- PRESSURE TESTING
After installing, the system must be pressure tested to 45 psi for 24 hours, preferably with water prior to the concrete pour. This will ensure that no unnoticed damage has occurred during installation. There will be a small variation noticed in pressure in the tube after 24 hours due to the elasticity of the tube at different temperatures and atmospheric pressures, this is to be expected. Maintain the pressure in the system during and after the pour until a light setting of concrete occurs. When pressure testing with water it is wise to consider if the system will experience any freezing before the heat can be turned on. If freezing would occur then air or glycol mixture should be used, this makes sure that heat can be turned on to the system when needed. - ANTI-FREEZE AND WATER TREATMENT
Where freeze protection is desired, use a mixture of water and propylene or ethylene glycol of up to 50% (50% is only necessary in the most severe climates). The strength of the solution should be determined by the local winter design temperatures. Whether you use water, or water/glycol in the heating system, the fluid must be treated to prevent corrosion. The system water would be checked every 4 - 6 months to make sure the system water does not become corrosive. Radiant Design and Supply can provide the proper chemicals and provide the test equipment necessary to provide the service required to treat the system.When the system is being installed, two things can be done to ensure that there are no problems ever to occur in the heat system. The first thing is to make sure that all of the parts used in the heat system are of no corrodible materials, such as copper, brass, bronze, or stainless steel.
The other thing that can be done is to install a Spirovent micro bubble resorber, this item collects small gas bubbles and combines them together until they are large enough to lift themselves to be vented out of the top of the unit. If all of the above water treatment procedures are followed then years of trouble free heating will be enjoyed.
NOTE**
AUTOMOTIVE-TYPE ANTIFREEZES SHOULD NOT BE USED.
Only uninhibited of phosphate-type inhibited glycols should be used. DOWFROST, DOWTHERM SR-1, AND HERCULES CRYO-TEK ARE ACCEPTABLE. Glycol fluids and water treatment products containing lubricants, silicone, petroleum distillates or hydrocarbons corrosion inhibitors commonly found in automotive grades of ethylene glycol.
SECTION 5
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