View Full Version : Antifreeze in heating system and leaving
house for winter  09-27-2005, 06:55 AM My parents have a house
on Cape Cod, MA, will be left empty for the winter. They close
off the rooms with no plumbing and turn the heat in the main
house down to the minimum. The heat is forced hot water with
auto antifreeze.  I have a few questions. Should this antifreeze
be changed and how often? What are possible problems to having
antifreeze in a heating system? I feel it would be better to
turn off the water in the house to prevent a possible flood and
risk the boiler not working if the pressure gets to low to
circulate the water. There might be some broken plumbing but at
least the house won't be flooded.  Gary Slusser 09-27-2005,
09:52 AM I don't like the idea of auto antifreeze, it could
contaminate their 'potable' water if makeup water has to be
added to the hydronic heat system. They'd ought to use nontoxic
antifreeze used for just this type application, along with
potable water lines and toilets etc.