hydronic heat

realolman

that you are going to have to stop and take a breath and explain this a little better. No offense meant, but I have read it several times and I for one dont't understand what you want.

Are you saying that you originally had a monoflow system with a 1" loop and 1/2" taps to each 3/4" baseboard? And now you have a 1" loop that circulates in series through each 3/4" baseboard, but each baseboard has a piece of 1/2" at each end? And now you think this arrangement is causing a problem with air in the baseboard?

frank_53

From: frank bua [mailto:fbuckie13@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2007 12:54 AM
To: mailroom@HeatingHelp.com
Subject: heating ?



Hello,

I originally had a mono flow system with base board mixed in. The house was purchase this way. I slowly converted it to baseboard. My? is from my 5 year old boiler is 1inch pipe it then reduces to half inch to the first base board which is ¾ base. Try to follow me. In my walls is ½ inch pipe to the second floor. I can’t change that. The original loop was mono flow. I looped the entire baseboard direct one to the next and eliminated the mono flow. My only problem is it reduces from 1” to ½” to each base board. Then the original home owner left the 1” on some of the runs at the end of the loop. I would like to have all the same size pipe in the loop but am not sure about reducing the 1” to ½ “. Most if not all the feeder pipe to the base is ½”. The tail end is 1”. I think this is allowing an air build up in the loop. I did contact the pump man. (Taco) about the ½” if it would hurt the pump and was told no. But it just doesn’t feel right to me. Is there a quick fix like eliminating the 1” or is it more complicated?



Any ideas will help.

Thank you

Frank

frank_53

fIRST LET ME EXPLAIN MY SET UP. fROM THE BOILER IS 1" It goes directly to 1/2" after leaving the boiler.This is were my base board starts.I have a total of eight base boards. From the first base board(A) THE RUN STAYS 1/2" FOR ABOUT 12' AND TIES DIRECTLY INTO THE NEXT BASE(b) from there it goes 5' to the next base(c) still all pipes connecting the base boards is 1/2".From base (c) it runs 22' upstairs to (d) then back down the wall to the basement.Now this is were it gets interesting, when it gets to the basement it now goes from 1/2" to 1" about 10' to base(e) then leaves (e) stays 1/2" to (f) 20' up stairs comes back down stairs at 1/2" to the basement. From the basement to the next base(g) it is 3/4 for 15' then returns at 3/4" .After returning it goes to 1' for aprox 5' then 1/2" for 22' upstairs to base(h). It returns at 1/2" and then goes back to the boiler at 1". When the heat is on i hear gurrgling by get very little air out.One base in particular always has air but only that one.

frank_53

fIRST LET ME EXPLAIN MY SET UP. fROM THE BOILER IS 1" It goes directly to 1/2" after leaving the boiler.This is were my base board starts.I have a total of eight base boards. From the first base board(A) THE RUN STAYS 1/2" FOR ABOUT 12' AND TIES DIRECTLY INTO THE NEXT BASE(b) from there it goes 5' to the next base(c) still all pipes connecting the base boards is 1/2".From base (c) it runs 22' upstairs to (d) then back down the wall to the basement.Now this is were it gets interesting, when it gets to the basement it now goes from 1/2" to 1" about 10' to base(e) then leaves (e) stays 1/2" to (f) 20' up stairs comes back down stairs at 1/2" to the basement. From the basement to the next base(g) it is 3/4 for 15' then returns at 3/4" .After returning it goes to 1' for aprox 5' then 1/2" for 22' upstairs to base(h). It returns at 1/2" and then goes back to the boiler at 1". When the heat is on i hear gurrgling by get very little air out.One base in particular always has air but only that one.

realolman

Does that

gurgling baseboard have a bleeder to let the air out?
If not, it should have one.

Just from feeling it with your hand, is the pipe returning to the boiler hot when the pump is running?

Is the last room in the loop heated sufficiently?

frank_53

Yes they all have bleeders but only on gave me air when bled.The return pipe is hot also

realolman

If you get the air out

you shouldn't hear any more gurgling. I have an old 2 story house with a few additions, and after I drain it, I always have trouble getting the air out, but after a few weeks it all seems to work itself out.

Do you have something automatic to remove the air? THe longer you can leave your system without draining and disturbing it, the less air you will have. Sometimes even if you have air trapped in some high point in the system, given enough time it will work itself out.

Although what you describe does not sound like the optimal situation, if the water returning to your boiler is hot, it seems to me that you are getting sufficient circulation for the amount of baseboard you have.