I have a hot water boiler for heating in my home. This boiler has anti-freeze in the heating water but the same boiler (different section) also heats our regular (domestic) hot water that comes from the tap. A plumbing contractor say's I need a backflow preventer in case of contamination from the anti-freeze but 3 heating and cooling contractors have told me I don't. Does anyone here know for sure? I'm in Calvert County if the code jurisdiction matters.
Boiler heating question
- Thread starter Sparx
- Start date
desertrat said:
They are supposed to be seperate systems but evidently there is some chance of backflow (according to the plumber but not the HVAC contractors.) I just had the 4th HVAC guy tell me it's a commercial regulation (not residential.) But, I'm told it is required in VA for residential so I'm still not sure about Calvert. I'm at a loss here and have a call into the county inspector but no reply yet.
Most manufacturer's recommend and some codes require them on the feedwater supply for the boiler. I am not sure what is required for the domestic side of the system. However if the domestic coil develops a leak and the pressure in the systems drops below boiler pressure it is possible to have antifreeze enter and contaminate your drinking water. Unless the boiler or heating piping is exposed to freezing temperatures antifreeze should not be necessary.
Hope this makes sense
Hope this makes sense
desertrat
0_0
I have no idea what I'm talking about, but it seems like the anti freeze system would be filled up once and the valve turned off. Then it would be effectively a separate loop. Does it need to be replenished or something? Anyway I've never met a check valve I could trust. I would put in two cutoffs first.otter said:
Hope you find the answer somewhere, Sparks, amidst all the static.
Otter
Nothing to see here
desertrat said:I have no idea what I'm talking about, but it seems like the anti freeze system would be filled up once and the valve turned off. Then it would be effectively a separate loop. Does it need to be replenished or something? Anyway I've never met a check valve I could trust. I would put in two cutoffs first.
Hope you find the answer somewhere, Sparks, amidst all the static.
Imagine this, I called the county plumbing inspector and got a call back the same day with my answer. If you're curious, yes it is required.
N
Not4you
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Larry Gude
Strung Out
Without seeing it...
...I say if there is ANY mechanical way the two sections could open to each other then a check valve is most likely built in. I would absolutely make sure. Some one could get sick and/or die. I would NOT trust two cut offs if it's plumbed that way. They CAN be opened. It would absolutely have a check valve installed.
Again, this is without seeing it. I can't even begin to conceive of a system that is both heat and domestic supply that requires any additive on the heat side that would even be physically capable of opening to the domestic supply side.
What do I know. I grow flowers.
Sparx said:
...I say if there is ANY mechanical way the two sections could open to each other then a check valve is most likely built in. I would absolutely make sure. Some one could get sick and/or die. I would NOT trust two cut offs if it's plumbed that way. They CAN be opened. It would absolutely have a check valve installed.
Again, this is without seeing it. I can't even begin to conceive of a system that is both heat and domestic supply that requires any additive on the heat side that would even be physically capable of opening to the domestic supply side.
What do I know. I grow flowers.