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Frequently Asked Questions::

Q.	“What is the mixing ratio for Pro-Tek 922 and Hydro-Solv 9100?”
A.	50 to 1

Q.	“What happens if I don’t use Pro-Tek 922?”
A.	Water by itself is very corrosive to modern multi-metal boilers, especially aluminum. Without Pro-Tek 922 added at 50:1, corrosion, scale and sludge buildup can occur, potentially causing system failure. This also may void manufacturers warranty.

Q.	“Can Pro-Tek 922 & Hydro-Solv 9100 only be used in closed systems?”
A.	Both Pro-Tek 922 & Hydro-Solv 9100 are designed for closed systems as the continuous air exposure of an open system can be difficult to deal with.

Q.	“What do I use for scale problems?”
A.	Pro-Tek 922 will prevent scale and corrosion on aluminum, copper, iron, brass and steel.

Q.	“Is Pro-Tek 922 safe to use with PEX?”
A.	Pro-Tek 922 has been tested and is compatible with PEX and ONIX tubing.

Q.	“What happens if I don’t use Pro-Tek 922?”
A.	Water by itself is very corrosive to modern multi-metal boilers, especially aluminum. Without Pro-Tek 922 added at 50:1, corrosion, scale and sludge buildup can occur, potentially causing system failure. This also may void manufacturers warranty.

Q.	“What happens if I don’t clean and flush the system?”
A.	Materials left over from manufacturing and installation (Oils, solder paste, filings) could cause the boiler, zone valves and pumps to corrode and / or malfunction. Oils left in the system will cause bacteria to grow which in turn leads to sludge.

Q.	“What is the proper ph level for the system water when using an aluminum boiler?”
A.	7.5 to 8.0

Q.	“Will Hydro-Solv 9100 harm the system?”
A.	Not if mixed properly and flushed from the system according to the directions.

Q.	“If I use glycol do I still need Pro-Tek 922?”
A.	Yes. Even if you are using glycol containing inhibitors, most are formulated for steel which can be corrosive to multi-metal boilers. The addition of Pro-Tek 922 to the system will add the proper inhibitors.

Q.	“Can I use well water instead of city water?”
A.	Typically municipal water supplies have a ph of 7.0 – 8.0. If the well water is not within this range contractors usually bring in another water source.

Q.	“Are there any freezing or heat concerns with Pro-Tek 922 or Hydro-Solv 9100 while stored in the jug they come in?”
A.	Both products will freeze at around 32 F / 0 C but will probably be ok when thawed. They may rupture the container though. Heat should not be a problem.

Q.	“Any special safety garments to be worn when using Pro-Tek 922 or Hydro-Solv 9100?”
A.	Both products are non-hazardous. The only recommendation would be to avoid getting in eyes and prolonged exposure to skin.

Q.	“Is there an issue with shelf life?”
A.	Shelf life should be 1-2 years or longer if stored indoors out of the sun.

“What are the most unique selling points of Pro-Tek 922 or Hydro-Solv 9100?”

* Approved by most boiler manufacturers for use in aluminum boilers.
* Tested and safe for all types of metals and tubing such as onix and pex.
* Non-hazardous, safe to use and handle.
* Can ship UPS or FedEx.
* The 9100 will remove scale, corrosion, grease, cutting fluid, solder flux.
* The 922 will remove oxygen and prevent scale along with preventing corrosion.
* Can be used with any type antifreeze.

Q.	“Should Pro-Tek 922 and Hydro-Solv 9100 be sold with each boiler?”
A.	All systems can benefit from proper cleaning and treatment. It only makes good business sense to include these items with each boiler that goes out the door. It will go a long way towards protecting the system during the warranty period.

Q.	“I’ve heard that some aluminum boilers are having failures even though they have “aluminum safe” chemical products in them.”
A.	Unfortunately, some additives that are commonly used in formulas and claim to be "Multi-Metal" protectants do not actually perform this way. Pro-Tek 922 or Hydro-Solv 9100 have not been responsible for any failures in aluminum boilers.

