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Antifreeze in Heating Pipes
My Mother's house has had the same antifreeze in the closed system heating pipes since my folks built it around 1980. The antifreeze was put in because the pipes ran through the garage where there was a potential for freezing. A plumber is now telling my sister that the antifreeze should be replaced and a new anti-flowback valve installed. He tested the antifreeze and told her it has become acidic. He verbally told my sister this could be done for about $1200 (would take 4 hours) although he did not put the price in writing. This sounds way too high a price to me. Does antifreeze like this ever go bad?
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Antifreeze in Heating Pipes
Thanks Ken and EW for the comments. Since the garage the pipes went through is now a finished room, maybe the best thing to do is just purge the antifreeze and have water in the pipes. There is not an immediate rush to do this so we have some time to think.
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Antifreeze in Heating Pipes
Good points Hardwood and EW. I imagine there is only a few gallons of this toxic waste. I have previously dealt with asbestos removal so I understand some of the problems with this type of stuff. I may just call up my Italian family connections and get their advice 
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Antifreeze in Heating Pipes
Huck, this is a baseboard system and backflow preventer is already on it, but apparently needs to be replaced. I will check this week with the person who installed the system. He helped my folks get set up in their new home back then but the distance was too far for him to continue to service the system.
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Antifreeze in Heating Pipes
I finally got in touch with the oil company on this one. New York state passed a law in 2001 that requires any home heating system with antifreeze to have an RPZ installed (backflow preventer with vacuum break). The cost of the RPZ is $750. Replacement of the antifreeze was done in my mother's heating pipes in 1999 for $250. The oil company (which also services the furnace) thinks the antifreeze should be replaced again (they say it has become acidic) which will trigger the requirement to install the RPZ. In addition to the valve installation there are the labor costs, antifreeze costs, etc. Of course there will also be an annual inspection fee of $125 they will also charge my mother.
The alternative is to flush the antifreeze out and replace with water since the garage area has now been converted to a heated room. The only concern is that the pipes are behind the sheetrock wall and next to the concrete outside wall. I think we might be willing to take the risk since things have been warmer lately.
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Antifreeze in Heating Pipes
KT, I figure for $125 a year for an annual inspection on one hand, and freezing risk on the other - I am willing to take the risk. No more risk than any house has of freezing pipes when the power goes out. I have seen the damage that freezing pipes can do with a place we once rented out. The tenant had the utilities and stopped heating the place.
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Gas Generator Weather Protecti
12-31-2006, 12:44 
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