In my opinion, based upon what you’ve written, they would be better off finding 
the alternative method they’ll need in six years when antifreeze is no longer a 
viable option.

The leaking sprinklers are a symptom, the 11˚F minimum is a problem, the six 
years left for antifreeze is a concern.

To answer your question directly, you can make it one system, but what does 
that really solve? One bigger system that still is only good to 11˚F, that 
possibly leaks in a few years, and has to be replaced in six.

Scott

Office: (763) 425-1001 x 2
Cell: (612) 759-5556

From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On 
Behalf Of Douglas Hicks
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2016 2:49 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Antifreeze loops

I have  a guest lodge, with 3 glycerine antifreeze loops.  The building is 
about 15 years old, and has a history of leaking heads.    All of the heads 
were replaced about 5 years ago.  We  replaced 2 leaking horizontal heads and 2 
leaking pendants, and the leaking FDC check valve in Oct of 2015.  At that time 
we removed and flushed the antifreeze.  We installed the removed antifreeze.

I learned 6 things that day.
1. When you are told there are 2 antifreeze loops, make sure there is not a 3rd 
loop.
2. Tell your helper too sloooowly remove the leaking  head in the bathroom. 
When you remove the head too fast, the water/antifreeze will blow the head 
completely out of your fingers and that a 5 gallon bucket fills real fast.
3. Explain how fast the bucket fills up & when I start to holler  “Empty the 
bucket in the bath tub!”  I really mean to empty the bucket into the bath tub. 
Do all the above  before you start.
4. Glycerine antifreeze really smells bad and your clothing gets  really sticky.
5. It takes at least 5 times running your clothes through the laundry before 
they do not stink.
6. Most important, it helps if the maintance supervisor has done stupid things 
himself.

This year, we replaced 2 more leaking heads, installed new antifreeze and 
installed a couple of 1/2 ball valves to bleed off the air, when we filled the 
antifreeze loops.  I did not need to change clothing part-way through the job

Our Antifreeze now is at 11°F.  I would like a lower temp.  Temps in that area 
can range between -15°F and 125°F in the attic.  They measured those temps last 
year.  Can we remove the one-way check valves and make the whole system just 
one antifreeze system.  I understand when the system was installed, 40 gallons 
was the max antifreeze system.

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