[mics_54]

Friend of mine moved "outside" to washington last year. He was up this year to sell some stuff and close the house up for the winter (his daughter moved out of the homestead house) His plumber said it wasnt possible to drain the pipes in his house and turn off the well pump because his boiler was heating the water for the hydronic baseboards. I told my friend his plumber is full of crap and just didn't want to mess with the job. He originally installed the bolier and plumbing and didn't install the necessary isolation valves and arrange the plumbing for the purpose of winterizing the house.
My friend bought an alarm system to monitor the temp and power but I told him those fail sometimes and the risk of leaving his house empty and depending on his heat system with a well pump ready to pump thousands of gallons into his house was too great.
His plumber actually tried to tell him the well can't be turned off because the boiler needs water. So...is the plumber a liar...or a moron?

 

[mics_54]

...and what's really wierd..is that my friend seems unconvinced that I am giving him solid advice and that his plumber is wrong. He actually got angry at me for telling him that he's making a mistake.

 

[mics_54]

Think, then ask an intelligent question.

 

[mics_54]

Well I could certainly install the two valves necessary to winterize the system..you probably couldn't. The point to any sentient individual is that the plumber says that it can't be done, which is total BS. Now if you have anything of value to contribute to the thread please do.

 

[mics_54]

OK I see I'm not connecting here.. If the water pump is left energised, if he has a heat failure and pipes break the pump could pump water in his house untill some one turns it off. If the pump is turned off and potable water side is drained, the only damage would be a few gallons of water on the floor somewhere instead of thousands of gallons. I didnt say turn the heat off. I said turn the well pump off. The plumber told him it couldnt be done because the boiler requires water from the well for makeup water in the boiler system. The single pressure tank charge would supply sufficient water for make up for the boiler to operate for a year unless he had a bad hydronic leak. The well pump should be turned off, the potoble water side drained and the boiler left operational on winter mode. Surely I can't be the only one seeing this.

 

[mics_54]

Now thats a reasoned alternative. However the boiler does need make up but the pressure tank will supply make up for months if the pressure doesnt bleed off from leaks. The well pump doesnt need to stay energised for the boiler makeup to function off of the charge in the pressure tank. Boiler make up rarely requires a cup full of water, does it?

 

[mics_54]

This boiler is fairly modern...I doubt it will ignite with low water in the system.

 

[mics_54]

The system is equipped with an expansion tank and automatic make up.

 

[mics_54]

As I'm thinking about this I am beginning to wonder if the moron isnt my friend that owns the house. That would explain why he got irritated at me for telling him it was stupid to leave his house unattended and not winterized..

OK the plumber is off the HOOK!

 

[mics_54]

I'd almost bet he didn't even consult his plumber on winterization. I know of the plumber that installed his system. I can't imagine him telling my friend that it can't be done.

 

[mics_54]

propylene glycol will work of course but the manufacturers do not recommend its use. I do use it in traps and appliances for winterizing though.

 

[mics_54]

Well..I guess I can wait till some tragedy occurrs and then I get to say "I TOLD YOU SO" :clap:

 

[mics_54]

Well it's an option but I don't recommend it. Not to mention it's a fully furnished residence with all the electronics and niknaks one would expect in a residence. Allowing it to get 20 below inside probably isn't desirable.

 

[mics_54]

or,
you could be a helpful friend and just check in on the house once a week.:whistling

well I offered but he's too cheap to plow the drive way all winter. (1/4 mile long driveway)