Q.	“If I use too much Pro-Tek 922 will it raise the ph too high?”
A.	The pH of the Pro-Tek 922 should be between 7.5-8.0. already. When mixing at a rate of 50:1 to system water, the pH of the system fluid will typically be whatever the makeup water pH is. Adding too much 922 should not be a problem as most municipal water pH is in the 7.0-8.0 range.

Q.	“How do I know the volume of the system?”
A.	Your selling wholesaler may be able to supply this if they sized out the complete system. If not, fill the system with water then drain into measurable containers for an accurate fill volume.

Q.	“Can I use any water to mix with Pro-Tek 922?”
A.	It is a good idea to know what the pH of the makeup water is prior to filling a system as some waters can be unusual. If too low or high, alternative fill water should be considered. Some contractors use 55-gallon drums to bring in better quality water if needed. This can also pertain to high hardness well water.

“What happens if too much Hydro-Solv 9100 is used to clean the system?” Too many people have the notion that if a little works then a lot will be much better.

The 9100 is only supposed to be in a system for a relatively short period of time and then flushed out so overdosing is usually not a problem. The 9100 does raise the pH over the safe limit for aluminum so you would need to keep the cleaning time for aluminum to the recommended limits in the directions. Also, when cleaning an aluminum system with 9100, the pH of the flush water should be monitored until it drops to the makeup water pH to ensure all of the cleaner is removed and the pH is down to acceptable levels, otherwise the final fluid pH will be too high.

Q.	What happens if Hydro-Solv 9100 is left in the system? Either in trace amounts or the full 50:1 mixture is left and the system is put into service.
A.	If the system contains aluminum, the pH will likely be too high if some of the 9100 is left in the system. It is not likely there would be any serious issue if the system is cast iron or steel but areas like solder joints or seals might start to leak over time, if high levels of cleaner were left in the system.

“Is there a test that could be done on a corroded part or a sample of the system water to determine if proper chemicals were used? Or, even determine if actual Pro-Tek 922 was used?”

I am not aware of testing that can be done on corroded parts to determine what chemicals were used but different types of corrosion, produce unique types of damage to metals. A careful examination of damaged components will usually indicate what caused the damage, i.e. oxygen, galvanic, caustic (high pH) graphitic, microbiological, dezincification etc. A thorough analysis of system water samples can typically detect what products were used and what likely caused the problem. Whenever there is a system failure that appears to be due to a water-side failure, a sample of the system fluid should be collected for testing if the cause is not known. The water analysis will often contradict what someone claims was put into a system.

“Some contractors that used glycol believed they did not need any of the protection that Pro-Tek 922 offered.”

All system water needs some type of treatment. Water itself is very corrosive and glycol is also corrosive to many components. Most brand name glycol contains corrosion inhibitors. These inhibitors are typically for cast iron and steel and will damage aluminum and sometimes copper. Most modern high efficiency boilers will contain aluminum or copper or a combination of metals which makes most inhibited antifreeze products unsuitable for these boilers. In addition to multi-metal corrosion protection, the Pro-Tek 922 will prevent scale formation on the heat exchanger which is essential to maintaining the high-efficiency rating.

“I use 100% aluminum rated glycol with inhibitors and no water. Why do I need Pro-Tek 922?”

The biggest problem aluminum boiler manufacturers are having are due to "aluminum rated" glycols rapidly corroding the aluminum heat exchanger. Often within a few weeks or months the heat exchanger needs to be replaced. This is mainly due to "lack of knowledge" regarding high temperature chemical reactions with aluminum. Many aluminum glycols have pH levels that are too high and also may contain additives that actually corrode the aluminum at high (190 F or higher) temperatures. Some of these glycols will actually state a limit of 190 F in the literature. Some small high efficiency boilers will have temperatures above 200 F at the heat exchanger. Some also try to use silicates for the aluminum. Silicates produce sludge with high hardness water and also can form crystals during off season storage.

