Robinasu
New Member
Background: Our condo building hydronic heating system was essentially neglected for 10 years before I came around. About a year ago our Ergomax reverse indirect and cast iron boiler were replaced as they were in pretty bad shape.
Our 5 wall radiators never worked well and the contractors essentially gave up. I started poking around and did some head loss math: the tubes to the radiators (which are on the bottom floor of 3) had to be clogged. Three quarters of a bucket full of iron oxide later I was getting good flow. I flushed the system. That was about 6 months ago.
Last weekend I checked the wye strainer and hydro seperator. There was a bit of flakes and sand (mainly iron oxide, I believe). Our 12 radiant floors (about 10k BTU/h each) are flowing. It's unknown if any iron oxide are in the floors. I scanned 4 of the floors (2 on level 2 and 2 on level 3) with an IR camera and there did not appear to be any blockages. The hydronic piping is copper and pex, brass fittings and valves, stainless boiler HX, iron pumps, and no iron pipe.
Based on calculated pressure drops, I believe there is significant scale in the radiator distribution piping, and there is probably iron oxide pooled in spots.
TSP seems like a decent option, as well as chelating agents. I've seem the Rhomar products. Can you please give me your thoughts on the best treatment strategy and products?
If I could safely dissolve the iron oxide and scale, then flush, that would be awesome. I'm done with the air compressor and water hose method!
Our 5 wall radiators never worked well and the contractors essentially gave up. I started poking around and did some head loss math: the tubes to the radiators (which are on the bottom floor of 3) had to be clogged. Three quarters of a bucket full of iron oxide later I was getting good flow. I flushed the system. That was about 6 months ago.
Last weekend I checked the wye strainer and hydro seperator. There was a bit of flakes and sand (mainly iron oxide, I believe). Our 12 radiant floors (about 10k BTU/h each) are flowing. It's unknown if any iron oxide are in the floors. I scanned 4 of the floors (2 on level 2 and 2 on level 3) with an IR camera and there did not appear to be any blockages. The hydronic piping is copper and pex, brass fittings and valves, stainless boiler HX, iron pumps, and no iron pipe.
Based on calculated pressure drops, I believe there is significant scale in the radiator distribution piping, and there is probably iron oxide pooled in spots.
TSP seems like a decent option, as well as chelating agents. I've seem the Rhomar products. Can you please give me your thoughts on the best treatment strategy and products?
If I could safely dissolve the iron oxide and scale, then flush, that would be awesome. I'm done with the air compressor and water hose method!