OT.....Things of the past...... part 2
6 years ago
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- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
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This past week in review (Part 2)
Comments (6)Great looking daylilies, kind of a pinkish week, even boundless beauty looks like it has a faint pink tinge. If I had to pick a favorite, which is hard, it would be New Lavender Triumph....See MorePics from the past few days, Part 2
Comments (9)Haven't gotten to part one yet, but am looking forward to it! Some beautiful stuff here! I can't decided on a favorite between Daybreak Fantasy and Alpine Snow...must be in a cool color mood today! Thanks for sharing them! Julie...See MorePart Five Blast from the Past
Comments (2)Nice collection, Ron! I like that impressionistic #4 a lot!...See MoreHydronic toe-kick heat gurggling, part 2. Conflict with 2 pumps
Comments (15)Kristi, While there are a list of items which should be corrected on your boiler system, the main one is air in the system. The Gurggling or running water sound is the air trapped in the system. If your toe kick heater was installed properly, there should be an access panel in the bottom of the cabinet where it was installed. Also there should have been a air relief vent installed at the high point in the hot water piping. The air vent can be several different types opened either by a screw driver, coin or special square head key. If there is no air vent you can also eliminate air by making sure there is adequate air pressure in the system (typically 30 psi) at the boiler. Then you have to increase the velocity of the water thru the piping where you want to eliminate the air. This maybe a problem with your system due to the piping arrangement. Pump cavitation is usually a swishing sound which is loudest at the pump. Your system was originally installed with a primary (Black) pumping system which is normally sized for the boiler capacity, meaning you should not need additional pumps. The Grundfos (Red) pump is considered a secondary pump, which was installed incorrectly. It appears the secondary pump is pulling supply heating water from the top of the boiler and also past the Temperature & Pressure relief valve (T&P valve). This arrangement guarantees that air will be supplied to the toe kick heater via the relief valve opening and cold water makeup. I would try eliminating the secondary pump and piping down to the relief valve and plug the tee at the relief, then tap into the hot water supply line creating a new zone. You would also have to install balancing valves for the existing zone and new zone. By doing this you can now force water through the toe kick heater utilizing the primary pump. I would also add an air vent to the toe kick heater. Additional things to consider correcting. In a boiler system there is a theoretical point of zero pressure. This point should be located just prior to the suction side of the pump. The suction side is a low pressure area where you should locate the "System" air eliminator (Air scoop) and expansion tank. This is also where you should be providing makeup water to the system. You should provide a tee in the bottom of the air eliminator and this is where the expansion tank and cold water makeup is teed in. You have an automatic makeup water valve which should be adjusted to always keep 30 psi in the system. Maintaining water pressure is the only way to keep air out of the system. Always bleed the air from the radiators too. Your auto air vent on the top of the air scoop looks crooked and may be hanging up too, may have to be replaced. There is a small schrader valve on top of the auto vent, try closing and opening and listen for air to come out, then make sure it is adjust slightly open to automatically bleed system air. The T&P valve relief pipe should be piped to within 6" of the floor to avoid splashing of extreamly hot water. If the relief pipe is cut at a 45 degree angle the water will flow out of the pipe more straight (Trade secret). You have a ball valve installed at the expanion tank - on the expansion pipe. This is very dangerous because if this valve where inadvertantly closed the only additional safety you have on the system is the T&P valve. If the T&P valve malfuctions too or is replace with an incorrect rating, the system can explode. If you leave this valve in place please put a tag on it stating "This valve is to remain open during system operation". Otherwise remove it, contractors put these here so when the expansion tank gives out (Leaks) you don't get sprayed while changing out the tank. Hope this all helps. Dan Martyn...See More- 6 years ago
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