We was called to install an isolation valve in a wet system, and replace the antifreeze. Another company made the wet system into an antifreeze system. No signage, indicating the system was not a wet system but was an antifreeze system. I was told the system held about 50 to 55 gallons of glycol. I ordered 12 of the 38% 5 gallon pre-mixed buckets, 60 gallons. I also had some straight glycol, that we mixed, for a total of 80 gallons . We got to the job site and drained the system, getting about 75 gallons of fluid. The old antifreeze was dirty, but no lumps, no scale. After installing the isolation valve, and test ports at each end of the system, we flushed and drained the system. We filled the system with fresh water and held the pressure for 10 minutes and had no visible leaks. Again we drained the system, using the vacuum to make sure we got all the old fluid out. We put in 80 gallons, of pre-mix. Our pressure reading was about 5 PSI. I went into the highest att ic, loosened 2 heads and we had antifreeze leaking out. At least it tasted like antifreeze, nasty tasting stuff. I tightened the heads and we went to the sprinkler room. We added 12 gallons of straight water. Still not enough pressure, so we opened the main control valve. That is when I found out the 50-60 gallon estimate came from the alarm guy, when he flowed water for his annual test. So the maintenance guy & I went to his office and finally found some information that noted there was 110 gallons of water in the system. So now I have a mix of antifreeze and straight water. My thought is to drain 15/20 gallons, then test the solution, and keep draining and testing until I get to 38% glycol. Then we will add 38% until the system is full. Or do we need to dump all the antifreeze and start over?
We did have a problem filling the system with the pump. Should we go to the highest accessible head and remove it, replacing it with a ball valve that we can open and relieve the pressure? Our pump has filled other systems without any problems. Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
