Tap Water Good To Cool YH Compressor

[USAFANG6799]

Is tap water good enough to keep the YH Compressor cool so it doesn't reach the critical 65 C max temp?
I've been using a frozen milk jug to help keep it from going about 55 C. I'm wondering if an additive like a Water Wetter helps or is it just snake oil?
I'm thinking that since city water/well water has lots of minerals like rust and calcium would distilled water be better?

Many thanks!

[screwwork]

Reverse osmosis water is the best without any minerals in it. Bottled water like Aquafina or something like it is fine. If needed you could use an additive like purple ice.

[USAFANG6799]

Reverse osmosis water is the best without any minerals in it. Bottled water like Aquafina or something like it is fine. If needed you could use an additive like purple ice.

Distilled water and RP Ice was what I was thinking about using like you mentioned. Was curious what others were using.

Thanks for your input!

[Doug Wall]

Tap water varies quite a bit between localities. You should probably use imported mineral water with a quart of Russian Vodka to act as antifreeze. And you should probably throw out the entire batch after every use.
Actually, tap water should be fine. As long as you drain out the system between uses, you won't grow bio film in the system. The running temperature would also help kill organisms. No additives necessary. If it will run on Chinese tap water, ours should be fine.

[Tweeter]

Heck yeah I use tap water.  No way I'm paying for water just to cool my compressor.

[Xraycer]

Heck yeah I use tap water.  No way I'm paying for water just to cool my compressor.

+1

I'm lucky that I have a whole house water softener system, so that helps with the calcium deposit.

I'm thinking that adding CLR to the water would help with mineral deposits.

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

I use tap water also. I did the purple ice thing the first time and quite honestly, don’t see a difference this time without it. In fact, when I had the purple ice added to the water, it developed a slimy film that lined everything in the tank. I dumped it, flushed the lines, cleaned the tank and pump and am using straight tap water now with no issues and no slime!

[USAFANG6799]

Tap water varies quite a bit between localities. You should probably use imported mineral water with a quart of Russian Vodka to act as antifreeze. And you should probably throw out the entire batch after every use.
Actually, tap water should be fine. As long as you drain out the system between uses, you won't grow bio film in the system. The running temperature would also help kill organisms. No additives necessary. If it will run on Chinese tap water, ours should be fine.

Now ya tell me to throw out the entire batch!! As a retired chemist I've been drinking it, turning it back into water then putting it back in my bucket   

[USAFANG6799]

Heck yeah I use tap water.  No way I'm paying for water just to cool my compressor.

But if your compressor cooling degrades over time which leads to premature failure was it worth it. Higher temps also equals to changing the oil more frequently.
Water is still cheaper than oil..........so far 

[USAFANG6799]

I'm lucky that I have a whole house water softener system, so that helps with the calcium deposit.

I'm thinking that adding CLR to the water would help with mineral deposits.

Now there is an idea worth considering!......

[USAFANG6799]

I use tap water also. I did the purple ice thing the first time and quite honestly, don’t see a difference this time without it. In fact, when I had the purple ice added to the water, it developed a slimy film that lined everything in the tank. I dumped it, flushed the lines, cleaned the tank and pump and am using straight tap water now with no issues and no slime!

That slime was there to make the water flow FASTER 
I'm wondering if it was there to prevent slim etc from building up on things?

[guero_gordo]

I'm thinking that adding CLR to the water would help with mineral deposits.

I'm a sub-amateur chemist, but I'm not sure running phosphoric acid(CLR) continuously in your system won't have destructive effects. Also, if there's any iron in the system(and I hope there isn't), you'll get more rust running with a low pH(acidic) than with a higher one.

[Xraycer]

I'm thinking that adding CLR to the water would help with mineral deposits.

I'm a sub-amateur chemist, but I'm not sure running phosphoric acid(CLR) continuously in your system won't have destructive effects. Also, if there's any iron in the system(and I hope there isn't), you'll get more rust running with a low pH(acidic) than with a higher one.

What do you think about using vinegar? In the aquarium hobby, we often use vinegar to help remove calcium deposit on glass and equipments.

[USAFANG6799]

I just read not to use vinegar with aluminum. Especially cast aluminum because it's porous.
Cast iron and aluminum are reactive surfaces.

Looks like very few options to keeping the cooling system free from acuminating minerals in a compressor.

[Xraycer]

Looks like very few options to keeping the cooling system free from acuminating minerals in a compressor.

If I didn't have the whole house water softener, I would use CLR, in a diluted form, and then finish off with a good water only rinse. I would actually do this while the compressor is not in use of course, perhaps just a few times a year

[USAFANG6799]

Looks like very few options to keeping the cooling system free from acuminating minerals in a compressor.

If I didn't have the whole house water softener, I would use CLR, in a diluted form, and then finish off with a good water only rinse. I would actually do this while the compressor is not in use of course, perhaps just a few times a year

I'm a sub-amateur chemist, but I'm not sure running phosphoric acid(CLR) continuously in your system won't have destructive effects. Also, if there's any iron in the system(and I hope there isn't), you'll get more rust running with a low pH(acidic) than with a higher one.

Are the key words here "not full strength" and "continously"?

[USAFANG6799]

Looks like very few options to keeping the cooling system free from acuminating minerals in a compressor.

If I didn't have the whole house water softener, I would use CLR, in a diluted form, and then finish off with a good water only rinse. I would actually do this while the compressor is not in use of course, perhaps just a few times a year

I sent an email to CLR (https://clrbrands.com/) to ask them if it was safe to use in the YH compressors.

[7624452]

Distilled water - has no minerals in it to make deposits. 

[Xraycer]

Distilled water - has no minerals in it to make deposits. 

....and if you plan to use ice, you'll need to find distilled ice.

[Xraycer]

Just occurred to me!
............rain water!

Collect rain water. It's FREE