Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

Outdoor Furnaces - Manufacturers WITH EPA-Certified Models => Portage & Main => Topic started by: Ron_lampreau on January 19, 2016, 07:28:02 AM

Title: Hard Water
Post by: Ron_lampreau on January 19, 2016, 07:28:02 AM

Hi guys,

This is my second winter running my P & M Boiler. We have very hard water. I have a water softener. At the time of install I assumed my plumber would have used the soft water. I was wrong and when I asked him he said you don't want to run soft water in your system. I know he was wrong. I am not sure why he said that maybe he just didn't know better or maybe because he just added all of glycol to the hard water by accident. Who knows anyways he added hard water to my system with the glycol and the boiler treatment. I have a side stream filter which doesn't have any scaling, I have a side arm heat exchanger, I have a heat exchanger in my forced air furnace to heat the upstairs of my house, and I have a plate heat exchanger that heats my radiant floor heating in my basement. I have noticed some scaling on the two heat exchangers in my basement. I will attach pictures. Is that scaling normal? Is it something I should be worried about. Any time I top up my boiler with water I use softened water. I thought about draining the entire system and filling it with softened water but that would be a huge waste of glycol but I would defiantly do it if the scaling is going to affect my system. Because I am not adding anymore hard water will it continue to add deposits to my system? Or is the damage already done? I run my pump a couple times a week in the summer. I have read that you should change your water every five years? Is this true.

Title: Re: Hard Water
Post by: mlappin on January 19, 2016, 02:34:38 PM

Numerous manufactures of boilers and treatment all recommend soft water when possible.

What has your water tests come back at? With the added cost of glycol in the system unless you can’t add enough boiler treatment to meet their water test recommendations I don’t think I’d change it out.

Far as the scaling, thats from a minor seep that the water evaporated and left behind, even my soft water does that as soft water isn’t truly mineral free, their just soft.

Title: Re: Hard Water
Post by: Sloppy_Snood on January 19, 2016, 02:39:25 PM

Hey Marty,,, I'm kind of surprised to hear that manufacturers would recommend softened water.  My concern would be salt in the softened water (leftover in the softeners resin after a brine rinse). 

Your thoughts?

Title: Re: Hard Water
Post by: mlappin on January 19, 2016, 04:58:14 PM

I linked an article awhile back from the Mayo Clinic, unless a person  is on a restricted very low sodium diet a water softener doesn’t add enough salt to effect ones health.

Wood Boiler Solutions also recommends soft water if it’s available. I believe Natures Comfort also recommends soft water.

This has been discussed numerous times on UK boiler forums and the consensus is soft water helps more than it could harm.

It especially depends on how many grains of hardness your water is. Mine is only 32 grains and I still used soft water when filling.

The recommendation from NC is on page 25 of the GT6000 installation manual.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/water-softeners-sodium/faq-20058469

http://www.woodboilersolutions.com/soft.cfm

Title: Re: Hard Water
Post by: Sloppy_Snood on January 19, 2016, 06:03:46 PM

Thank you mlappin. Great information.  I appreciate the reply.  8) :thumbup:

Title: Re: Hard Water
Post by: Ron_lampreau on January 19, 2016, 08:24:51 PM

Thanks guy I appreciate the input.

Title: Re: Hard Water
Post by: Ron_lampreau on January 19, 2016, 08:26:21 PM

What tests came back A-OK