Environol, ethanol or methanol

My contractor is ready to fill my loop and I have requested that he use Environol (Water Furnace product) , but he cannot find it anywhere. I am in Delaware. I am very cautious because I use well water for my house just a few hundred feet away from the loop and I cannot take any chance of a leak. He typically uses methanol. Any recommendations on where to buy Environol, or perhaps comments on my cautiousness? He can get ethanol, but I have read that generic denatured ethanol is not recommended.

 

First there should not be a leak, but you would know since your heatpump will shut down. Then a small amount of 20% methanol will get further diluted. By the time it gets to your well it will likely be biodegraded. I would not be concerned with methanol.

 

Hi and welcome,

First off most of the stuff under your kitchen sink and in your tool shed is more hazzardous than methanol dilluted to 20% with water.

Secondly, asking a proffesional that you hired, that you trust, to use something that he normally does not use or stock is trouble in the making IMHO.

Thirdly, there is a huge differance between can not, and will not. A simple google search for waterfurnace dealer locator is a good way to find a dealer nearest you that can order/sell you that product. So I am leaning towards the, will not.

Hope this helps.
If you remain stuck, send me an e-mail and I can prolly find a source near you based on zip code.
Eric

 

I was told by a waterfurnace installer that envirnol is methanol. And are both alcohol based.

 

environol = ethanol = grain alcohol
methanol = wood alcohol

Similar operating characteristics except when it comes to pricing.

 

Which one performs best?

 

There is no better or worse, it boils down to a choice. In some locals methanol is not allowed at all, NJ for example. Some states have the regulation worded subjectively. DE for example says you may not use any fluid that is toxic? According to the hazmat people methanol and water at 20% is no longer toxic.

Environol is a proprietary name, it exists in many forms. Any given fluid has a rating number for viscosity and it's ability to exchange BTU's. The fluid that is chosen should really be part of the upfront design, based on: local regulations, pump selection, and design temps for the exchanger.

Eric

 

we use methanol

 

My vote is Methanol!