Q.	“How do I know Pro-Tek 922 is ok to use?”
A.	The Pro-Tek 922 has been thoroughly tested and proven to be safe and affective at protecting aluminum at high temperatures. Many major boiler manufacturers are specifying our products by name for their aluminum boilers.

Q.	“ If the ph of the starting water is above or below the proper range will Pro-Tek 922 automatically bring it into range and if so how?"
A.	NO. Pro-Tek 922 has a neutral pH of around 7.5 and will not have a noticeable affect on the system pH when diluted 1:50. Most other products will raise the pH too high for aluminum. Pro-Tek 922 is formulated to not affect pH. If the fill water pH is out of range, another source of water should be used. Most tap water will usually be within the allowable range.

Q.	After the system is in service, how often should the fluid be checked?”
A.	Assuming the system has not been altered then annually.

“When I test the system in a year and the ph has changed what caused it to change?”

High heat is a strong catalyst for chemical reactions. The pH of most water will change slightly when heated as this has a certain amount of cleaning affect on the metals. In addition, there will likely be a small amount of chemical reaction with the metals, chemical treatment additives and water chemistry when heated. The pH will usually stabilize after a few weeks or months of operation. You will mainly look for changes in pH that are outside of the recommended operation range for the system. This, combined with a drop in the glycol percentage, and/or water colour and conductivity will indicate a problem that needs attention.

“When I test the system in a year and the ph is too low or too high, how do I know how much Pro-Tek 922 to add to fix it?"

Once again, Pro-Tek 922 will not noticeably affect pH and is not intended to correct a pH problem. If the pH is too high or low, it may be due to a breakdown of glycol. Regardless, the system probably needs to be flushed out and the fluid replaced. A clean, properly treated system will not typically experience an improper pH change. Glycols however will begin to break down over time when heated and eventually need to be replaced to achieve proper freeze protection. The freeze protection level should be tested annually with a refractor meter.

Q.	“What are some indications that the system fluid should be drained and changed?”
A.	High or low pH; high conductivity, over 2500; dirty foul smelling water; lots of sludge; glycol percentage lower than required for proper freeze protection.

“Is a conductivity reading important? What is a correct reading and what do I do if it's off?”

Conductivity readings can be used to determine if the water chemistry needs to be checked as it will give an indication of the amount of dissolved solids. If the reading is low, 100 - 300, this indicates the water is relatively pure. Conductivity levels over 2500 can be abrasive to metals and increase the potential for various types of corrosion. This level usually requires a chemical additive to be this high. Most fill water will have a conductivity reading of 200 - 400. Corrosion and scale inhibitor treatments will increase this reading. The Pro-Tek 922 will usually add 50 - 100 to the reading. Some inhibited glycols will increase the reading to 2000 or higher. These products will usually not be suitable for aluminum.

“Do you always have to start with water at 7.5 to 8.5 ph?”

Only for aluminum boilers. 6.5 to 8.5 is probably ok but since the pH may drift slightly after the system is treated and operated, a pH of 7.0 to 8.0 provides more room for drift.
Copper has a limit of around 8.5 -9.0.
Cast iron and steel do best at high pH levels up to 12.0.
Your pH is limited by the metals with aluminum requiring the lowest.
The pH should not go below 7.5 in aluminum systems if iron and steel are also present. It is harder to control corrosion on ferrous metals at very low pH levels.

Q.	“Will all glycol approved for aluminum be 7.5 to 8.5 ph?"
A.	NO! Many aluminum glycols have pH levels that are too high, some up to 10. RhoGard and Pro-Tek 922 have a pH of 7.5-8.0.

Q.	“Are Pro-Tek and Hydro-Solv approved by any boiler manufacturers?"
A.	Yes.