Took Dan's advice: just moved the circulator to pump away, pix

Steamhead (in transit)

why we like to Pump Away!

Nice work. There are three things I would have done differently:

1- Mount the EAS higher- this would allow a future boiler replacement without taking everything apart.

2- check the EDR of the installed radiation to see if the existing circ was sized correctly, replacing it if needed, and

3- pipe the boiler to the system in primary-secondary, so there would always be some warm water returning to the boiler. This would eliminate flue gas condensation and help extend the boiler's life.

But the first time I converted a system to Pumping Away, I didn't do any of these things either. You live and learn. I've since downsized the circ on that system and it heats much better. The Lovely Naoko likes the way it heats too ;-)

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Mark Woll_2

Finally moved everything to \"pump away\": all Bell & Gossett

Well, the tenants on this 100 year old (original gravity) house went away for the holidays so I thought I would finally take Dan up on his advice to pump away. You can see the original non-craftsman quickie job by the previous owner's heating "experts". Not bad per se, but I sensed a real lack of pride in the product, don't you guys agree? It might be best if these guys stick to sheet metal. Not a single pipe hanger was used and back tape was employed to hold the control wiring. No autofill. No air separator. Fill valve piped strangly to the boiler built-in air removal tapping. I guess it was the right half inch size.

I've been on a Bell and Gossett kick lately, so everything I put in was B&G on this one. Nice stuff.

I took the perfectly serviceable B&G 100 and moved it to the other side (after flipping around the pump's volute body) and installed a brand new B&G EAS (Enhanced Air Separator--not cheap but supposedly the best out there...bigger than I thought), a set of new B&G flo-control pump flanges, and a B&G Airtrol on the existing (and free) steel expansion tank. Now the only thing was that the darn BX electric cable was too short to reach the new pump location. As Dan suggested in his book it is in fact sold in long rolls. Oh, and I put in a new stand alone PRV and one of those B&G dual combo PRV/auto fill valves.

So it has two pressure relief valves. Why? I always do this, I figure that the item is so important to preventing explosions that there should be two. You know, just in case.

Started at 9am, got done right at 6pm same day, 1 hour for lunch, no helpers.

Darn thing sent up the heat as fast I could get up the stairs, even to that pesky 3rd floor radiator that used to only get hot after I bled it, and then for only 5 minutes.

This was plain fun. I tried to talk a 20 year kid into helping me, trying to teach him something about the craft, but to no avail. He had no interest in "seeing" water flow in his head when visualizing pipe runs (like I do). I am seeing very few young guys with a real interest in quality.

Chas_2

in agreement

Congrates Mark ,i have also done what you have accomplished on may jobs and it truly does distrubit heat faster ,your boiler looks like it's got a few years on it when replacemnt time around the corner and you having gas i would relaly look at a condensing modulating boiler running off a outddor reset at lower temps i have doen a few and the fuel savings and comfort are both excellent ,good luck with your nearly new system also how about a system bypass to keep that boiler above flue condensation level a ounce of prevention ,that would be no worry for a mod con they love cold returns peace and good luck clammy

Mark Woll_2

thanks guys

I appreciate the suggestions. Yes, next time I will do it with a primary secondary system. The return is too cool, yup. Thanks

Al Roethlisberger

Looks like a twin of my coming job...


...well, my praise as a DIY'er should be valued accordingly *laugh*

But the job looks great

It looks like you have a twin of my system(before) other than the Grundfos circulator on my Carrier(Dunkirk) boiler.

But from your "inventory", it sounds like you've installed everything I've been accumulating over the last few months, even the B&G fill/relief combo.

I love to hear and SEE stories like this one, as it validates the design I have been slowly formulating over this last year of reading, research, and assistance from the membership here to update my converted gravity system that a prior DIY'er installed without any safety or efficiency considerations.

I too am surprised to see how large the EAS is, as I really hadn't thought it would be that big. I have an IAS I picked up really cheap, but may use it on the boiler loop with a simple vent I already had, and then put an EAS on the system loop with the airtrol I just bought on my existing expansion tank. I had the parts, so I figure... just like your thoughts on two pop-off valves, I suppose it can't hurt to have air removal on both the pri/sec loops when I build them out

Good work!
Al