On Feb 3, 6:20 am, FLSTCI wrote:
My oil company has suggested putting anti-freeze in my boiler to avoid
the possibility of freeze-ups.
It sounds like a good idea, but I was wondering if anyone has ever
done it and how did it work??

Specifically, does your system heat the same??
That is, does your home get warm as fast, and do you use the same
amount of oil/gas/whatever with anti-freeze as with water??

Anyone have any real life direct actual experience with this??

Thanks!

The bad news is that using glycol in your boiler reduces the
efficiency by 15%. Also, if your system is kept up to pressure by
your household water supply, you have to have a special backflow
preventer called a RPZ valve (this is true in my town--check with your
local plumbing inspector) which has to be inspected annually by a
qualified person. Otherwise you will have to have a closed system
which will have to be brought up to pressure periodically. I
personally wouldn't do it unless I had some area prone to freezing
(like a garage or a sidewalk) or I left my house unattended frequently
during the winter.