Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: narvik on July 27, 2013, 07:05:23 AM

Title: How to add antifreeze?
Post by: narvik on July 27, 2013, 07:05:23 AM

I am in the process (this year) to install an OWB (maybe a BioBurner, not 100% sure yet).
It's a new house to us, and it had been left for some years.
Currently it has a gas burner connected to underfloor water tubes. I want to check the underfloor heating lines, but want to know how I could add antifreeze?
Where and how would you add the antifreeze?

Title: Re: How to add antifreeze?
Post by: hoardac on July 27, 2013, 09:31:30 AM

I added it to my install with a 3/4 hp sump pump out of a trash can with the proper mix. I added it to each loop separately at the manifold. I had the sump pump discharge on the hot side and a hose going back to the trash can on the cold side (tried to keep the air bubbles to a minimum) and just opened up each loop and ran it till there were no more air pockets visible and then probably ran an extra 15 minutes to just make sure. I then closed that loop and opened the next and repeated the process on both my manifolds. Then I ran the pumps and opened the air bleed contraption and ran it for a few days to remove all air. I then connected up the sump pump one last time with the hose was full and topped of the system with all the loops open to be sure there was enough. I used distilled water to add to the antifreeze. I have had no problems in 5 years and have maintained about 12-14 pounds of pressure on the gauge. I have a radiant floor system that is connected to a heat exchanger and not to a existing heating system so your application might be different.