radiant heat floor coolant?

[dafixr]

Can I use RV anti-freeze in my radiant garage floor system that I am building, closed loop design, 40 gallon electric hot water heater, 2 loop-250 ft runs instead of water or expensive anti freeze? Or are there any other coolants out there that are not so costly?
Thanks Jim

 

[Randy in Maine]

I just use water.

 

[Sureshot]

I use 50/50 Dowtherm and distilled water.

 

[Fastback]

I just used RV antifreeze, but my system only holds 6 gallons.

 

[jlckmj]

I just used plan water in mine. It will be running 24/7 keeping the floor warm. I figure I have at least 3 maybe 4 days before it drops from 60* to 32* or less. That should give plenty of time to repair what it needs.

Jim

 

[Rhsty]

Antifreeze in a slab radiant system is really just a cheap insurance policy,I have it in mine for that reason. I would hate to be away on vacation or work and come home to find my tubes frozen and broke, a new floor is a big expense and alot of work and hassel.

 

[JBAUTO]

Everyone says water is ok but if you ever go
Away say spur of the moment for 3-5 days and your system fails and the slab freezes you can kiss heating your garage up with your in floor heating again you will have to remove your slab and redo it. So for the 30 bucks you need to
Spend slap some glycol in there cheap insurance

 

[Fastback]

I also went the rv route to help prevent rust or calcium buildup.

 

[jlckmj]

I agree, if I was leaving town for a winter vacation I would add anti-freeze to the system. But as it is now, we are not leaving in the winter time.

If we did have to leave, I would set it up with one of the thermostat light switches that turn a light on bellow a set temperature to notify a neighbor. PLUS, I have 4 kids and 3 of them have spouses, and they all live within 5 minutes, so I am not worried.

Jim

 

[gayler]

Everyone says water is ok but if you ever go
Away say spur of the moment for 3-5 days and your system fails and the slab freezes you can kiss heating your garage up with your in floor heating again you will have to remove your slab and redo it. So for the 30 bucks you need to
Spend slap some glycol in there cheap insurance

I wish 30.00 would cover it.My system uses a 50gal water heater, so 50/50 mix is 25 gal at 14.99 a gal for regular antifreeze in my area. If you do go streaght water do yourself a favor and use distilled water. My water is so full of minerals it plugged mine up last year.