ASHP glycol smell

[NoraBatty]

Has anyone smelled the stuff?

We had a leak a week or so ago from a freshly glycoled system. Since then, we have been plagued with a turps and wd40 type smell. At first it was traced back to 2 pipe runs into the underfloor void. One directly above the leak site, and one further away. It took 3 days of sniffing to locate it to the underfloor area. The gaps were sealed and we have not smelled it since, unless we have opened the hatch to the underfloor.

Tonight the upstairs bathroom is smelling so bad of it, we have had to seal the room off from outside. Its almost like someone has sprayed an entire can of wd40 in there.

The wind is up, so easily possible the wind is pusbing the smell through the house. Its causing my allergies to flare.

But we still are not sure what it is.

Ive smelled glycol before, certainly most types of antifreeze, but never the ashp stuff.

Is this the cause of it? Or do i have a gang of wannabe mechanic rats under the house?
Can anyone think what else it could be?

We used to have an external oil boiler, all ripped out, and not the same smell. Adjoining neighbours are fully SH so no oil there. Not on the gas grid either.

[Joeboy]

Has anyone smelled the stuff?

We had a leak a week or so ago from a freshly glycoled system. Since then, we have been plagued with a turps and wd40 type smell. At first it was traced back to 2 pipe runs into the underfloor void. One directly above the leak site, and one further away. It took 3 days of sniffing to locate it to the underfloor area. The gaps were sealed and we have not smelled it since, unless we have opened the hatch to the underfloor.

Tonight the upstairs bathroom is smelling so bad of it, we have had to seal the room off from outside. Its almost like someone has sprayed an entire can of wd40 in there.

The wind is up, so easily possible the wind is pusbing the smell through the house. Its causing my allergies to flare.

But we still are not sure what it is.

Ive smelled glycol before, certainly most types of antifreeze, but never the ashp stuff.

Is this the cause of it? Or do i have a gang of wannabe mechanic rats under the house?
Can anyone think what else it could be?

We used to have an external oil boiler, all ripped out, and not the same smell. Adjoining neighbours are fully SH so no oil there. Not on the gas grid either.

Glycol doesn't evaporate off cleanly. It will leave a residue in the sollum. Assuming (always dangerous) it's been a soak in one spot in the sollum it will fade. You could try and dilute it with water. Or the other and I don't advocate this one unless in an exposed area is to flash it off via a small volume ignition (droplet petrol for example).

How much was dumped?

[NoraBatty]

Thanks Joe. They put about 10 litres in for an approx concentration of 20%.
Personally i dont want the glycol in at all, but they had to stick to the requirements with their remedial work.
All but 3 radiators emptied . I presume they still have left those rads on a low spot so ypu cant drain the system completely.

Flashing would not be possible so i guess il have to get the hose out of storage and rinse it down.
Good idea. And if it doesnt fix the smell its clearly something else.

Thanks.

[Joeboy]

Thanks Joe. They put about 10 litres in for an approx concentration of 20%.
Personally i dont want the glycol in at all, but they had to stick to the requirements with their remedial work.
All but 3 radiators emptied . I presume they still have left those rads on a low spot so ypu cant drain the system completely.

Flashing would not be possible so i guess il have to get the hose out of storage and rinse it down.
Good idea. And if it doesnt fix the smell its clearly something else.

Thanks.

I used to get a bit (large) of a glycol soaking on the old thermal boilersuit back in the day during Winter bombing campaigns for BP to remove old defunct company subsea Wells in the North sea.
It was a surprisingly boak inducing smell when up close and on material not liquid form. Changes the feel.of skin too, nasty stuff.

[NoraBatty]

Thanks Joe. They put about 10 litres in for an approx concentration of 20%.
Personally i dont want the glycol in at all, but they had to stick to the requirements with their remedial work.
All but 3 radiators emptied . I presume they still have left those rads on a low spot so ypu cant drain the system completely.

Flashing would not be possible so i guess il have to get the hose out of storage and rinse it down.
Good idea. And if it doesnt fix the smell its clearly something else.

Thanks.

I used to get a bit (large) of a glycol soaking on the old thermal boilersuit back in the day during Winter bombing campaigns for BP to remove old defunct company subsea Wells in the North sea.
It was a surprisingly boak inducing smell when up close and on material not liquid form. Changes the feel.of skin too, nasty stuff.

May well be the cause of the smell as i suspected then Joe. It ita leaked on the new pipework then i imagine its getting warm, though obviously not hot enough to burn off.

[Countrypaul]

Do you know which glycol they used? For our ASHP I believe they used propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol that is used on, for axample car radiators. Proppylene glycol is considered safe and used in flavorings, drugs, and cosmetics, and as a direct food additive where as etylene glycol is considered toxic. Propylene glycol is odourless but any additives may not be.

[NoraBatty]

No idea what it was. Blue tub though. They are coming back this week to fix their work, so I will ask.

[Joeboy]

No idea what it was. Blue tub though. They are coming back this week to fix their work, so I will ask.

You've had a hard go at this Nora.

I.hope you are in the final stages and it becomes an asset to your home.

[NoraBatty]

Certainly has been no joy ride thats for sure, and after its all done i will still be left with a system i have to fettle with to get it tuned in, but the house will be in a better state. Value added or not it doesnt matter. i think this is us here for a long time, so efficient living is the aim!