Boiler water feed

[Schu338]

Not really a garage question but I trust the knowledge of this forum.
We have a seasonal house and want to shut off the water supply (well) with an app-based remote valve when not there. We keep the house temp above freezing all year long with an oil-fired hot water boiler with both radiant and hvac hot water coil heat. The question is does the boiler need to have a constant water supply at all times? I could pipe the valve after well tank for just the domestic, and leave the boiler feed active which would cover most of the areas I'm concerned about (Would not protect boiler or a fan-coil leak obviously). If I pipe the valve for everything including the boiler, I could also have the app open the valve 1X a week for a minute or something like that to top off the boiler. I do have a low-water cutoff.
Anyone have thoughts ? Thank you.

 

[fitter30]

Boiler that has a low water cut off ( wouldn't bother me to leave the water off if tested yearly). Also would want a boiler glycol ( not automotive) 30% minimum in case boiler system would fail or power failure. If there isn't low water protection and and water was on and a leak occurs major damage could happen. Without low water protection leave fill water on. Boilers and water heaters gas/oil fired can explode if they run dry and burner don't shut off turn them red hot and water is turned back on. Water flashes to steam 1700 times no relief valve can handle that rate and they explode.

 

[Bert_]

Unless something is leaking the boiler and piping is mostly sealed.

I take care of the 900k btu boiler at the church where I am a member. I usually need to add a little water at the beginning of the heating season. The rest of the year I leave the valve turned off.

 

[4x4Pete]

I would make sure the boiler has a low water cut off, then turn the water on every week. I'd also want to add in a temperature monitor that alerts you when the temp is a few degrees below setpoint indicating a heating problem. This will give you time to have repairs started before anything freezes. Also a few strategically placed water sensors that will alert you of boiler leaks would help too. Anything to help you prevent water and freezing damage. Side story- Years ago my BIL had a thermostat connected to a lamp by a window in his cottage, he then asked the neighbor (who happened to live next door) to call him if he saw the lamp on. Much more basic but it saved his cottage at least once from a freeze up. Good luck.

 

[SwissMetric]

Maybe you can install a so-called SMS relay which sends you an alarm SMS if a problem occurs (e.g. intercacing a thermostat or analog transmitter with alarm thresholds), some models feature an internal power backup (supercapacitor or battery) which allows a last SMS to be sent in case of power failure even without backed-up external power being supplied (i.e. without AC or DC UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)). Here those from Comat are well known, I don't know others well enough as in less basic applications typically a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) or SCADA server is interfaced with an industrial GSM modem.

An SMS relay like the one discussed can also be used to switch digital outputs when receiving an SMS with an according code. There are also home automation based solutions but I don't know them, I prefer reliable diehard industrial designs which do not require any cloud nor smartphone, USB, WiFi or Bluetooth.

 

[Schu338]

Thanks for replies. I currently do have text and email notification of low temperature alerts. Not too worried about boiler leaks as its in a separate room, but I am most concerned about smaller lines breaking, leaking, etc which can go un-noticed for a period of time and cause a LOT of damage such as washer supply hoses, toilet supplies, sinks, ice maker etc. I am going to put leak detectors in each of these locations.

I am currently using YoLink devices (https://shop.yosmart.com/pages/shop-home) which is a terrific app for some home automation devices. In addition to notifying me of a leak, the detector can shutdown the main valve automatically even with power or an internet outage. We have a back-up generator and a propane fireplace which is another backup heat source.

 

[Skiff Builder]

Had the same situation. Considered installing a raised water tank, as a limited capacity supply to the system.

 

[brewchief]

The best solution would be to use a glycol feeder and completely disconnect the boiler from the water supply, even if no glycol was added and it was just used to supply any needed makeup water it would limit the possible amount of water that could leak in the event of a burst pipe.

 

[Schu338]

The best solution would be to use a glycol feeder and completely disconnect the boiler from the water supply, even if no glycol was added and it was just used to supply any needed makeup water it would limit the possible amount of water that could leak in the event of a burst pipe.

Excellent, that looks like my answer. Can shut off entire house and still provide boiler water. Thank you!