google well drilling regulations Wisconsin. Or call your local well drilling permit office and just ask! Eric
Most of what I find is for wells or things going beyond 20' deep. I have horizontal slinkys at about 7 feet deep.
The age old response, If no one knows the answer to the question you are asking, it prolly is o.k. Followed by, do not ask questions you do not want to know the answer to. Asking questions that the gov. is not capable to address, usually results in denial of request. A jaded reply, but truth none the less. Eric
IMO at 7' deep you have nothing to worry about. The pesticides and herbicides that you put on on your yard are more worrisome than methanol at 7' Methanol degrades quickly in soil.
Thank you both for the replys! I'm not so much worried about the methanol so much as breaking any laws/regulations.
In the absence of a clear guideline, work toward intent of the law. Protection of the environment. Methanol in the volumes considered at the depth contemplated is virtually harmless.
So I was planning on methanol antifreeze going in my earth loops and started doing my research on what was all needed for safe handling, PPE, ect..... Methanol appears to me some nasty stuff. In my research I also found one geo guy claims that methanol reacts badly with Iron causing it to rapidly rust. That got me thinking about my flow center. I bought a Qt flow center with a grundfo ups26-99f pump built into it. When I Google that pump it says it's cast iron. So it looks like I might have to change plans and go with another antifreeze or change the flow center out. Anybody know if the pump is indeed cast iron, or can tell me if methanol (20%) can be used with a Qt flow center. I have sent a Email to the manufacturer, but not sure how long before they will get back to me. Looks like I should have done more research before buying this flow center.
I have lost count of how many flowcenters I have installed with cast iron housings and 20% methanol. At some point your project must return from theory , and become reality. Geo IMHO should take the path of least effort for the most return. Methanol meets that objective in regard to pumping energy vs. viscosity. Eric
OK picked up methanol at the local race shop. Mixed it up and have both my systems filled. I also received a e-mail for the makers of the QT flow center. The cast iron pumps are e-coated and approved for methanol use. They also recommended a pump lubrication additive. And Wisconsin has a list of approved ground loop fluids for vertical bores only. (Methanol is Not on the list) They don't currently regulate horizontal loops. Thanks everyone for the help!
Something I do is add one gallon of propylene glycol for every 20 gals in the system. With about 18 % methanol just for pump lubrication, with a non pressurized flow center and one cup of bleach, works great!
It is not methanol which corrodes iron - it is free oxygen. In my experience this is typically the result of either using oxygen permeable pipe like HTPE or large amount is fresh water fill due to systems leaks. CJ -----
