it wouldnt freeze, would 20 gallons or so be enough, i know the pumps would be still circulating the water in the cold, but i just want to be extra safe ....thanks again..DW

[slimjim]

I don't think 20 gallons would make much of a difference, the big concern from me is a power outage while you are away, why would you not spend the money that the glycol costs on drains and snifter valves to be able to drain the boiler and blow out the lines

[yoderheating]

You would need to get close to a 50/50 mix if you want complete protection.

[RSI]

Depends on the area but around here the ratio recommended is 35%. You need to look at what you are buying though. It is common for it to come in a 70% mixture which would mean you need to mix that 50/50 to end up with 35% ratio.

[Scott7m]

I don't see how it's worth it, I've never heard of many issues with a boiler freezing, now I assume if you planned to be gone 3 weeks in the winter and lived in Minnesota and there was a power outage it could happen but def not under any kind of normal circumstances. 

Where do you live!?

[RSI]

Even then, unless you do it a lot or have to leave suddenly, I would just set it up to drain before you leave. The put a couple gallons on rv antifreeze in the lines and boiler to make sure no trapped water will freeze.

[caper]

THANKS EVERYONE FOR THE ADVICE, I THINK I STILL WANT ALITTLE GLYCOL IN THE SYSTEM THO, IM JUST THINKING IF WE EVER HEAD DOWN SOUTH OR ANYTHING IN THE FUTURE, WE LIVE IN NOVA SCOTIA AND OUR WINTERS ARE NOT THAT BAD,OTHER THEN A FEW  COLD WEEKS IN FEB AND I REALLY DONT FEEL LIKE DRAINING THE SYSTEM,HOWEVER IF I HAD TOO I WOULD,ONCE AGAIN THANKS FOR THE ADVICE, VERY INTERESTING SITE I MAY ADD, IM GETTING ADDICTED TO IT ALREADY.....

[RSI]

Before you do it, I would find a temperature chart from the glycol manufacturer. 20 gallons might only get you a couple degrees before freezing.

50 gallons of 100% glycol is probably the minimum to actually be safe.

[Scott7m]

Then when we have our first rookie boil over, which we all do

all that glycol will be gone